Laysula
Well-known member
Has anyone got any recommendations for a 12v kettle? Or conversely any particular ones to avoid.
12v Kettle
- Thread starter Laysula
- Start date
rotrax
Well-known member
We had one for use while travelling to continental motorbike racing gigs. Even with the large alternator of the Iveco racetruck giving 14V+ it took ages to heat enough water for three cups of coffee. The one long distance lorry drivers used at the time was the one purchased.
We found it was more convenient to make a stop and buy some......................................................
We found it was more convenient to make a stop and buy some......................................................
Neeves
Well-known member
Decent thermos flask
Jonathan
Jonathan
Motor_Sailor
Well-known member
For an electric kettle to be effective like the domestic ones, it would need to be 2000W and up to 3000W.
That's 160 to 250 Amps at 12v which would require a quite chunky flex (welding cable size). That's why the ones on offer are about 150W or about 13 to 20 times slower.
That's 160 to 250 Amps at 12v which would require a quite chunky flex (welding cable size). That's why the ones on offer are about 150W or about 13 to 20 times slower.
ylop
Well-known member
depends what you mean by effective. If you want to boil 1.5L of water in a few minutes like you do at home them yes you need 2-3kW. If you only want to boil say 300mL for 1 cup of tea, and are in no rush you can get away with what's on offer. Most probably have a "cigarette" lighter style socket, which IMHO is a poor bit of engineering even in a car but on a bouncy, wet boat is worse. Also worth keeping in mind that many boats cigarette lighter sockets were implemented for phone chargers etc and so are not wired up for say 15A. We have a gimballed stove, and fill a flask at the start of the day. If I had a small motor boat I might consider 12V as an option for 1 person.
Pete7
Well-known member
We have gone the other way. Inverter and small 0.8L Argos kettle, now £20. Takes 4 minutes and 15 seconds to boil 0.5L which makes two mugs of tea. This and a single induction hob halved our gas usage. Interestingly the kettle seems quite stable just sitting on the galley counter, even sailing to windward.
Refueler
Well-known member
I note someone mentioned Trucks ... most gear like this is 24V for trucks .... for the simple reason 12v is too low ! and needs lots of amps.
I have a small mains kettle .... when I have 240v connected - one of the last things I do before disconnecting - is to boil a full kettle and fill a pump flask. Then anyone on board can then later make a cup of tea or coffee ... OK - it does not last long .. but at least it helps.
I have a small mains kettle .... when I have 240v connected - one of the last things I do before disconnecting - is to boil a full kettle and fill a pump flask. Then anyone on board can then later make a cup of tea or coffee ... OK - it does not last long .. but at least it helps.
noelex
Well-known member
Vacuum insulated electric kettles are the best solution although they are only available in around 1800w -2000w, so you will need a decent sized inverter and associated wiring. Thisis the most efficient option.
If you only have a small inverter then one of the smaller 900w kettles will be better.
If you have no inverter, 12v kettles are available, but you need substantial 12v wiring and lots of patience waiting for them to boil.
If you only have a small inverter then one of the smaller 900w kettles will be better.
If you have no inverter, 12v kettles are available, but you need substantial 12v wiring and lots of patience waiting for them to boil.
Laysula
Well-known member
Thanks. I think I'll give it a miss at the moment then.
Iliade
Well-known member
I have one in the minibus. Takes geological timescales to boil, but if you are just trundling down a mototrway for hours who cares?
ashtead
Well-known member
Can you not just heat the water in the microwave
Snuffly
New member
i bought 1 of these, tbh can't say how good it is, as i haven't tried it out yet. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-D...81765072&sprefix=12+usb+kettle,aps,139&sr=8-5 at least it has a usb connection instead of a cigarette lighter type
Kelpie
Well-known member
Surely that's even worse?? Cigarette lighter sockets are good up to about 10A at 12v, so 120w.
USB is 5v and about 3A max, so 15w... unless I'm completely misinformed savoir these things.
Snuffly
New member
not sure tbh, I only bought it because it is cheap and I hoped a reasonable alternative to a mains kettle, Guess I will have to test it during the week
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
They’re having a laugh. It cannot run at more than 15w. O.0.15kw.
William_H
Well-known member
The mug as in the link has some advantages like insulation and small capacity. Note however the blurb only refers to keeping the drink warm. Certainly as said not for boiling water.
if a jug or mug is insulated and of minimum capacity for what you want. ie 250 mls then efficiency must be near 100% from your electric source. Indeed would be far more efficient than using an inverter from 12v. So look for a small insulated 12v and make a solid electrical connection. Throw away the cigarette lighter plug.
Or for a radical idea get an insulated mug with lid and fit a heating element inside. I would drill 2 holes in side near the bottom and fit 2 screws right through. On the inside you connect a coil of stainless steel or nicrome wire. Like unravelled from 3/16 1x19 rigging wire. Try about 2 metres for start. Use an amp meter to get a length to take about 10 to 15 amps from 12v battery. Once you have a suitable length, coil it around a pencil (or something fatter) so that it can be made into a dough nut shape with lugs crimped onto the end to attach to your screws inside. Hopefully turns of wire do not short to one next to it. Then fit wires to the outside of the screws and see how long it takes to get water hot enough. Then decide if you can afford to lose that much amp hours from boats battery. ol'will
if a jug or mug is insulated and of minimum capacity for what you want. ie 250 mls then efficiency must be near 100% from your electric source. Indeed would be far more efficient than using an inverter from 12v. So look for a small insulated 12v and make a solid electrical connection. Throw away the cigarette lighter plug.
Or for a radical idea get an insulated mug with lid and fit a heating element inside. I would drill 2 holes in side near the bottom and fit 2 screws right through. On the inside you connect a coil of stainless steel or nicrome wire. Like unravelled from 3/16 1x19 rigging wire. Try about 2 metres for start. Use an amp meter to get a length to take about 10 to 15 amps from 12v battery. Once you have a suitable length, coil it around a pencil (or something fatter) so that it can be made into a dough nut shape with lugs crimped onto the end to attach to your screws inside. Hopefully turns of wire do not short to one next to it. Then fit wires to the outside of the screws and see how long it takes to get water hot enough. Then decide if you can afford to lose that much amp hours from boats battery. ol'will
Scillypete
Well-known member
Medium sized domestic bank 360AH, 400w solar, 2000w inverter, smallish domestic kettle, does the job for me also use a household two slot toaster as well makes life very easy and saves on gas usage
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
Just to note that a standard 3kw electric kettle that takes (say) 3 minutes to boil a kettle full will use about 12 Ah of battery capacity to boil one kettle of water, not taking any losses in the system into consideration - it'll actually be more like 15 Ah. That's a significant proportion of the storage capacity on many yachts; boiling 3 kettles would flatten one of my domestic batteries. Also, while boiling the water, the inverter will draw 250 A - again, actually more because of losses in the inverter. It will require an expensive inverter that is permanently wired.
Kelpie
Well-known member
It takes me around 3-5Ah to boil a cup of water, depending on the starting temperature. This is through an induction hob which is presumably slightly less efficient than an electric kettle.
We're self sufficient for power unless the weather is pretty poor. But we're not in the UK
We're self sufficient for power unless the weather is pretty poor. But we're not in the UK
noelex
Well-known member
If you can manage electric cooking and/or producing hot drinks via electric energy it is worth considering.
Significant savings on propane/butane can be made even if the electric option is not always used. This reduces expenses, but more importantly saves the hassle of filling up bottles. It also greatly reduces the water vapour released into the cabin.
The main problem rather than battery size is replacing the energy.
In areas of reasonable solar insolation we do all electric cooking and water heating (including showers) and there is no doubt it is very convenient option.
Significant savings on propane/butane can be made even if the electric option is not always used. This reduces expenses, but more importantly saves the hassle of filling up bottles. It also greatly reduces the water vapour released into the cabin.
The main problem rather than battery size is replacing the energy.
In areas of reasonable solar insolation we do all electric cooking and water heating (including showers) and there is no doubt it is very convenient option.
