The kettle debate

Gerry1

Oh dear, another one bites the dust - maxmycardagain has just been banned !

Seems to happen a lot on the Energy forum for no apparent reason.

markin

Gerry1 said:

Oh dear, another one bites the dust - maxmycardagain has just been banned !

Seems to happen a lot on the Energy forum for no apparent reason.

3 post in a row and then 4 in a row, that posting style probably gets the automatic spam mods attention.

wittynamegoeshere

The electrons go in the opposite direction in EU kettles as they're left-hand drive.  If you use one in the UK it will run backwards and actually cool the water.

Section62

JohnnyB70 said:

Section62 said:

Phlik said:

Anyone who tells you different wasn't paying attention in their physics lessons

Or was a grade 'A' physics student and an engineer, or something like that.

How so? I’ve actually been a physicist, and agree with the view that boiling more than you need uses up more energy, even if you keep it warm and re-boil the excess later.

That was gone over several times earlier in the thread.  If you have a kettle which has a minimum boil amount greater than the minimum amount you need then boiling the excess will be a waste of energy.  Therefore you either need to insulate/store the excess until you need it later, or else seek some other water heating device which is more efficient (for the purpose) than the kettle.

In other words, it is about the difference between theoretical and practical physics. Folks who were "paying attention in their physics lessons" would know this. QED

wild666 said:

My current kettle is 7 years old and I sometimes boil just enough water for one cup with no adverse effects from the kettle like it prematurely cutting out. Now I mainly fill it to about 1.4 litres to fill a flask with a couple of teabags added to the flask but still do occasionally put in only enough for one mug. 

Perhaps, but filling the kettle with at least the manufacturer's specified minimum amount of water is a safety matter, as well as any possible impact on the life of the kettle.

I doubt this site's lawyers would be happy with people recommending that others deliberately set out to ignore what manufacturer's say about using their electrical appliance(s) safely.  Therefore even if you have managed to use the kettle that way with no life-shortening effects, it isn't something other people should attempt, and you should probably stop doing it yourself (if still tempted to do so).

Always fill the kettle to the minimum mark (at least), in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.  The wasted energy from boiling a bit more water than needed is less important than your life.

Slinky

FWIW I boil a full kettle to make OH a flask of coffee on E7 cheap rate. I also boil another kettle to fill a larger flask with water for me to reboil a cup at a time through the day on E7 day rate for my tea (can't stand flask tea). On a sunny day, I'll stand the stainless steel flasks on the kitchen windowsill to use some solar gain to keep the contents warmer. I suppose I could also investigate making a flask cosy out of dark material.....

By this and other money saving efforts I've dropped my daily electric usage from between 8-9kw on average last year, to 6.5 in March and 5.8 last month. I think my biggest saving comes from using gas heated water to fill the washing machine, via a watering can, and reducing the wash temp from 40 to 30. Takes about 10L, or 15L for towels. Dishwasher unfortunately pumps the sump out at the start, otherwise that would be getting the same treatment. 

jvjack

Just spent 15 mins obsessed with kettle.

One normal mug of water poured in doesnt cover heating element at bottom. And doesnt even show up in level. Is it that when people say they use just use what they need they are meaning they fill it to minimum. I think so.

Filling kettle up to minimum then filling mug leaves slight top of element exposed.

So not sure if you can use all that water and leave element exposed after pouring. Element would still be hot but not on so ok? Probly when its on that is not good.

Slinky said

On a sunny day, I'll stand the stainless steel flasks on the kitchen windowsill to use some solar gain to keep the contents warmer.

 I suppose I could also investigate making a flask cosy out of dark material.....

Good idea , and in winter take it into living room.

Slinky said

I think my biggest saving comes from using gas heated water to fill the washing machine, via a watering can,

Do you just pour the water in the compartment that you put powder in as it is filling?

wittynamegoeshere

Are you actually serious that you fill your washing machine with a watering can?

You're getting cheaper heat, but there are lots of losses in the plumbing and carrying it around.  The washer's built in heater uses more expensive energy but is vastly more efficient, as the heat source is right where the hot water needs to be.

In the old days, washing machines had hot and cold fills.  But this is hardly ever done now, partly because it would often end up getting cold water anyway, as the hot wouldn't make it through the pipes.

Do you run your tap until it gets hot?  If so you're not only wasting that amount of cold water down the sink, you're also needlessly heating an equivalent amount of hot water that will be left standing in the pipe after you've done.

silverwhistle

Well, my tea is sacrosanct and is always from freshly drawn water but I also put hot water into the washing machine via watering can. I run the water first, and that initially goes on the garden, and when hot enough into the machine. As it's all from solar PV from March to October it means the diverter can then get to work heating the tank again via the immersion heater rather than exporting the power.

I'm on a water meter and this technique still makes sense for me.

Tranboy

Astria said:

Putting 400V through a standard 240V kettle is fun  

Well, until it popped.

Available now on YouTube search Photonicinduction.Search for 10 second kettle. See also 10 second toaster....

..which got me thinking 2 slices of standard toastie white bread...which is cheaper...use an electric toaster or a gas grill....

wittynamegoeshere

I thought I watched the pennies closely, but filling the washing machine with a watering can is going way too far even for me, I'm amazed that people actually do this.