I have an existing 220v 50 amp plug in my garage just bought a new 40 amp
Range, would like to plug in range in garage just till after thanksgiving
Then will replace aa cooktop with it in kitchen can I buy a cord to match the 50 amp plug and use range over thanksgiving or will it ruin range or be a safety hazard
Electrical – 40 amp range into 50 amp plug
electrical
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Best Answer
Using a 50A plug and receptacle is allowed on a 40A circuit because of an exception in the Electrical Code. The exception is because 40A receptacles do not exist, or rather, are not part of the NEMA standards. (There are enough varieties of receptacle already!)
The circuit breaker must be no larger than the wiring is fit for - if the wiring is 8 AWG, the breaker must be 40A (or smaller). If the wire is 6 AWG, the breaker may be 40 or 50 amps (or any value up to 50A). With large circuits like this, there is only one appliance per circuit. I am not sure whether it is legal to plug a 40A rated appliance into a circuit breakered for 50A. I would downgrade the breaker to 40A for an extra bit of safety.
This is a good time to look at the receptacle. If it's an old NEMA 10-50 type, it does not have a ground wire, and any problem with the neutral can electrify the chassis of the stove, a potentially lethal situation. A ground wire can be retrofitted using any viable route back to the panel. (Grounds don't have to travel with the conductors). Then you can upgrade the connectors to NEMA 14-50 type and change the jumper on the appliance to use a separate ground.