3kw kettle using less electricity than a 2 kW kettle

[Deleted User]

Quite apart from getting bored, walking away, and then switching the kettle on for a second time, the 2kW kettle will still use slightly more energy.

The amount of energy required to raise the water to boiling point is the same regardless of kettle power, but the total energy used also includes a small additional amount that leaks from the kettle into the kitchen. Since the 3kW kettle boils quicker, it will spend less time leaking heat into the kitchen, and therefore the total energy used will be slightly lower. It won't be a very big difference though.

At 100C the heat loss from a kettle will be round about 90W, so if the kettle element were any lower power than that it would never boil.

Norman_Castle

jack_pott wrote: »

Quite apart from getting bored, walking away, and then switching the kettle on for a second time, the 2kW kettle will still use slightly more energy.

The amount of energy required to raise the water to boiling point is the same regardless of kettle power, but the total energy used also includes a small additional amount that leaks from the kettle into the kitchen. Since the 3kW kettle boils quicker, it will spend less time leaking heat into the kitchen, and therefore the total energy used will be slightly lower. It won't be a very big difference though.

At 100C the heat loss from a kettle will be round about 90W, so if the kettle element were any lower power than that it would never boil.

The wear and tear on the op's floor covering and slippers also increases with the slow boiling kettle. The op would also need to eat more to provide the extra energy needed to wander off then return.

System

I am somewhat surprised that with the combined IQs on this forum that nobody has mentioned the effect of atmospheric pressure on the boiling point of water. Moreover, how do we know that a full 2kW kettle has the same volume of water as the 3kW kettle? We need answers.

r2015

Moreover, how do we know that a full 2kW kettle has the same volume of water as the 3kW kettle?

It doesn't matter what the capacity of the kettle is, though both are 1.7 litres, as I initially measured 2 mugs of water, allowing for the water volume increasing with temperature, and fill to the same mark every time.

anotheruser

All this "I'm trying to be the biggest big-head" for a post that is fairly meaningless, saves such a nominal amount - strange how people waste their time these days...

reeac

anotheruser wrote: »

. strange how people waste their time these days...

Better than most of the Facebooking, texting etc that I've come across.

lstar337

anotheruser wrote: »

All this "I'm trying to be the biggest big-head" for a post that is fairly meaningless, saves such a nominal amount - strange how people waste their time these days...

Was thinking the same. Boredom can be the only reason anybody is giving this thread the time of day!

lstar337

jack_pott wrote: »

The amount of energy required to raise the water to boiling point is the same regardless of kettle power, but the total energy used also includes a small additional amount that leaks from the kettle into the kitchen. Since the 3kW kettle boils quicker, it will spend less time leaking heat into the kitchen, and therefore the total energy used will be slightly lower. It won't be a very big difference though.

What about the insulation levels of each kettle? Since a better insulated kettle will lose less heat, it will boil quicker and use less energy.

Most kettles still seem to be a thin skin of either steel of plastic though, what is that about!?

Pincher

I have an Insinkerator hot water dispenser, which is properly insulated, and I don't have to wait. Life's little luxuries. Ahhh

r2015

All this "I'm trying to be the biggest big-head" for a post that is fairly meaningless, saves such a nominal amount - strange how people waste their time these days...

And strange how people waste their time complaining about something fairly meaningless.