Solar panels and 12v electric kettles.

Suntor 100

Full Member
Posts
35
Likes
8
Maybe a silly question, but I have been reading how poor in general 12v electric kettles perform in the 10a/120w category. If I had a 170w/14a truckers kettle could it be connected to the load connection of my charge controller and only used during bright sunny days when my 80w solar panel would be at it's best, would this be ok or would there be an over load? Anyone use these kettles, do they boil in a reasonable time or is gas still best? Just wondering if the solar panel could be utilized as opposed to using gas during the day.
cheers tony.
 
Suntor 100 said:
Maybe a silly question, but I have been reading how poor in general 12v electric kettles perform in the 10a/120w category. If I had a 170w/14a truckers kettle could it be connected to the load connection of my charge controller and only used during bright sunny days when my 80w solar panel would be at it's best, would this be ok or would there be an over load? Anyone use these kettles, do they boil in a reasonable time or is gas still best? Just wondering if the solar panel could be utilized as opposed to using gas during the day.
cheers tony.
Click to expand...

You're probably looking at 10 - 20min per mug for a 12v electric kettle, my little gas stove <90s :)

Edit: Just noticed the 'Truckers kettle' no doubt that would be 24v - would take forever if at all to boil on 12v
 
Last edited:
Why not just connect up to the battery?

I've only heard bad things, and lots of them, about 12v kettles.

Another vote for gas hob.
 
i tried to use one in a car trip. decided life's too short to wait for it to boil,stopping at a cafe was quicker
 
no in short you cannot run of a solar panel ,it must be through the battery as it is a capacitor ie a device to store electricity in a large lump and deliver it smoothly where as the solar panel will not ,it only delivers to the battery.
But of coarse you can boil kettle of the battery but it will use up a lot of juice though if you are moving of soon the battery will recharge,though i would only use in a emergency as opposed to gas.
 
n brown said:
i tried to use one in a car trip. decided life's too short to wait for it to boil,stopping at a cafe was quicker
Click to expand...

second that. 12V kettle only if there is really no other option. (making a small fire is an option in this case!)
 
Thanks for your thoughts, Trevskoda, I did say off the load connection of the controller, would it not get the benefit of battery & solar panel that way? But I also take in that there are no quick boil 12v kettles then. Thanks.
 
Your 80w solar panel will produce 40w-50w max on a bright English Sunny day.

So even with the best will in the world you can't run a 170w kettle!

If you had 500w + of solar panels on the roof, then give it a go on a sunny day. There may be some 12v kettles which are quick boil, but I doubt it as they would need to be 2000w and at 12v that is 167Amps - the cables would be as thick as your finger ;)

Bottom line is Solar power is a waste of time for heating or cooking on the move - use gas :D
 
Suntor 100 said:
Thanks for your thoughts, Trevskoda, I did say off the load connection of the controller, would it not get the benefit of battery & solar panel that way? But I also take in that there are no quick boil 12v kettles then. Thanks.
Click to expand...

in short no ,you would have to use a low wattage 230v through a inverter and that would flatten your batt in a few mins.
 
Firefox said:
Your 80w solar panel will produce 40w-50w max on a bright English Sunny day.

So even with the best will in the world you can't run a 170w kettle!

If you had 500w + of solar panels on the roof, then give it a go on a sunny day. There may be some 12v kettles which are quick boil, but I doubt it as they would need to be 2000w and at 12v that is 167Amps - the cables would be as thick as your finger ;)

Bottom line is Solar power is a waste of time for heating or cooking on the move - use gas :D
Click to expand...

correct good advice.
 
trevskoda said:
to much money sparks id call that robbery
Click to expand...

I'd say it's a fantastic bit of kit, had mine for a couple of years now, couldn't be without it - so quick. I have a simliar designed stove by primus for cooking, whilst you pay out on the initial outlay, I save on gas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top