I would really appreciate if someone could provide me some instruction on how to install an electric oven. I live in Geneva so I have what I assume is a standard wall outlet in my kitchen. I purchased an electric oven but there is no wires or plug with it. Do I have to purchase the plug at the local hardware store? I am really trying to avoid having to pay an electrician to come install it because I have spent so much money so far on furniture and appliances. Please let me know if this is a ''do it yourself'' project. Thanks so much..in advance.
You will need to be a bit careful here. An oven does not normally use the same type of connection as an ordinary plug. Most likely it will be using 400V connections which has 5 wires to be connected to a special socket. This socket might be easily identified, it may be marked with 400V or noted "Starkstrom" = Heavy Current or you may simply find that you have a blank socket cover somewhere in the kitchen and you'll need to identify the correct one). You will need to have the correct cable which you can buy from a decent electrical dealer, someone such as Fust should be able to help you there. You may find that it's not allowed for an ordinary person to connect the oven, I don't know about the regualtions in Switzerland but it's illegal in Germany for a non-electrician to do this work. (Having said that, it's easy to do if you're not a complete muppet but do be careful, 400V can and will kill if you get it wrong, if you're not sure ask around here on EF if someone knows a local friendly electrician that would come and connect it for you)
Cheers
I would say it certainly is not a DIY project. please don't try to plug it into a standard wall socket. There should be a special oven connection box in your kitchen. If you can't find one, pay an electrician. There are some things worth cutting corners with and doing it yourself, but this is not one of them.
I think if you need to ask, then this is NOT something to tackle yourself.
Also not sure on the regulations and Insurance if you do this yourself.
It is not a "do it yourself" project, especially not for you as you admit you don't know what you are doing. Some things are worth paying a little money for, and if you don't understand electrics, then don't try to learn the hard way. It may seem like a simple thing to put 3 wires into 3 holes or whatever the job may be, but if you (for instance) don't create a good contact or don't tighten the screws well, then you risk causing a problem.
I did my 16th IE qualification in the UK (I am a part-qualified electrician) and have been taught some of the many things you can do wrong. I really would suggest you pay the little bit extra to be sure it has been done correctly - I've not even looked at the oven in my apartment since I am not allowed to touch it from an insurance point of view. A sparky fitting an oven into a hole where there used to be an oven is not going to cost a fortune.
Thank you all for the insight. I've taken your advice and hired an electrician to come and install. However, based on a couple of the points made I have a concern that I may have violated some rule. This past weekend I installed all of the light fixtures in my apartment, the wiring etc. I'm hoping that this did not violate an insurance rule because I am not a certified electrician?? Any thoughts..