'Always On' Electric System
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
With an all-electric design, this conversion system is perfect for those looking for the traditional, always on (and hot!) Aga cooker experience, but without the flue works or fossil fuel combustion gases!
This low maintenance system can be installed into one of our Fully Refurbished Aga Cookers, or as a Conversion for your existing Aga Cooker.
How does the Conversion work?
The closest you'll get to a traditional Aga Cooker running 100% by electricity. Designed to work in the same way as Oil and Gas models, the 'always on' electric system uses the same cast iron conductions to move heat around the Aga Cooker - giving you lots of ambient heat, as well as the traditional cooking experience.
These systems have been around since the early 2000's. We install the 'low maintenance' and easy to use version, with no complicated circuit boards (which are notorious for crumbling under the heat).
With a single 13amp power supply and no combustion products, it's perfect for eco-conscious traditionalists.
These low maintenance systems do not require a flue, so if you have a traditional aga cooker that you are converting, you can choose to vent internally to improve the heat into the room, or utilise your existing chimney/flue to reduce food smells from the ovens. In certain circumstances, you could opt for a fan-assisted flue.
The running costs are the highest out of all our available electric systems, but this is due to the amount of ambient heat emitted into the room, as well as the 'always on' functionality - replacing the need for radiators, tumble dryers, electric kettles etc.
If the running costs are outside of your budget, we have controllable electric models available too (or our even more efficient, Everhot Cookers).
The single element system takes around 7hrs to heat the whole cooker up to temperature, and although we install additional insulation inside our models, they are expensive to run compared to our
controllable conversions.
'Always On' Conversion - The Element Setup
Total Cooker Power: 11-12amps / 2.8kw
RH Hotplate: Simmering
LH Hotplate: Boiling
2 Oven Models:
Top RH Oven: Roasting
Bottom RH Oven: Simmering
3 Oven Models
Top RH Oven: Roasting
Bottom RH Oven: Simmering
Bottom LH Oven: Baking
4 Oven Models:
Top RH Oven: Roasting
Bottom RH Oven: Baking
Top LH Oven: Simmering
Bottom LH Oven: Warming
Your Aga Cooker will work from one heat source - these models use a single element. The cast iron conductions remain the same as the oil and gas models, and heat is transferred up to the boiling plate, across to the simmering plate, then down through the ovens. Further conductions move heat across from the burner to the ovens for perfect temperature regulation and heat saturation.
'Always On' Electric - Models Available
Most popular models of aga cooker can be supplied with the 'Always On' electric system.
This system can be fitted to 2, 3 and 4 oven models.
- Post-74 Deluxe Model
- Post-95 Deluxe Model
- Post-2000 Deluxe Model
Also, the limited edition models, such as the Classic and the Millennium edition.
'Always On' Electric Aga Cookers - Temperatures
Each aga cooker is different and temperatures will fluctuate but you can use the below approximations as a guide.
Remember, with traditional aga cookers, the ovens all operate at one temperature, turning the burner up will affect all of the ovens and hotplates.
The oven temperature will drop when the hotplate lids are opened and food cooked inside the ovens may affect hotplate temperature. Our controllable electric models don't have this problem.
- LH Hotplate: Boiling
- RH Hotplate: Simmering
- Top RH Oven: Roasting
- Bottom RH Oven: Simmering
- LH Hotplate: Boiling
- RH Hotplate: Simmering
- Top RH Oven: Roasting
- Bottom RH Oven: Simmering
- Bottom LH Oven: Baking
- LH Hotplate: Boiling
- RH Hotplate: Simmering
- Top RH Oven: Roasting
- Bottom RH Oven: Baking
- Top LH Oven: Simmering
- Bottom LH Oven: Warming
- Warming Plate: Warming
Electric Aga Cookers - Dimensions
Our Refurbished Aga Cookers all have the same dimensions, listed below.
Pre-Installation Requirements: No utilities should be located behind the Aga Cooker. Some minimum clearance gaps are required for airflow and maintenance - 10mm gap behind and 3mm each side. FireBoard behind the cooker is less of an issue due to increased insulation and decreased surface temperature, but it is still recommended. The cooker should sit on a non-combustible surface, for a thickness of at least 12mm.
This is a summary. Our unique, full pre-installation guides will be provided.
2 and 3 Oven Electric Aga Cookers
Width: 987mm (plus 3 to 5mm gap each side)
Depth: 679mm (plus 10mm gap behind)
Height: 851mm (plus your chosen plinth height)
Traditional models have the minimum depth 670mm.
Total height for lid clearance: 1330mm (plus any plinth height).
The doors need a minimum clearance of 116mm but we recommend 150mm.
4 Oven Electric Aga Cookers
Width: 1487mm (plus 3 to 5mm gap each side)
Depth: 679mm (plus 10mm gap behind)
Height: 851mm (plus your chosen plinth height)
Traditional models have the minimum depth 670mm.
Total height for lid clearance: 1330mm (plus any plinth height).
The doors need a minimum clearance of 116mm but we recommend 150mm.
Our plinths are made from steel. They are black in colour and available in 50-80mm high, but 60mm is the norm.
'Always On' Electric Aga Cookers - Pros and Cons
To help you decide on your Aga Range Cooker fuel type, we've listed some advantages and disadvantages to our Aga Cookers.
Advantages of 'Always On' Electric Aga Cookers:
- Traditional "Aga range" cooking style.
- Always on and ready to use.
- Thermostatically controlled, with automatic heat recovery.
- Lots of ambient warmth into the room.
- No fossil fuels required - electric only.
- No flue requirements.
- Simple electric system.
- Easy electric requirements - 1 x 13amp fused spur switch.
- Lower servicing requirements compared to oil and gas.
- No issues relighting after turning off (vs oil and gas models).
Disadvantages of 'Always On' Electric Aga Cookers:
- Cooking on the hotplates will reduce oven temperature.
- Non-Controllable in temperature. All on or all off.
- Ambient Heat may be unbearable in hotter months.
- Long heat-up times (around 7 hours from cold).
- Highest running costs of all electric models.
- Some models suffer from burnout with fused spur switches of lower quality (they should never be fitted with standard plugs).
Electric Aga Cookers - Running Costs
As with every Aga Cooker, each one will have its own idiosyncrasies and will run slightly different (one of the joys of individual, non-conventional cookers!). Your 'always on' electric aga cooker will be similar, with every family having their own lifestyle and habits.
One of the main reasons stated for the argument against an 'always on' model over other models, is the running costs.
The 'always on' electric aga cookers were tested, and had a weekly consumption of approximately 220kWh.
For the most efficient electric Aga Cookers, take a look at our ElectricKit or eControl systems.
Everhot Cookers have the lowest running costs of all our models, and are designed to be always on - giving heat into the room.
Any approximations will change depending on your energy supplier and your usage of the Aga Cooker. Always try to cook more in the ovens than the hot plates to reduce heat loss (our controllable models are an exception to this).
'Always on' Conversion - The Electric Requirements
The electric requirements for the 'always on' system is one 13amp fused spur switch. This should be on its own dedicated ring from the fuse board, as the element can pull close to 3kw.
Some electricians have upped the spec on the power supply to 20amp or 32amp, to prevent the common issue of overheating from the constant high-draw of the aga cooker. You should speak to your qualified electrician when installing the power supply.
The early models of 13amp aga cooker used a simple plug socket, but these tended to overheat and melt easily. For safety, we always require a single fused spur at a minimum - this needs to be an MK branded switch - they're the most resilient we've found.
Electric Aga Cooker - Venting Options
Our electric aga cookers have no flue requirements, as they do not have the normal products of combustion. This means that they can be located anywhere in the kitchen, room-venting in a similar way to a conventional oven.
You'll have a small vented shroud sitting at the back of the top plate, in-between your lids. A 28mm copper pipe will be hidden underneath, which brings the hot air from your ovens into the room.
There is the option to externally vent using a 28mm copper pipe through a horizontal hole in the wall behind the aga cooker.. If your range isn't located on an external wall, a fan may be required to help with extraction due to the length and bends of pipe (the fan kit comes at a higher cost and extra building works).
The 'Always On' Conversion - Heat Up Times
With the traditional 'always on' system you don't have to think about heat up times - it's always on and ready to use!
If you were to turn your cooker off and allow it to cool down fully, it will take around 6-7 hours to get back up to perfect operating temperature.
Our models have a slightly tweaked insulation process from when they were originally installed in the 2000's. Our models retain their heat a lot better, and therefore take a minimum of 48-72hrs to completely cool down if switched off.
Learn More About Electric Aga Cookers
We have more information on features etc, on our Summary page:
