Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

3 phase is 380V




Three phase consumer induction stoves are approximately 0% of the consumer induction stove market.

My common model IKEA stove – rebranded Siemens or Electrolux – runs at ~400v (Northern Europe). I know because it broke and I almost poked at it, until I got spooked by the warning labels. It's on its own circuit. Not an expert but as far as I know, most houses in Western/Northern Europe have a three-prong stove/oven connection in the kitchen for a ~400v feed.

My understanding is that many of them can be wired as 1, 2 or 3 phase at least in Nordic countries, though admittedly the ones which allow 3 are somewhat rarer especially when looking at stove top-only models (not combined stove+oven).

As far as I can tell, there are a single digit number of municipalities on the planet where two phase power is available. Do you have more details on that I can read? There's not a ton of.info on Wikipedia and I'm interested to know more.

If you are asking about some stoves that can be installed that way, there is for example FÖRDELAKTIG from Ikea. The manual is at https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/manuals/foerdelaktig-induction-ho..., you can find the wiring options from page 13.

That is fascinating. I was unaware this existed.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I learned something new today!


Take a look at the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europe_Synchronous... power grid. You have three lines of 230V between each pair, and you can connect appliances with either two or three of the lines, depending in their power needs.

That link isn't really a source for residential 3-phase power.

Almost every electrical network is 3 phase distribution, the matter under debate is if you bring every phase to each house, or if a phase reaches every third house.

Anecdotally I have never seen an electrical panel without three phases, but when I went looking it was like trying to find a source for the fact the sky is blue.


I'm pretty sure most of them just use a higher amp circuit. A 40 amp circuit at 230v is 9kW which is more than enough. I've also seen one particularly high end stove which used a battery to cover the extra power needed for the highest setting. Also means you could use it in a power outage.

No, they simply get connected with all three phases, which are available in-house anyway, with a standard 16A circuit breaker on each. That's what installed in our house and that's what I've seen in various holiday homes.

I can easily use all the power my largest induction burner gives me on a 240v outlet. I really want one of those battery boost units for my next big purchase.

Honestly just browning 4 chicken thighs at once is too much for 240v. (My gas range couldn't do any better!)


Good we have one. What a nice 0% we are.

Like I said, approximately.

They exist. But mostly they are not three phase.


It’s 400V in most of the world actually, but residential induction stoves are basically always single phase as far as I have ever seen.

I have a three-phase 'smeg'.

We have that particular model because it was literally the only induction cooktop on the market that would fit the existing hole in our stone worktop.

Quite a lot of them can be wired either one, two or three-phase when you look into their installation instructions, it's just that not that many houses have three-phase power and not many people are willing to pay to get that upgraded just for the hob.


nope. 3 phase is 400V



Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: