ASKO's Celsius induction cooktops and Celsius ovens, reviewed from the fitting side of the job: how much power each one draws, the circuit it needs, what a flush-fit benchtop involves, and where the Bluetooth features earn their keep.
In this article
Most cooktop and oven reviews stop at the glass. They compare zones, functions and finishes, then leave you to find out at installation time that the model you chose needs a bigger circuit than your kitchen has, or a benchtop cut-out that can only be made in a stone factory.
This one starts from the other end. We install these appliances across Melbourne, and the questions that decide whether a changeover takes a morning or turns into a switchboard job are the same every time: how many kilowatts does it draw, what cable and breaker does that need, will it fit the hole that is already there, and does it sit on top of the bench or flush with it.
ASKO's Celsius°Cooking range is a good one to look at through that lens. The five cooktops come in two power ratings, and the good news for installation is that all five run on the same standard cooktop circuit.
Celsius°Cooking is ASKO's induction cooktop system. The cooktop ships with a Bluetooth temperature probe, and ASKO sells a matching frying pan (AFP13S) and chef's pot (ACP13S) with temperature sensors in the handle. The probe, pan and pot report what is actually happening in the food or on the cooking surface, and the cooktop adjusts its power to hold a set temperature rather than a power level.
Celsius ovens are ASKO's current built-in oven range across three design lines: Essence (Series 2), Craft Glass (Series 5) and Craft Frame (Series 6). They share a calibrated temperature system, a food probe, and ConnectLife Wi-Fi control. The ovens do not talk to the cooktop by Bluetooth. They are Celsius in the sense of temperature precision, and that distinction is worth knowing before anyone tells you the whole kitchen is one connected system.
ASKO is a Scandinavian brand with its Australian office in Moorabbin, in Melbourne's south-east, and every product in this article carries a 5 year manufacturer's warranty.
The connected load on a spec sheet is the most power a cooktop can draw at once. It is an installation number, not a performance score, and it tells you what circuit the cooktop needs. ASKO's five Celsius cooktops come in two ratings: 7.36 kW (HID654GC, HID824GC, HID965GC) and 11.04 kW (HID925MC, HID956MC).
Here is the part that matters for your installation. Even the most powerful 90cm Celsius cooktops do not need a 10 mm² circuit. Every model has a current limiter built in, which our electrician sets at installation to match the circuit. That means all five, including the 11.04 kW models, go onto a standard 32 A cooktop circuit on 6 mm² cable. It is a more cost-effective installation, and it suits far more Melbourne homes.
The same cable size used for most electric and induction cooktop circuits. No heavy 10 mm² run back to the switchboard.
A 32 A breaker, with the cooktop's current limiter set to suit it during installation.
From the 64cm HID654GC to the six-zone HID956MC, every Celsius cooktop runs on this circuit.
| Model | Width | Connected load | Typical circuit | Current limiter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 HID654GC | 64cm | 7.36 kW | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A |
 HID824GC | 80cm | 7.36 kW | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A |
 HID965GC | 90cm | 7.36 kW | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A |
 HID925MC | 90cm | 11.04 kW | 32 A, 6 mm² | Set to 32 A |
 HID956MC | 90cm | 11.04 kW | 32 A, 6 mm² | Set to 32 A |
If there is already an electric or induction cooktop in the bench, there is usually already a cooktop circuit, and in many homes it can be reused for any of the five Celsius models. On a changeover, our electrician checks three things:
A 6 mm² cable from the switchboard is what we want to see. Older ceramic and coil cooktops were sometimes wired in lighter cable, and in that case a new run is needed.
A 32 A breaker in sound condition. A like-for-like swap on a compliant circuit is a repair. If the breaker or board has to change, that circuit is brought up to current requirements, including RCD protection.
An isolating switch for the cooktop, and a benchtop cut-out the new glass can cover. We enlarge a small cut-out on site. See the benchtop section below.
Watch what an electric to induction changeover involves.
Coming off a gas cooktop, building new, or renovating the kitchen means there is no existing cooktop circuit to reuse. Every Celsius cooktop needs its own dedicated circuit run from the switchboard: a 32 A breaker, 6 mm² cable, an isolating switch, and RCD protection. On a gas conversion, our gas fitter decommissions the old gas line first, and the electrician follows in the same visit.
On a new build or renovation, the best time to run the circuit is at rough-in, before the walls are lined and the benchtop is templated. It costs far less than coming back later.
Watch our guide: 7 things to know before converting from gas to induction.
Make sure your house is compatible.
Not every switchboard has room for a new cooktop circuit, and older boards may need an upgrade first. Check your switchboard before the cooktop arrives, not after. Send us a photo and we will tell you what your home needs.
Check your switchboard, contact us todayAll five are glass ceramic, top-mount, hardwired, Wi-Fi connected through ConnectLife, and come with the Bluetooth Celsius°Cooking probe. Every one uses the same 490mm cut-out depth.
| Spec | 64cmHID654GC | 80cmHID824GC | 90cm, 5 zoneHID965GC | 90cm, 5 zoneHID925MC | 90cm, 6 zoneHID956MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
| Best for | Replacing a 60cm, full power | A wider bench without 90cm | 90cm layout in black glass | Big pots, wok, fast full meals | Entertainers, most zones |
| Glass (W x D) | 644 x 522 mm | 804 x 522 mm | 904 x 522 mm | 904 x 522 mm | 900 x 510 mm |
| Cut-out (W x D) | 560 x 490 mm | 750 x 490 mm | 860 x 490 mm | 860 x 490 mm | 860 x 490 mm |
| Zones | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone layout | 4 x 19x22cm | 21cm, 18cm, 2 x 19x22cm | 26cm, 2 x 18cm, 2 x 19x22cm | 26/18cm, 4 x 19x22cm | 6 x 19x22cm |
| Biggest boost | 3.7 kW | 3.7 kW | 3.7 kW | 5.5 kW | 3.7 kW |
| Connected load | 7.36 kW | 7.36 kW | 7.36 kW | 11.04 kW | 11.04 kW |
| Typical circuit | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A, 6 mm² | 32 A, 6 mm² |
| Finish | Black glass | Black glass, stainless trim | Black glass | Matte black | Matte black |
| Installation | Top-mount | Top-mount | Top-mount | Top-mount | Top-mount |
| Weight | 11 kg | 10.8 kg | 11.4 kg | 11.4 kg | 14.1 kg |
| Extras | Auto Bridge x 2 pairs | Auto Bridge, wok function | Auto Bridge | Auto Bridge | Auto Bridge, Chef mode |
This is one of the standout features of the Celsius range, and not one you find on most induction cooktops. Plenty of cooktops cannot join zones at all, and most of those that can make you do it by hand. ASKO's Auto Bridge uses pan recognition to do it for you.
The square 19 x 22cm zones sit in pairs. Put a long pan across a pair and the cooktop senses where it sits, then joins the two zones into one large cooking area, heated end to end.
HID956MC zone layout: six square bridge zones. Click to enlarge.
Straight from the oven onto the cooktop to make gravy in the tray, heated evenly along its length instead of in two hot circles.
Long pans that normally hang half off a round zone and cook unevenly from one end to the other.
ASKO's PLUS menu Grilling program only runs on bridged zones, and it is tuned for ASKO's induction grill plate and teppanyaki accessories.
Skip the brochure version. Here is what the Celsius°Cooking accessories do in a normal week, and what using them takes.
Grouped by power rating. All five go onto the same standard 32 A cooktop circuit on 6 mm² cable.
Four identical 19 x 22cm zones, each boosting to 3.7 kW, and the full 7.36 kW load behind them in a 644mm wide glass. It drops into a typical 560 x 490mm opening, so it is the natural pick when replacing a 60cm electric or induction cooktop. Both pairs of zones Auto Bridge, which is unusual at this width.
The 80cm option, with a stainless trim rather than the black edges of its siblings. Zone layout is mixed: a 21cm round zone front left with a wok function, an 18cm zone behind it, and a bridgeable pair of 19 x 22cm zones on the right. Same 7.36 kW class, so a 32 A circuit. Its 750mm cut-out is less common than 560 or 860, so check the existing opening first.
The 90cm Celsius cooktop in black glass. A large 26cm zone rear left, two 18cm zones on the right, and a bridgeable pair of 19 x 22cm zones down the middle, so a roasting tray or fish kettle sits in the centre of the cooktop.
Our pick for people who cook hard. The rear left zone is a dual 26/18cm ring that boosts to 5.5 kW, the only zone in the range that goes past 3.7 kW, which is what a wok or a big stockpot of water wants. The four square zones alongside it bridge in pairs, and in matte black it is the most distinctive of the five.
Six identical 19 x 22cm zones with Auto Bridge, and the only model with Chef mode, which switches the whole cooktop into three columns at once: high on the left, medium in the middle, low on the right, so you can slide pans across instead of adjusting sliders. At 14.1kg it is the heaviest of the five, which is worth knowing for the benchtop support.
ASKO's Celsius oven range runs across Essence (Series 2), Craft Glass (Series 5) and Craft Frame (Series 6). Moving up buys a jog dial alongside the touchscreen, more functions, two-level telescopic runners on Craft Frame, and the sculpted metal frame that gives that line its name.
The Celsius part is temperature. Each oven has a food probe, and at first use the probe is used to calibrate the oven, so the temperature on the display is the temperature in the cavity. ConnectLife adds remote control, custom programs, and ASKO's Dish Designer, which suggests a recipe and oven program from a photo of your ingredients.
For installation, the range is refreshingly uniform. Every model carries a 16 A fuse rating on ASKO's product sheet, is hardwired, and fits a standard 60cm cavity.
| Spec | EssenceOT26BGHAU | Essence PyroOTP26BGHAU | Craft Glass PyroOTP56BGHAU | Craft Glass SteamOCS56BGHAU | Craft Frame PyroOTP66GSHAU | Craft Frame SteamOCS66GSHAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product |  View product |  View product |  View product |  View product | View product |  View product |
| Series | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Type | Multifunction | Pyrolytic | Pyrolytic | Combi-steam | Pyrolytic | Combi-steam |
| Volume | 71 L | 71 L | 71 L | 71 L | 71 L | 71 L |
| Functions | 15 | 15 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 |
| Controls | 3in TFT touch | 3in TFT touch | TFT + jog dial | TFT + jog dial | TFT touch + jog dial | TFT touch + jog dial |
| Cleaning | AquaClean | Pyrolytic | Pyrolytic + AquaClean | SteamClean + descale | Pyrolytic + AquaClean | SteamClean + descale |
| Steam water | No steam | No steam | No steam | 1.3 L tank, no plumbing | No steam | 1.2 L tank, no plumbing |
| Telescopic runners | 1 level | 1 level | 1 level | 1 level | 2 levels | 2 levels |
| Fascia (W x H) | 594 x 595 mm | 594 x 595 mm | 594 x 595 mm | 594 x 595 mm | 597 x 597 mm | 597 x 597 mm |
| Min. niche (W x H x D) | 560 x 590 x 550 mm, all six models | |||||
| Weight | 38 kg | 38 kg | 39.1 kg | 41.7 kg | 40.5 kg | 44.2 kg |
| Circuit | 16 A, hardwired, one dedicated circuit per oven | |||||
| Spec | Essence Combi MicrowaveOCM24BGHAU | Craft Frame Combi MicrowaveOCM64GSHAU |
|---|---|---|
| Product |  View product |  View product |
| Volume | 50 L | 50 L |
| Functions | 28 | 29 |
| Microwave | Inverter | Inverter |
| Fascia (W x H) | 594 x 455 mm | 597 x 458 mm |
| Min. niche (W x H x D) | 560 x 450 x 550 mm | 560 x 450 x 550 mm |
| Weight | 34.2 kg | 34.8 kg |
| Circuit | 16 A, hardwired | 16 A, hardwired |
The table we would want in front of us before quoting. The circuits below are what we typically install for a Melbourne home. The final cable size is always confirmed by our electrician on the day, based on the length of the run, how the cable is installed, and whether it passes through ceiling insulation.
| Appliance | Connected load | Breaker | Circuit cable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius ovens, all models | 16 A rated | 16 A | 2.5 mm² |
| HID654GC, HID824GC, HID965GC | 7.36 kW | 32 A | 6 mm² |
| HID925MC, HID956MC | 11.04 kW | 32 A, current limiter set to match | 6 mm² |
ASKO lists all five Celsius cooktops as top-mount installation: the glass sits on the benchtop and covers a plain rectangular cut-out. That is the version Addison Appliances handles end to end, including cutting or enlarging the opening in stone and timber benchtops on site.
A flush-fit cooktop sits level with the bench surface. The cooktop manual covers flush mounting for suitable frameless models, and it is a different job entirely:
Flush fitting needs a two-level cut: the through-cut, plus a rebate around it routed to the exact depth of the glass. For a 90cm model ASKO's tables put the through-cut at 860 to 862 x 490 to 492mm, inside a rebate of 904 to 905 x 514 to 515mm. Those are one to two millimetre tolerances.
A rebate that precise, level all the way round, is CNC work done in the benchtop manufacturer's factory, usually when the stone is being made. It is not something to attempt with the benchtop already installed.
The gap around the glass (minimum 2mm) is sealed with a silicone rated to at least 160°C that suits the stone. The cabinet below must stay open to the cut-out size so the cooktop can be pushed out from underneath for service. Over an oven, the worktop has to be at least 38mm thick.
| Model | Cut-out (W x D) | Glass (W x D) | Overlap each side (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HID654GC | 560 x 490 mm | 644 x 522 mm | 42 mm |
| HID824GC | 750 x 490 mm | 804 x 522 mm | 27 mm |
| HID965GC, HID925MC | 860 x 490 mm | 904 x 522 mm | 22 mm |
| HID956MC | 860 x 490 mm | 900 x 510 mm | 20 mm |
A cut-out that is too small is routine: we enlarge it on site. A cut-out that is too big is the problem. If your existing hole is wider or deeper than the new cooktop's glass can cover, no amount of cutting fixes it, and you are into a benchtop repair or a replacement piece. This most often turns up when swapping an older gas cooktop for induction, because gas cut-outs vary widely. Measure the hole, not the old cooktop.
The questions we field most when someone is weighing up an ASKO Celsius cooktop or oven.
Send the model, a photo of your switchboard and a few of the bench or oven space, and we will come back with the circuit it needs, what the benchtop involves, and a quote.