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Are You a Kitchen Appliance Expert? Think so? OK, How Many Amps Does a Gas Stove Use?

How many amps does a gas stove use? It sounds like a trick question, right? Gas stoves use gas for cooking. Not electricity. Amps are a measurement of electrical power.

Electric or Gas? Which do you prefer? You may be surprised to learn that gas stoves use electricity also, just not as much.

After reading this article, you will understand all the electrical features of a gas stove and how to connect a gas stove to electrical power. I will explain whether you need a dedicated circuit and if you need to use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), so you can speak intelligently with an electrician if you need the help of one for your gas stove installation.

In my case, after doing tons of research into the best gas stoves available, I selected an LG Electronics model.

I learned that to make my brand-new LG Electronics Slide-In Gas Range work properly required an electrician to install a dedicated circuit. The electrical circuit gives the necessary power to operate the stove’s controls, igniters, and convection fan.

The manual says that this gas stove requires a 120 Volt, 60 Hz, dedicated circuit that is properly grounded. The circuit needs to be protected by a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit breaker or a slow blow fuse.

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How Many Amps Does a Gas Stove Use?

The use of electricity for a gas stove supports the digital controls, clock, and the special features of a hood, a convection fan inside the stove, light(s), igniters, and perhaps warming drawers.

Normally, a gas stove needs a 120/125-volt receptacle. The average gas stove uses about 1.5 amps when in operation, although the circuit capacity will be much higher (15 amps to 20 amps).

Note about Europe:

In America, the two common electrical requirements are 120 Volts (60Hz) AC and 240 Volts (60Hz) AC. The European standard is 230 Volts (50Hz) AC.

Plugging the power cord of the gas stove into the electrical receptacle supplies power to the stove controls, clock, and other features, such as a hood with a ventilator fan. The hood carries the smell of cooking and any smoke to the outside.

A convection fan moves the hot air around in the oven to create a more even heat. There may be a light in the range to make it easier to see what is cooking.

The igniters use electricity to create a spark to light the gas. Warming drawers may use electricity to keep the contents warm.

A gas stove may require a 15-amp to a 20-amp circuit. An electric stove requires 50 amps and as much as 60 amps if the same circuit provides power to a microwave.

You may want to consider getting a gas stovetop if you do not need a full oven.

In this video by Pro Home cooks, there is a nice overview of the differences between the types of kitchen stovetops.

This information should help you decide between a gas, induction, or electric stovetop.

Electrical Requirements for Different Gas Stove Models

Here are some examples of the manufacturers’ recommendations, taken from the installation guides, for the electrical requirements for different gas stove models:

  • LG Electronics: 120 Volt, 60 Hz, grounded, dedicated circuit with a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit breaker.
  • GE: 120 Volt, 60 Hz, grounded, dedicated circuit with a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit breaker.
  • Thor Kitchen: 120 Volt, 60 Hz, grounded, dedicated circuit with a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit breaker.
  • Bosch: 120 Volt, 60 Hz, grounded, dedicated circuit with a minimum 15-amp circuit breaker. The power cord is factory installed on Bosch gas ranges.

As you can see, the requirements are the same for many popular models. I found the same requirements for KitchenAid, Frigidaire, and Samsung models. Nevertheless, the model you choose may have different needs, so be sure to check the installation guide or user’s manual to be sure of the specific requirements for your gas stove.

Did you know that gas was first used for cooking in Persia during the first century AD? This was done by lighting the gas coming up through a natural fissure:

I found the electricity usage details interesting.

What is a Gas Stove Outlet Code?

A gas stove must be properly grounded in compliance with local building codes or follow the rules of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, if no local codes exist. The power cord has a three-prong grounded plug that fits into a standard three-prong grounded receptacle.

Do not remove the ground-plug prong. Do not use an adaptor to plug a three-prong cord into a two-prong receptacle.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is not required for the electrical connection of a gas stove. The stove may plug into a GFCI receptacle without affecting performance except for the occasional need to reset the circuit if it trips.

Does a Gas Range Need a Dedicated Circuit?

The recommendations from manufacturers are that it is better to use a dedicated circuit. However, this is not truly necessary for some models, depending on the local building codes.

In this do-it-yourself video by Benjamin Sahlstrom, he explains why it is not necessary to have a dedicated circuit just for a gas stove.

Because of a gas stove’s low electrical power requirements, he recommends tying the stove’s receptacle in with the same circuit used by the refrigerator.

How Many Amps Do Other Home Appliances Use?

In this video produced by SuperRobkar, he shows how to determine how many watts of electricity are used by a gas furnace.

The gas furnace measured uses about 570 watts when running normally and 1404 watts when surging. To convert watts to amps, use the formula: amps = watts divided by volts (120 V). The calculations show that this gas furnace uses 4.75 amps to 11.7 amps.

Here are some average ratings of electrical usage for home appliances and ways to save money on your electric bills.

    • Electric Oven 30 to 60 amps – It makes sense to choose a gas stove over an electric one.
    • Iron 13 amps – Buy wrinkle free clothes to stop ironing and save money on electrical bills.
    • Clothes Dryer 11 amps – A dryer is a big user of electricity. Consider hanging clothes outside on a line instead.
    • Washing Machine 10 amps – Another big user of power.
    • Dishwasher 10 amps – Washing dishes by hand saves money.
    • Hair Dryer 10 amps – Aren’t you surprised how much power a hair dryer uses?
    • Microwave 6.5 amps – Good for fast, efficient reheating of food.
    • Toaster 4 to 9 amps – Find out how to avoid hot toasters here.
    • Vacuum Cleaner 4 to 9 amps – Try using a broom and dust pan to save money.
    • Refrigerator 3 to 5 amps – Learn more about keeping food in the refrigerator here.
    • Freezer 3 to 5 amps – I like to have crushed ice and have my recommendations insert link here.
    • Desktop Computer 1.3 amps – Consider using a solar panel kit and battery to run your computer.

With an average of only 1.5 amps used by the electrical features of a gas stove, it is a very modest amount of electricity compared to most of these other home appliances.

To get a measurement of the amperage, you want to use a digital multimeter.

This video by GM Genuine Parts & ACDelco shows how to check amperage using a digital multimeter.

This video is not for do-it-yourself types but is a training video for professional electricians. When working with any equipment that uses high amperage, there is a risk of getting a strong electrical shock. Use caution when working with appliances.

Useful Resources

Summing Up

Now you can impress your friends by answering the question of – How many amps does a gas stove use? You should know the proper electrical circuit needed for a gas stove. This knowledge should help you decide the best gas stove model for your needs. Be careful when working with electrical circuits, so you do not get a bad shock.

Cindy Becker

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