• Induction cooktops operate on the principle of magnetism.magnet image by Dave from Fotolia.com
  
  Completely different from radiant cooktop heating with either gas or electric, induction heating cooktops operate on a principle of electromagnetic heat. The cooktop contains a coil of copper. When electric current passes through the coil, an electromagnetic field is created that transfers energy to magnetic cookware, exciting the molecules to produce heat. General Electric (GE) manufactures two induction cooktops, including a 36-inch model PHP960SMSS as of November 2010.
  
  

Cooking Elements

• The glass ceramic cooktop comes equipped with five cooking elements, the largest located in the middle top above the electronic touch controls, measuring 11 inches and generating 3700 watts on the highest setting. It represents GE's most powerful cooking element. The other elements include an 8-inch with 3200 watts, two 7-inch with 2500 watts each and one 6-inch with 1800 watts. Each element contains a pan presence sensor that automatically shuts off the element when it detects the absence of cookware.
  
  

Electrical

• Factory installed with a 36-inch power cord, the GE cooktop requires a 50-amp circuit. The specifications mandate a special outlet for its 240 volts that pull 11.6 kilowatts (KW) of power.
  
  

Dimensions

• The stainless steel cooktop weights 49 pounds, and is 36 1/8 inches wide, 3 1/4 inches tall and 21 inches deep. The cutout for the cooktop needs to measure 33 7/8 inches by 19 1/8 inches.