Most new ovens and cooktops are hard wired rather than plugged in, and a large induction cooktop can draw more current than the circuit it replaces was ever meant to carry. Checking that before the appliance arrives saves a frustrating install day, especially in a Christchurch winter when the same switchboard is also running heat pumps and heaters.
We connect wall ovens, cooktops and freestanding ranges, run new kitchen circuits, and check your switchboard has the capacity and protection for the extra load. If you are swapping an LPG hob for induction, we handle the electrical side and work alongside your gasfitter.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Check the circuit before you buy
Every oven and cooktop lists its rated load on the data plate and in the installation manual. Compare that with the circuit you already have. An older kitchen may have one circuit shared by the oven and an old ceramic or radiant hob, sized for far less than a modern induction cooktop with a boost setting.
Send us the model numbers of the new appliances and a photo of your switchboard, and we will tell you whether the existing circuit can be reused or a new one is needed. That single check usually decides the price.
- Wall oven installation and replacement
- Induction and ceramic cooktop connection
- Freestanding range connection
- New dedicated kitchen circuits
- Isolating switches near the cooktop
- Switchboard capacity checks
Induction cooktops: what the wiring needs
Consumer NZ's account of moving from gas to induction is a useful real example. Its induction cooktop drew 32 amps, so it could not run on the house's 20 amp circuits. The electrician ran a dedicated 6 mm cable to a 32 amp breaker and fitted a separate isolation switch for the hob within reach of the cooktop.
Some lower powered induction models stay under 20 amps, but Consumer NZ notes they cannot run every element at full power at once. If your switchboard has no spare way, or the supply is already heavily loaded by winter heating, a switchboard upgrade may need to come first.
How It Works
LPG to induction: how gas works in Christchurch
Gas in the South Island is LPG, so a Christchurch gas hob runs on LPG too. Most homes use bottles or a bulk tank, and some streets have piped LPG. The city once had a coal gas supply from the Christchurch Gasworks, which began in 1864, but that operation ended in the early 1980s.
Swapping an LPG hob for induction is two jobs. A licensed gasfitter disconnects and caps the gas supply, and an electrician installs the new circuit and connects the cooktop. We coordinate both so the kitchen is out of action for as little time as possible. If the hob was the only gas appliance, ask your gas supplier about removing the bottles or tank.
Wall ovens and freestanding ranges
Replacing a wall oven like for like is often simple: we disconnect the old oven, check the cable and connection unit, and connect the new one to the existing supply if it is suitable. If the new oven draws more, or moves to a new tower or position, a new cable or circuit is needed.
Freestanding ranges combine oven and cooktop in one appliance and usually connect through a single wall connection. We check that connection, the cable size and the breaker against the range's rating before it goes in. For a sense of scale on a full conversion, Consumer NZ reported a total of $1,173 including GST for its 1920s house, covering the new circuit and gas disconnection over about 5 to 6 hours. That is one household's bill, not our price.
Kitchen renovations and rebuilds
In a kitchen renovation the oven and cooktop are only part of the picture. Benches need enough power points, rangehoods need power and ducting, and islands need outlets and sometimes lighting. Planning it together means one set of cable runs while the walls are open.
We work from your kitchen designer's plan, confirm appliance specifications, and coordinate with your builder for pre-wire and fit-off. That suits the new builds going up in Halswell, Rolleston and Lincoln as much as an older kitchen being opened up in Fendalton or Spreydon. Our pages on power points and extractor fans cover the rest of the kitchen.
Certificates and what it costs
A new circuit or new fixed wiring for an oven or cooktop comes with a Certificate of Compliance. Homeowners may connect and disconnect fixed wired appliances on their own home under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, but confirming the circuit rating is the part that matters, and that is a job for a licensed electrician.
The price depends on whether the existing circuit can be reused, the distance from the switchboard to the kitchen, underfloor or ceiling access, and any switchboard work. Send us the model numbers and a photo of your board and we will give you a fixed price.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Oven and Cooktop Installation
Circuit checked before install day
We confirm the cable, breaker and board can carry the new appliance before you take delivery.
LPG to induction, coordinated
We line up the gasfitter and the electrical work so the kitchen is back in action quickly.
Fixed price from model numbers
Model numbers and a switchboard photo are usually enough for a firm price.
Renovation friendly
We work to your designer's plan and your builder's programme.
Oven and Cooktop Installation FAQs
Can I plug in an induction cooktop?
Most full size induction cooktops are hard wired. Consumer NZ's example needed a dedicated 32 amp circuit with 6 mm cable and an isolation switch near the hob.
Will my existing oven circuit work for induction?
Sometimes. It depends on the cooktop's rating and the existing cable and breaker. Send us the model number and we will check.
Who disconnects my LPG hob?
A licensed gasfitter disconnects and caps the gas supply. We can coordinate with them so both jobs happen close together.
What gas do Christchurch kitchens use?
LPG. Gas cooking in Christchurch runs on LPG from bottles, a bulk tank or, in some streets, a piped LPG line.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for induction?
Only if your board has no room for a new breaker, lacks suitable protection, or the supply is already heavily loaded. We check before quoting.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, for any new circuit or fixed wiring. You receive a Certificate of Compliance to keep with your house records.
Oven and Cooktop Installation Across Christchurch
We cover every region: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
Related Electrical Services
Oven and Cooktop Installation Guides
See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.