What is the difference in electrical need between two-knob and four-knob induction ovens?

Question

Maybe this isn't really DIY, but I would like to know a little bit more about it so that I can do some of my own comparing and make sure I am making the right decision finally. Here is a photo of my future flat, but with the current tenant's oven & stovetop:

I found a combo that I liked, mostly because it was an induction stovetop. But upon showing the picture to the guy at the store, he said that the model would not be compatible, because of a difference in the electric wiring. I don't remember exactly what model it was (I didn't bother writing it down since it was apparently incompatible), but he explained it to me that, effectively, the oven in the apartment has 4 knobs on the oven which control the stovetop, and the model I was looking at only had two knobs (for the oven itself), and then the controls for the cooktop were on the cooktop itself. He said it was possible to install the model I was looking at, but it would be significantly more expensive because they would have to re-do a lot of the electrics.

He also told me that there are indeed induction models with the "4 knobs on the oven" setup, but that they are also significantly more expensive.

What I would really like to know however is the technical terms behind this so that I can do my own research and shop around a bit. What are the actual technical terms for these "4 knob on the oven" vs "2 knob on the oven and controls on the stovetop" setups?

Answer 1

Since this is in Germany, I would assume the following (this is a very common situation):

• Behind the current oven+hob combo, there is a box on the wall with five wires and three-phase service ("Herdanschlussdose"). Currently, the oven part is connected to this box, and the hob is connected to the oven (which containts the buttons to control the hob). In the panel ("Verteilerkasten"), there will be a dedicated 3-way fuse for this box.
• It is likely that your new separate ovenn only needs one of the phases and the induction hob can use the other two, but you need to check the manuals. You can do that directly at the Herdanschlussdose, or you can buy "power splitters" (such as this one: https://www.reichelt.de/kuechenanschlussbox-herdanschlusskabel-2-2-2-m-heit-500580-p277242.html) which already have a separate outlet for the oven.
• If you need to ask, it is certainly better to have an electrician do the work -- ovens and hobs are the most powerful electric devices in your typical home, and mistakes can kill you, burn down the house or destroy your devices. I'm not sure about the law, but it is possible that you are not even allowed to do such work.

Answer 2

Well, on the one hand that is (to me) an odd setup (since the counter continues in front of the cooktop, the cooktop is drop-in, but dropped in on top of the oven and apparently connected to it, an arrangement that's more commonly seen in a slide in or freestanding "range" as we call an oven/cooktop combined in one appliance locally. Probably not your local terms...) So it's a weird hybrid I've never seen, but I don't make any claims to have seen every cooking appliance combination the world has to offer, at all.

Anyway, what the "guy at the store" is assuming to be true appears to be that a single circuit is feeding this combined oven/stovetop, and a truly separate stovetop and oven would use two circuits.

However, you (and the guy at the store) don't actually know what's back there until you can examine the wiring in person. "Appliance store guy" is making a reasonable guess based on combined appliance.

Answer 3

Contact the management of the building and ask them what kind of electric service is present for the cooktop and oven.