Some cooktops and microwaves don’t come with a power cord, so you’ll need to splurge on a converter or find an extension cord.
However, there are some appliances where the lack of power is intentional. Read on to learn more about why they might not be connected and what you can do to make up for it!
While your microwave or kitchen range consists of many parts, possibly hundreds of them and is an expensive appliance, the power cord is one part that you don’t have to worry about.
Power cords are designed to provide power to the appliance, just like any other accessory. Therefore they are also designed not to require any maintenance (unlike, say air filters on a car or furnace filters which do need regular cleaning). They’re also made of material which doesn’t corrode or discolor over time (or at least nearly as quickly as a cooktop may corrode over time).
So then why don’t some appliances have power cords? Are they faulty?
Not at all. While at first sight, it may look like a design flaw (and in many ways, it is), there are actually many good reasons why your microwave or range doesn’t have one. Here’s a look at some of the reasons below as well as what you can do to make up for it if you’ve noticed this deficiency before shopping.
#1 – They’re Compact in Size and Take Up Little Space
99% of the time, when an appliance doesn’t have a power cord attached to it, it’s because the manufacturer wanted to make the appliance as compact as possible and save on space.
In general, compact appliances are typically larger in size than their counterparts without a power cord. Not only do compact appliances take up less space on your counters, they also take up less space in your home overall. So the manufacturer gets to save on shipping costs and you get to save on space.
#2 – They Don’t Require Maintenance
While a power cord is not under the same amount of maintenance as other parts like a thermostat or filter, it does require some maintenance. Let’s say you need to replace the power cord because it’s damaged or corroded (or even missing). When you remove the old cord, you’ll need to make sure the cord is connected directly to a power outlet instead of the appliance. In other words, make sure there’s no gap between the appliance or box and the outlet that could let grime and liquid in.
#3 – They’ve Got an Auto-Reset System
Some appliances don’t have a power cord because they’re equipped with an auto-reset system. In other words, if something goes wrong with your appliance (like if a liquid spill or grime gets onto it), and there’s a loss of power for whatever reason (like your circuit breaker tripping or electricity outage), then it will automatically reset itself when electricity returns back to your home. In this case, the auto-reset will cause your appliance to turn on and off three times quickly. This will hopefully ensure that there’s no mishap which could damage your appliance.
#4 – They’re Used Only in Emergency Situations
In many cases, a power cord isn’t actually needed. For example, if you’re using a portable camping stove such as a Coleman® WeatherMaster™ 4-Burner Stove (you don’t have a permanent home in which to cook or bake), then perhaps there’s a good reason why you’re not connecting it to an outlet (like because you don’t have a permanent home in which to cook or bake…for now). If your Coleman® WeatherMaster™ 4-Burner Stove is meant to provide temporary cooking options during emergency situations, then perhaps you don’t even need a power cord.
#5 – They’re Intended to be Portable
Just like the previous example, in some cases you really don’t even need a power cord. If your appliance is intended for portable use, then you may not need a plasma cutter or range because it’s supposed to be moved around without being connected to any wires. Because of its very nature and application, it’s not meant to be connected to an outlet or permanently located in one place without moving for long periods of time. Therefore there’s no point in putting a power cord on it as well.
So why don’t you need a power cord if you’re expanding your business or starting a remodeling job? Read on to find out!
#6 – They’re Used Only in Emergency Situations
When you’re expanding your business or starting a remodeling job, often gas lines need to be pulled to get the job done. For example, the gas lines connected to the kitchen range will need to be pulled if the cooktop is being replaced with an electric range. These are just some examples of situations where gas is needed. If there’s no gas line in place yet, then you’ll likely have no use for a power cord as well.
#7 – A Power Cord Isn’t Necessary or Practical
The same is true if you’re not going to use gas at all. In other words, if the appliance isn’t going to be powered by gas, then it makes sense not to add a power cord. In some cases, this is exactly what happens. For example, a grill may have 2 burners and come with a side burner for extra cooking space. However, it may be designed for propane only and therefore does not come with any power cords attached. Either that or you’ll need to buy one separately (if there even are different types sold separately).
#8 – They’re Not Necessary for Use in the Home
In some cases, no power cord is necessary even if you’re installing a gas range or oven to use in your home. If it’s a full-sized oven, then chances are you won’t need one built into it (unless your full-sized oven doesn’t come with a self-cleaning option). But if it’s a small oven meant to be used at commercial cooking locations only, then chances are there is no need for power cord as well. In this case too, there’s no point in adding one since the appliance isn’t designed for use at home.
#9 – They’re Optional Accessories
While it is true that many appliances come with a power cord, it’s also true that some don’t come with one at all. Your range or oven may not have one if it’s built into your kitchen cabinetry. In this case, you’ll probably need to buy one separately or install the power cord yourself. However, in some cases, you’ll be able to purchase a kit which comes with everything you need to install your own power cord. All these things considered, there’s no point in adding a power cord if the manufacturer doesn’t recommend it and/or you don’t have any need for one in the first place.
So the big question that remains is…why don’t you need a power cord if you’re expanding your business or starting a remodeling job? Read on to find out!
#10 – It’s Not Needed and Doesn’t Help, But Some Appliances Require One In Addition To Power
If an appliance does require a power cord, then it’s likely because it can be damaged by an electrical outage or by other problems when using gas. In these cases, a power cord is needed to prevent damage. The power cord will also help prevent possible fires which could occur if there’s an electrical shortage or fire depending on the appliance and the situation. In other words, it’s needed to ensure that there is a continuous power supply even if there’s a problem with electricity.
#11 – They’re Used in Case of Power Outages
Finally, some appliances are used during an electric outage, so they need a power cord as well. This helps prevent damage from occurring as well as save lives. These appliances can run on gas only for short periods of time, but during an outage there may not be any gas available at all. So in these cases, the appliance will require both electricity and gas to function properly. For example, your geothermal unit may require both electricity and gas to be able to heat your home.
An appliance may need a power cord even if it doesn’t require one because of other considerations. For example, an appliance that’s meant to be used during emergencies such as a water heater may require a power cord because it can be used for cooking and/or heating during emergency situations. In order for it to operate, you’ll need both electricity and gas available at all times.
But if you’re expanding your business or starting a remodeling job, odds are you don’t need a power cord either. You may not use gas or electricity at all. This usually means that the appliance will have no function when there’s an electrical shortage since there won’t be any power being supplied to the appliance at all.
What type of cord does an electric stove use?
Your stove uses a 3-pronged outlet for electricity and a 4-pronged outlet for gas. The main difference between the two is that electric stoves use a 120-volt power source, while gas stoves use a much lower source of 110 or lower. This voltage is consistent with all other electronic devices, so it’s not something you need to worry about. It’s also not something that should make any difference to you when you’re replacing your appliance. It’s just important to know what type of power supply it needs before you buy one.
The 3-pronged cord on your electric stove is the same one used in an ordinary light fixture in your home. It’s the standard household outlet that you can find in any electrical supply store. The other cord types are designed for the ovens and ranges, so it’s not a matter of buying the right wire or finding a cord of the right length. All you need to look out for is making sure that it fits into your stove properly and in addition, you may also want to check if there are different sizes available for your stove.
In order to install your power cord correctly, you’ll need an electrician who has experience with wiring appliances. He can make sure that it’s properly installed and wired before he leaves your home or business.
Does an oven come with a plug?
The plug that comes with ovens is just one of a number of possible options. For example, it comes with a right-angle plug as opposed to a straight one which comes in handy when you’re dealing with close proximity installers.
The standard wall outlet that your stove uses is designed to fit into the opening on your oven and offers around 12” of wire flexibility. In some cases, it can be longer, but this usually depends on the type of household outlet. The outlets can be male or female side, so sometimes you’ll need to get an adapter before using it in your appliance.
Do stoves get plugged in?
Your stove gets plugged in using the same type of outlet that you use to plug in any other electrical devices around your home or office. They’re not considered appliances, but they can still be plugged in. You can also use it without being plugged into an outlet at all if you are only heating something. For example, you could use your stove to heat up your water for a coffee machine or tea pot to keep them warm for you.
Can stoves make fires?
There is a lot of concern about cooking stoves and fire risks nowadays. People have become afraid of using them because they’ve heard stories about people getting burned from their stoves or even their ovens catching fire (or exploding).
Do new ovens come with a cable?
New ovens are usually shipped with a cable. This is to make sure that they’re safe and properly installed, but it doesn’t have any bearing on whether you can use them or if they’ll work correctly or not.
It’s important to realize that you can still use your stove without a cord or without an outlet at all. This can be common in older homes where you don’t have power in your home. What may happen though is that the range may not work unless the cable is plugged in to the outlet.
There is no need to purchase a power cord for your stove if you’ve been using your appliance without one. If you’re planning a remodeling job or expanding your business, then it’s also likely that you don’t really need a power cable either. This means that you can use any of the standard household outlet types and most of them will work fine with your stove. The only situation where this may not be true is if your range has a special plug connection type or it requires the oven to have one already installed. However, before buying a cable, make sure that the appliances matches in terms of voltage and number of prongs regardless of what type of cord it uses to connect with an electrical outlet.
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