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Hi, was wondering if anyone has used a microinverter just for a single AC appliance, which would be an induction cooktop. Also, if there are other stoves that work with DC hookups to solar panels. I'm interested in an all-DC system, though if the cost of an inverter, batteries, panels plus the lost efficiency from DC-AC is less than the efficiency gained from the faster cooking of the induction, compared to a gas or wood stove or something.
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Off grid?[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] -
An induction hob needs a 1500w inverter, generally pure sine. I don't know how it's electronic innards would work with mod sine power.
As to efficiency, I'm guessing they are up in the 90% of the input power gets converted to heat in the pan, which is way above gas or electric coil. I don't notice much warm air out the exhaust vent on mine.
Only the simple electric tea kettles with the internal element are higher, as all power consumed, goes into the water, but some radiates out the sides of the hot pot.Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-ListerComment
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I am a bit confused with your question. Modern induction stove tops have several elements ranging in wattage of 1500 to 3600 watts and most require a 60 amp 240 AC circuit. In terms of an inverter ran from batteries you are talking in the neighborhood of a 10 to 12 Kw inverter or commercial units that run around $2 per watt. Electric cooking gets real expensive real fast with solar PV and should be avoided.MSEE, PEComment
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I hadn't thought of an electric kettle, but that sounds interesting. I bet it would be weird to try to cook pasta in it (are they only made for water?).
For example, I don't know if hotpots like this one that uses DC can boil water in addition to heating it: http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt...ot-p-1727.html
So I found this DC electric kettle which does boil water, though after 40 minutes:
I like the latter one; time isn't as much of an issue, and I'd prefer DC as long as I can get it to boil...in under an hour I guess. I guess what I'm looking for is a stainless steel cooking pan that can cook a variety of things by being heated electrically without much efficiency loss. Something like the above, but complemented with slow rice cookers, etc.Comment
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You may also want to look into the Solar Cook Ovens, there are many DIY and commercial versions.Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-ListerComment
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Click on the forum button and on the right hand side of the page you will see a link to Build It Solar - click on that and you will be buried with information.
Russ[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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If you go AC, microwave cooking is versatile and efficient compared to resistance burners. You can cook pasta and rice in microwave ovens. For the latter, I find it better than other methods. I don't know if is more or less efficient than induction burners, but if you are really going to cook, a microwave won't do it all. Note that I am very critical of people that say that you can't cook with a microwave oven. I do a lot of cooking in mine and I know a lot about cooking.
There are lots of electric appliances that plug in and cook that you can boil pasta and such in. They tend to be small for my scale. Electric fry pans would work, but are kid of shallow. There are electric pressure cookers. I like my Corning Electromatic but they have not been manufactured for decades. I donComment
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The old crock pot?[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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I don't know about crock pots. I don't think that they are very well insulated. They are probably better than firing up a big oven or maybe even a toaster oven, but they really don't serve the same purpose. The best comparison might be to a medium stock pot on an induction burner and I really don't know.
My energy efficiency determination has a very high cooling load component. If something is going to cook for a long time, like a crock pot, I can take it outdoors and is is OK.Comment
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Don't know about today but they used to have the equivalent of a 60 watt incandescent bulb as I remember.
They are certainly insulated very well or they would have never worked at all.
Russ[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
I was curious how well a stovetop could work renewably with the fewest number of parts, from panel to cooker. I guess I could have posted in the technical solar section.
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