What is a Perilex connection?
Perilex is a five-pin plug and socket connection for heavy household appliances: three line conductors, neutral and earth in a single plug. In the Netherlands and Germany it is the standard connection for electric cookers, induction hobs and large ovens. The design is standardised (DIN 49445/49446).
An ordinary socket outlet is protected at 16 amps at 230 volts, roughly 3,500 watts. An induction hob can demand more than that at peak. Through a Perilex connection the appliance can spread its load across several phases, drawing much more power without overloading a single circuit.
Two versions
- Perilex 16 A — the usual version for hobs and cookers in dwellings.
- Perilex 25 A — a heavier version with a different pin arrangement, so it cannot be inserted into a 16 A socket.
Perilex is not the same as an industrial CEE connector, the blue or red plug used on sites. The pins differ and the two are not interchangeable.
Wiring at the consumer unit
A Perilex socket is fed from a dedicated cooker circuit. Depending on the installation that is either:
- A Perilex circuit on two or three phases, each with its own miniature circuit breaker;
- or, on a single-phase supply, an arrangement with the line conductors bridged — in which case the outlet delivers less power than its mechanical design implies.
The circuit must be protected by a 30 mA residual current device. Wiring it at the consumer unit is work for a qualified electrician: if line and neutral are transposed, dangerous voltages can appear at the hob, and working in a consumer unit carries real risk.
Practical points
- Check what the appliance requires first. Many modern induction hobs are supplied without a plug and with a wiring diagram for 1-, 2- or 3-phase operation; the number of phases connected determines whether all zones can run at full power simultaneously.
- Do not skimp on cable length. A cooker has to be pullable forward for servicing.
- Never substitute an ordinary socket by putting an appliance on 230 V without following its wiring diagram.
- Supply too small? On an older, lightly rated service, a powerful hob can reach the limit; an upgrade is applied for through the network operator.
Related terms
- Residual current device
- Connected load
- Miniature circuit breaker
- Earthing system
- Cooker outlet
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