12v kettle

UFO

UFO

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We have just been away for the first time with our new solar panel (140W) and batteries (250ah) and found we have plenty of power. It got us thinking about what we could do with all this power!

Has any one used a 12v kettle? For example like this on on ebay - TRAVEL KETTLE 12V 170W PLUG IN CAR VAN 1LTR TRAVEL HOLIDAY CAMPING | eBay

170W at 12v = 14amps. The 12v sockets in the van are labelled '10A' and are fused at 15A on the Schaudt Electrobloc EBL 208SE labelled 'Reserve'.

If necessary I could cable a fused socket direct from the battery but would rather avoid this if possible.

thanks David
 
I wouldn't bother with 12v kettles personally. They take ages to boil water (170w versus a normal kettle at 2000w... 12 times as long for the same amount of water) and also quite a draw on your battery as you say. They are really for car travelers and lorry drivers who don't have any choice, whereas you presumably have gas which is much better suited to heating stuff.
 
Firefox said:
I wouldn't bother with 12v kettles personally. They take ages to boil water (170w versus a normal kettle at 2000w... 12 times as long for the same amount of water) and also quite a draw on your battery as you say. They are really for car travelers and lorry drivers who don't have any choice, whereas you presumably have gas which is much better suited to heating stuff.
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+1

We have one and used it TWICE when traveling with the car. It's faster to park up, get a coffee from the services and drive off than waiting for the bloddy thing to boil the water!
 
Firefox said:
I wouldn't bother with 12v kettles personally. They take ages to boil water (170w versus a normal kettle at 2000w... 12 times as long for the same amount of water) and also quite a draw on your battery as you say. They are really for car travelers and lorry drivers who don't have any choice, whereas you presumably have gas which is much better suited to heating stuff.
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I agree with Firefox. Also, (of target slightly) only boil enough water for usage instead of more than you need. Surprising how much gas you save.
 
well if you boil large amount then use flask what i tend to do is first thing in morning is boil enough for first cup of coffee as that is most important first then empty whats in the flask and top it up with enough cold to wash in and make flask up to use during the day this does two thing it warms the van up in morning whilst it a lttle chilly and give me hot water to wash in and to fill the flask so dont have to boil water during the day ok if you like tea then just boil enough from the flask as u need it with it being hot doesnt take long to boil
 
Firefox said:
I wouldn't bother with 12v kettles personally. They take ages to boil water (170w versus a normal kettle at 2000w... 12 times as long for the same amount of water)
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Firefox - thanks for pointing out, what should have been obvious to me! I should have done the maths myself. I just boiled the kettle at home, which took about 100 seconds, so the 12v one take around 19 minutes - so definitely not a good idea. As Judy has just said when she wants a cuppa she wants it now.

We are pretty good at filling the kettle precisely for two cups, so already economic with the gas.
 
You could treat yourself to better computer audio and sound systems in the van I guess. They can take a bit more power. I also have a 300W mini food processor. It works well with battery power because although quite a current draw it's only used for short bursts. You'd need a 500w or 1000w inverter though. I also have a 400w microwave. Not used it much as it suffers from similar problems as the kettle, but just about 3x as long to cook as a normal microwave.
 
UFO said:
We have just been away for the first time with our new solar panel (140W) and batteries (250ah) and found we have plenty of power. It got us thinking about what we could do with all this power!

Has any one used a 12v kettle? For example like this on on ebay - TRAVEL KETTLE 12V 170W PLUG IN CAR VAN 1LTR TRAVEL HOLIDAY CAMPING | eBay

170W at 12v = 14amps. The 12v sockets in the van are labelled '10A' and are fused at 15A on the Schaudt Electrobloc EBL 208SE labelled 'Reserve'.

If necessary I could cable a fused socket direct from the battery but would rather avoid this if possible.

thanks David
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I bought one on ebay. I tried out in the house using a transformer from 240v to 12v. I think it was running for approx 25mins and still hadn't come to the boil. So I gave up. I think it would crucify the battery. I bought it as a back up, in case we ran out of gas. I have never put it in the MH and instead have a portable camping gas stove which will take less than 5 mins.
You can't beat a whistling kettle IMO :D
 
Love this thread

I have a low voltage kettle as in France you may only get 8 amps power fast kettle will blow there breaker. So I put the kettle on and go for a shower and when I get back it is boiled result lol :scared:
 
oldish hippy said:
well if you boil large amount then use flask what i tend to do is first thing in morning is boil enough for first cup of coffee as that is most important first then empty whats in the flask and top it up with enough cold to wash in and make flask up to use during the day this does two thing it warms the van up in morning whilst it a lttle chilly and give me hot water to wash in and to fill the flask so dont have to boil water during the day ok if you like tea then just boil enough from the flask as u need it with it being hot doesnt take long to boil
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Hi Oldish Hippy

We do the same thing but boil kettle last thing at night. Van nice and snug and warm when getting ready for bed and then we can have a hot coffee before we need to get up in the morning:D

Off topic but maybe worth a mention. We also have a large pump action flask which we fill with ice from deep freezer (-25C) before we leave in summer. We keep topping it up with water and then it gives us ice and iced water for up to 5 days.

Richard
 
Same comment as everyone else - don't bother, too long and too much drain on battery. Have only used it once with engine running to test it. So if you want to try one, there's one here you can have for the cost of the postage.
 
Tbear said:
Hi Oldish Hippy

We do the same thing but boil kettle last thing at night. Van nice and snug and warm when getting ready for bed and then we can have a hot coffee before we need to get up in the morning:D

Off topic but maybe worth a mention. We also have a large pump action flask which we fill with ice from deep freezer (-25C) before we leave in summer. We keep topping it up with water and then it gives us ice and iced water for up to 5 days.

Richard
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Ditto, 2L pump action flask from Lidl £12, but I use mine for hot rather than cold - filled up from home with boiling water on leaving, kept topped up with any spare hot water during the day. Takes 30 secs to boil kettle using flask water. Still tepid 48 hours later.
 
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