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In the past, wire cable for kitchen ranges included two hot wires and a stranded ground/neutral. This type of cable is called service entrance conductor (SE) cable. The range receptacle for this kind of cable accommodated a three-prong plug configuration. The problem with this arrangement was that the current-carrying neutral was the same as the ground for the appliance frame. Today, wire cables for kitchen ranges are still required to carry two hot conductors, and an equipment ground, but an additional wire, a white, insulated, neutral wire must also be included. The ground wire can be either bare or insulated (colored green). It is a four-conductor cable containing three insulated wires and one ground. Usually, the two hot wires are both black, with one having a red stripe on it for phase identification. Or they might be black and red, the neutral wire is white or gray, and the grounding wire is green or bare. This category of cable is called service entrance round (SER) cable. The size used for a kitchen range is usually No. 6-3G SER copper cable. A range receptacle must accept a 4-prong plug configuration for this type of cable.

Of the four wires in SER cable, the two hot wires carry the 250 volts required to power the heating elements. The 125-volt power is carried to the neutral from either of the two hot wires - it doesn't matter which one. The 125-volt power is used to run the timer, clock, buzzer, light, and so on. Drawing the neutral current away from the ground causes the return current to flow safely through an insulated conductor rather than through the stove framework and a bare copper grounding wire. The 4-slotted female receptacle into which the SER cable is wired is available as a surface or flush mount. For the average homeowner, a surface-mounted receptacle is often preferred because it is easier to wire. When a range is not hardwired but has a cord and plug, the plug must have 4 prongs to match the receptacle, as mentioned earlier, so that the neutral and ground will remain separate.

Installing the receptacle
Before starting work, be sure to turn off the main breaker at the service entrance panel.

Fig. 1

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Fish the cable
Locate the position on the wall or on the floor, next to the baseboard, where the range receptacle will be mounted, and cut an opening, or drill a hole large enough through which to fish the cable. Run an adequate length of No. 6-3G SER copper cable from the main panel to where the receptacle will be mounted (Fig. 1). Support the cable by running it through holes drilled in the center of the studs or staple it to structural framing at intervals of a maximum of 54 inches and within 12 inches of the panel box and the receptacle. Using a fish tape, pull the cable to the wall opening. Pull the cable into the receptacle housing after removing one of the knockouts, and secure it in place using the cable-clamping device provided on the surface mount receptacle. Rip the sheathing from the cable, cut away the excess, and carefully fit and strip the inside wires to neatly fit to their respective connectors.

Installing a Kitchen Range Receptacle