A stirring hot plate (20) having an electrical heating element (30) embedded in a generally horizontal plate (26) for supporting a vessel containing a substance to be selectively heated and stirred. The stirring hot plate (20) has a high temperature enclosure (84) mounted to the bottom of the plate (26) that receives the ends (32, 33) of the electrical heating element (30). A stirring device drive (64) and control (68) are mounted in a low temperature enclosure (86). A tubular conduit (96) has one end (107) connected to the low temperature enclosure (86), and an opposite end (98) connected to the high temperature enclosures (84). The tubular conduit (96) has an internal passage (97) for receiving and carrying wires (76, 80, 83) between the high and the low temperature enclosures (84, 86). The tubular conduit (96) is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to maintain the one end (107) of the conduit (96) at a temperature substantially lower than the opposite end (98) having a temperature approximately equal to the temperature of the plate (26).