Induction hob electrical requirements: dedicated circuit in Seville, Spain

What an induction hob needs to work properly

An induction hob is one of the most powerful appliances in the home. With every zone at maximum it can draw a lot of current, which is why it needs its own line, sized for that load. ITC-BT-25 of the Spanish Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation sets out the kitchen circuit (C3) with 6 mm² cable, and for higher-power hobs the manufacturer may ask for 32 A protection instead of 25 A. Having the induction hob installed by an electrician who checks everything avoids the most typical problems:

• The breaker trips when you use several zones or switch on the oven at the same time.
• The connection box or the cable heats up behind the unit.
• The hob runs limited because the installation cannot give it more.

What the installation includes

• A prior check of the fuse board, the existing kitchen line and your contracted power.
• A dedicated 6 mm² line from the fuse board to the kitchen, recessed or through the space behind the units.
• A 25 or 32 A circuit breaker depending on the hob, and a suitable RCD. In kitchens with modern electronics we recommend a type A RCD, which detects the leakages of inverter appliances better.
• A connection box behind the hob, accessible for future checks.
• Connecting the hob and testing it at full power.

From ceramic to induction

It is the most common change in Seville kitchens. In the 1960s to 1980s flats of Nervión, Los Remedios, Triana, La Macarena or Heliópolis, the electric cooker or ceramic hob was added in an old renovation, often with a thinner line than needed or one shared with the oven. The new induction hob exposes it: the power trips while you cook, or the cable heats up.

In these cases we run a new line and, if the fuse board is old or has no space, we extend it (see fuse board replacement). If you are doing renovation electrics, it is the moment to leave the kitchen ready with all its lines: hob, oven, dishwasher, hood and worktop sockets. We explain it on our kitchen electrics service.

When the power trips while you cook

If the problem appears when you use the hob and the oven together, there are two possibilities:

1. A breaker in the fuse board trips. The two appliances share the kitchen circuit and together exceed its protection. The solution is to give the hob its own line. There is more detail on MCB keeps tripping.
2. The whole home cuts out. You have exceeded your contracted power and the smart meter has cut the supply, as explained on power limiter tripping. You can increase your contracted power or limit the hob’s maximum consumption from its settings, something many models allow.

New homes and kitchens with an island

In the new-build homes of Sevilla Este, Dos Hermanas or Mairena del Aljarafe, the hob line comes ready. What we are asked to do is move the hob to an island, change it for a more powerful model or add a second oven. Each of those changes requires the line to be checked or extended, and it is much simpler before the units are fitted. All-electric new builds, with induction, a heat pump and sometimes an EV charger, are also where an underestimated contracted power most easily leads to repeated power cuts, so it is worth checking it when you get the keys.

Guide prices

These are guide prices. Before we start you get the fixed price. The rest of our air conditioning and appliances services are on their own page.