Tag: Over The Range Microwave Oven

Dear Mr. Electrician: How does one install a microwave oven over stove?  I want to remove the hood over my stove and install an over-the-stove microwave oven. Answer: If you already have a hood with a fan and light mounted on the cabinet's underside, you may be able to use that circuit to power your new microwave oven over the stove.  You should determine first what circuit is powering the hood.  Table of Contents: Is A Microwave Oven Installation Possible? Removing The Existing Hood Installing An Electrical Outlet How to Mount The Microwave Another Microwave Oven Installation NOTE: Some text links below go to applicable products on Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Using my links helps to keep this website FREE. DETERMINING IF A MICROWAVE OVEN OVER STOVE IS POSSIBLE Turn the hood fan and light on, then flip off each circuit breaker to see which powers the hood. With the hood circuit breaker off, note what else is off in the kitchen and the rest of the home.  If you see that the kitchen lights or outlets in other rooms are off, you should not use that circuit to power the microwave. If only some of the electrical receptacle outlets on the kitchen countertop are off and it is a 20 amp circuit, then you can probably use that circuit for the needed outlet in the cabinet above the stove.  Be advised that not every home is wired the same, and what works in one home does not make it okay in another. Several makes and models of microwave ovens mount under the cabinet that is located above a stove.  The instructions for mounting the microwave are standard and explained in the manual with a new microwave oven. You should read the installation instructions before purchasing an over-the-range microwave oven, but basically, you mount the wall bracket and drill some holes in the cabinet above.  The instructions will tell you the minimum distance from the microwave oven's bottom to the stove's top. If the kitchen cabinet above the stove is too low, you cannot install a microwave oven over your stove. Below are two examples of microwave oven installations I did a few years ago.  A chart of adjustable electrical boxes is at the bottom of this post. The tricky part is getting power to the microwave oven.  This is accomplished by installing an electrical receptacle inside the cabinet above the stove, which should be done before mounting the microwave oven on the cabinet. One tool that I have found to be very helpful for installing an outlet for a microwave oven over the stove is the Oscillating Multifunction Tool.  It seems to be the perfect tool for cutting clean, precise holes in woodwork.  This is a tool that I always kept on my truck because it came in handy often. Top Of Page REMOVE THE OLD HOOD FROM OVER THE STOVE Make sure that the circuit breaker for the hood is off.  Remove the small cover underneath the hood that contains the electrical connections.  Using a non-contact voltage...