Anyone fitted an Induction hob?

[Peterlewis321]

We are considering to switch out our cockpit grill/bbq for an induction hob so we can cook properly on it (we never use it as a grill anyway and always put pans on the thing as we hate cooking down in the galley). The only concern I have is the power draw.....the induction hob can take up to 3.5kW if you switch on both rings full blast (which generally we would not).....we have a 7.5kW generator so I am assuming that, as long as we are careful not to run too many other items at the same time (microwave/kettle/toaster/watermaker etc) and that the Aircon/Immersion heater is not also going full blast, we should be Ok with it even when out on anchor?
Anyone else got any experience to share/comments?
Many thanks, and a Happy New Year to all!

 

[TheCoach]

Not relating to a boat but a lot of the live in van conversions are going induction rather than gas nowadays. These are running off an inverter from batteries and being topped up by solar/alternator so I would imagine you would be fine with a genny.

The chap who runs Sterling Power has done a vid on YouTube of setting up a system to run Induction in a van if you fancy a watch link is heree

Or YouTube campervan induction hob and there is lots of info including a couple of guys who have calculated real world power drain whilst cooking etc.

Cheers,

TC

 

[Peterlewis321]

Thanks TC-I will take a look. Happy New Year!

 

[Megs20Burt!]

We have an ‘all electric’ boat including reverse cycle a/c. We do have a gas grill we hang off the transom for barbecuing. No generator as yet (it’s planned).

My plan is to replace the wet cell house bank with 600 amps of lithium life4po batteries and a Victron Multiplus charger/inventor with a BMS. Just waiting for the batteries to arrive.?

I’ll let you how we get on once away from shore power...?

 

[ARE]

We are considering to switch out our cockpit grill/bbq for an induction hob so we can cook properly on it (we never use it as a grill anyway and always put pans on the thing as we hate cooking down in the galley). The only concern I have is the power draw.....the induction hob can take up to 3.5kW if you switch on both rings full blast (which generally we would not).....we have a 7.5kW generator so I am assuming that, as long as we are careful not to run too many other items at the same time (microwave/kettle/toaster/watermaker etc) and that the Aircon/Immersion heater is not also going full blast, we should be Ok with it even when out on anchor?
Anyone else got any experience to share/comments?
Many thanks, and a Happy New Year to all!

The only thing I would say is you need to be careful on the compatibility of the induction hob and the generator, induction hobs are designed to be used on the utility supply and not a generator. Some hobs models will not work, maybe see what models other people use.

 

[vas]

The only thing I would say is you need to be careful on the compatibility of the induction hob and the generator, induction hobs are designed to be used on the utility supply and not a generator. Some hobs models will not work, maybe see what models other people use.

can you elaborate Anthony?
what's the problem with a gen produced 240V? variation under load or ?

happy new year to all!

V.

 

[ARE]

can you elaborate Anthony?
what's the problem with a gen produced 240V? variation under load or ?

happy new year to all!

V.

Hi Vas,
It’s normally a frequency/speed issue. The utility supply is exactly 50hz and the induction hob is designed based on this. Mechanical governed engines will be at best +/- 5% and may require speed adjustment for the hob to work. electronic governed engines are better at +/- 0.5%, however sometimes this is still to far out for the hob to work.

sometimes you just need to buy one and see if it works.

 

[chrisharris]

Hi we converted from gas to induction earlier this year, massive improvement, all electric now, also got a combi microwave. Yes have to be careful with the powerdraw, not tried off the geni yet but shore power has a 16amp limit anyway. The induction hob I found is made by Candy and was designed to be plugged into a 13amp socket (odd for a built-in appliance) it has a very useful power management function that shares the 13amp max available between the rings in use.

 

[Piers]

Induction hobs require a stable Hz. Check if your generator has an auto Hz control. Our two Onans don't. However, I found a way to tweak the Hz to the max tolerance of the hob so as more load came on the generator and the rpm dropped slightly, the Hz just stayed within the hob's lower tolerance. Success, but a pain in trying to find out what was happening at the time.

 

[Megs20Burt!]

Thanks for the advice??

 

[Portofino]

I had a marine electrical engineer fit mine back in the spring of 2005 in the SoF .He did do some calcs with the geny and Airco etc .
Its a HDC ELSA 302 . He did beef up the main breaker for the appliance as well .
Works fine at anchor .


Geny is 2002 Masse air cooled job , its tiny @ 3.5 Kv and powers this + 42000 btu airco which is another low power because it’s a D.C. brushes motor constant running system so zero start up spikes to trip out the AC side .
Boiling a kettle iirc with the airco and hobs on cuts something out though @ anchor .
I wasn’t aware of any Hz issues tbh until reading ^^^ .

 

[rotrax]

We have an 8KW Westerbeke genset.

Nearly went with an induction hob but pans have to be suitable. Some of ours were not, but were chosen for easy storage on our vessel.

Went with a twin ceramic hob. Not expensive, works very well.

We also have a flat electric hotplate grill -use that instead of a barbie. First class.

We would not be without the gas though.

On our Kiwi boat we have a combined microwave/oven/grill.

That is very good also.

 

[Peterlewis321]

Thanks everyone-have bought a unit on Amazon for <£100 and will get it installed and give it a go- hopefully no issues!

 

[nw04jen]

We have an ‘all electric’ boat including reverse cycle a/c. We do have a gas grill we hang off the transom for barbecuing. No generator as yet (it’s planned).

My plan is to replace the wet cell house bank with 600 amps of lithium life4po batteries and a Victron Multiplus charger/inventor with a BMS. Just waiting for the batteries to arrive.?

I’ll let you how we get on once away from shore power...?

How are you going with this set up - is the charger an inverter too - which model ? How do you find a/c - have new boat (to me) arriving soon with a/c and thinking first few upgrades to be wet heating with blower boxes and towel rails plus lifepo - most people say the heating no good on reverse cycle

 

[Megs20Burt!]

How are you going with this set up - is the charger an inverter too - which model ? How do you find a/c - have new boat (to me) arriving soon with a/c and thinking first few upgrades to be wet heating with blower boxes and towel rails plus lifepo - most people say the heating no good on reverse cycle

Yes, I’ve heard the same re reverse cycle. Ours wasn’t working when we bought the boat at the end of August and it appears it hadn’t been for some time. It is now and was fixed to test how effective it would for UK use. Also, it will help with either boat relocation and/or resale value in the future.

I think the big issue will be power consumption away from shore power as these systems are power hungry. My plan is to fit a genny, but I want to try out Victron’s idea of the Multiplus inverter/ charger matched to around 400/600 amp Life4po house bank and see how it performs. I’m reviewing the boats power consumption and will follow their formula for computing amperage requirements & battery size.

One of the company’s in our group is in the process of setting up UK distribution of these battery systems from China, so I’ll let you know how I get on??

 

[nw04jen]

That's great thanks. My friend on Sealine forum Fluester has imported cells and building battery bank. Testing was successful...just had Victron charger delivered. Think hes going to install this month or next...new boat to me has genset - 17kw but still think I will do wet heating and lifepo over coming year to future proof. 200ah from china such good value...$300 ish compared to UK @ £799 for 100ah ..obv worth spending some.money on BMS

 

[PilotWolf]

I worked on a boat with one and one of the best things was in. bad weather if you happen to put your hand on it you don’t get burned I think.

But I think we had to have a certain type of saucepans.

W

 

[mil1194]

I worked on a boat with one and one of the best things was in. bad weather if you happen to put your hand on it you don’t get burned I think.

But I think we had to have a certain type of saucepans.

W

I’d never considered it as a safety issue but I’ve (almost) become converted) I prefer gas as it’s ‘simple’ but the safety issue had flashed by me. You do need ‘special/particular’ pans though - as you’ve experienced.

 

[PilotWolf]

I’d never considered it as a safety issue but I’ve (almost) become converted) I prefer gas as it’s ‘simple’ but the safety issue had flashed by me. You do need ‘special/particular’ pans though - as you’ve experienced.

Trust me I prefer gas and when we brought this place we were so glad to be rid of electric cooking.

W

 

[Piers]

But I think we had to have a certain type of saucepans.

W

This is correct. The way to check is if they are magnetic. My wife used a fridge magnet! If they aren't magnetic they won't work.