Microwave ovens and isolated outlets

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MikeB4

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#1624985 7-Sep-2016 11:06

I may have used the wrong term, I believe the Kitchen company say that a switch along the lines that you need for a Range cooker is needed for a microwave.

Bung

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#1625005 7-Sep-2016 11:47

solutionz might claim that AS/NZS 3000 isn't relevant but it is the Standard covering installation wiring and equipment. That is exactly what powerpoints and switches in a kitchen are. Under that Standard a separate switch is not mandatory for an enclosed microwave.

Sometimes extra switches that aren't required by the Standard can be useful and you may decide that the convenience outweighs the fight with the installers.

Mixing extra switches with other switches can lead to confusion. Friends of ours had a rangehood that was often faulty. When checked it was always OK. The reason was tracked down to a switch added to a plate full of lighting switches some distance from the rangehood. This switch wasn't on the wiring plan and was being operated randomly as people flicked lights on and off. Even though the switch was marked "Fan" it took them a year to realize what was going on.

solutionz

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#1625019 7-Sep-2016 12:22

Bung:

solutionz might claim that AS/NZS 3000 isn't relevant but it is the Standard covering installation wiring and equipment. That is exactly what powerpoints and switches in a kitchen are. Under that Standard a separate switch is not mandatory for an enclosed microwave.

What I was pointing out was that AS/NZ 3000 (aka NZ wiring rules) in this context does not apply to the corded microwave (i.e. non-fixed appliance) as it's not an electrical "installation" (as defined below). Of course it still applies to the installation of the actual mains switches, outlets and [wiring into] fixed wired appliances (ovens, heat pumps etc) in the kitchen itself.

Bung: In AS/NZS 3000 the clause requiring a readily accessible switch beside open cook tops has a sub clause making it clear that this requirement does not apply to enclosed ovens or microwave ovens.

That is because AS/NZS 3000:2007 clause 4.7.1FN4 is simply making clear for avoidance of doubt that "microwave ovens" and "built-in stoves" are NOT "open cooking surfaces incorporating electric heating".

Point being AS/NZ 3000 doesn't superceed any additional requirements of any other standards (such as appliance approval standards).

Electricity Act 1992

MikeB4

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#1625036 7-Sep-2016 12:54

My poor brain is confused, can we just plug it in a standard three pin plug that has a switch?

I apologise if the answer has been given but sometimes my condition and medication makes it difficult to sort this stuff out, one of the reasons I retired young

solutionz

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#1625052 7-Sep-2016 13:22

MikeB4: My poor brain is confused, can we just plug it in a standard three pin plug that has a switch?

I apologise if the answer has been given but sometimes my condition and medication makes it difficult to sort this stuff out, one of the reasons I retired young

Short answer: Yes

Longer answer: It's recommended that the power socket or switch is located somewhere that you could reach to switch it off or unplug it in the event of it malfunctioning etc.

(You could choose to ignore this caution provided by the appliance manufacturer however tradesman may or may not for risk of liability).

Put it this way; if your house burnt down because your microwave caught fire and you couldn't switch it off I doubt you'd loose you insurance. However if a professional tradesman had boxed it in there with no to access to disconnect it, ignoring the manuracturers directions, there would certainly be a case for them to answer to your insurers.

As a professional - you touch it you own it.

MikeB4

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#1625072 7-Sep-2016 13:53

solutionz:
MikeB4: My poor brain is confused, can we just plug it in a standard three pin plug that has a switch?

I apologise if the answer has been given but sometimes my condition and medication makes it difficult to sort this stuff out, one of the reasons I retired young

Short answer: Yes

Longer answer: It's recommended that the power socket or switch is located somewhere that you could reach to switch it off or unplug it in the event of it malfunctioning etc.

(You could choose to ignore this caution provided by the appliance manufacturer however tradesman may or may not for risk of liability).

Put it this way; if your house burnt down because your microwave caught fire and you couldn't switch it off I doubt you'd loose you insurance. However if a professional tradesman had boxed it in there with no to access to disconnect it, ignoring the manuracturers directions, there would certainly be a case for them to answer to your insurers.

As a professional - you touch it you own it.

I certainly see your point, I am going to discuss this with the electrician when he comes tonight to price the job.

Our microwave gets very light use maybe one or twice a week for a few minutes. We don't really like food cooked in them

MikeB4

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#1625258 7-Sep-2016 19:57

And the electrician was a no show....grrrrrrrrrrrrr

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Aredwood

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#1625331 8-Sep-2016 01:03

Does the microwave have an inbuilt clock? If so then the microwave is constantly in use. As you are using the clock function. So no need to unplug it to comply with the instructions. As how would the clock keep and display the current time when the microwave is unplugged?

As for needing an isolated supply - I thought that meant running the microwave from an isolating transformer. But the microwave instruction book will probably state that the microwave must be earthed. So that rules out an isolated supply.

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#1625338 8-Sep-2016 06:10

Aredwood:

Does the microwave have an inbuilt clock? If so then the microwave is constantly in use. As you are using the clock function. So no need to unplug it to comply with the instructions. As how would the clock keep and display the current time when the microwave is unplugged?

As for needing an isolated supply - I thought that meant running the microwave from an isolating transformer. But the microwave instruction book will probably state that the microwave must be earthed. So that rules out an isolated supply.

It still amazes me the number of people who are NOT electricians making suggestions on what should be done.

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