How to Wire an Electric Stove to a Breaker Box

Determining Wire Size

An electric stove can either be wired with an electrical plug or directly wired to your home's breaker box.

1. Turn off the main electric breaker to your home. Determine the size breaker you will be using. A 40 amp breaker requires the use of No. 8 gauge wire. A 50 amp breaker requires No. 6 gauge wire.

2. Remove the conduit connection knockout on the back of the electric stove. Place a UL approved conduit connection in the hole left by the removal of the knockout.

3. Use a wire stripper to remove three inches of the wiring outer covering on both ends of the wire.

4. Use a wire stripper to remove one inch of the wire insulation from each wire on both ends of the wire. Be sure to allow enough extra wiring so the attachment process will be easier to complete.

5. Complete the electrical connection as described below.

3-Wire Direct Connection

1. Loosen all of the hex screw heads on the back of the electric stove. Do not remove the screws.

2. Locate the bottom center position terminal connector. Insert the white wire (neutral) from the electrical feeder line under the screw clamp.

3. Insert each of the two remaining wires under the remaining screw clamps. It is best to not cross these lines.

4. Use a screwdriver and securely tighten each of the hex screws. The wires should not be able to be pulled from the connection. If the connection is loose, continue to tighten until the wires do not slip or move within the hex screw clamps.

5. Tighten the locking ring on the conduit connector. Replace the terminal block cover on the electric stove.

6. Proceed to breaker box wiring instructions below.

4-Wire Direct Connection

1. Remove the ground link screw and the cup washer from the electric stove frame. Bend the ground link away from the electric stove frame so that it does not come into contact with the electric stove.

2. Connect the ground wire (bare copper wire) to the ground link using the ground link screw and cup washer. It is important to make this connection first. Do not allow this connection to touch any of the other wiring terminals.

3. Loosen all of the hex screw heads on the back of the electric stove. Do not remove the screws. Locate the bottom center position terminal connector. Insert the white wire (neutral) from the electrical feeder line under the screw clamp.

4. Insert each of the two remaining wires under the remaining screw clamps. It is best to not cross these lines.

5. Use a screwdriver and securely tighten each of the hex screws. The wires should not be able to be pulled from the connection. If the connection is loose, continue to tighten until the wires do not slip or move within the hex screw clamps.

6. Tighten the locking ring on the conduit connector. Replace the terminal block cover on the electric stove. Complete the connections by proceeding to breaker box wiring instructions below.

Breaker Box Wiring Instructions

1. Feed the wire into the breaker box. Drop enough of the wire into the box so that it drops past the position of the breaker. Remove the breaker from the breaker box.

2. Insert the black wire into the breaker. Tighten the screw until the wire can not be pulled from the breaker.

3. Insert the red wire into the breaker. Tighten the screw until the wire can not be pulled from the breaker.

4. Loosen two screws on the neutral bar. Do not remove these screws.

5. Insert the white wire into the neutral bar. Tighten the screw until the white wire is unable to be pulled from the neutral bar.

6. Insert the copper wire into the neutral bar. Tighten the screw until the copper wire is unable to be pulled from the neutral bar.

7. Tuck the wiring into the breaker box, being sure not to disrupt the other wiring. Connect the breaker into the breaker box. Make sure the breaker is in the "off" position.

8. Turn the main breaker to the "on" position. Turn the breaker providing power to the electric stove to the "on" position.