Help please! Gas or Induction hob?

[CJK]

I’ve been going around in circles with this for ages. We’ve downsized and are kitting out a small but self sufficient van. Diesel heating and hot water. Solar panel (good sized fridge). But what about cooking? Cook top only, won’t have space for bbq. Can anyone give an opinion on whether an induction hob would be the best or whether gas would take up similar space and could boil a kettle if we don’t have enough spare electric. I keep thinking that if we went all electric we’d end up still carrying a little gas stove for emergencies.

 

[Jev88]

If you have a large battery bank then the induction makes sense but if you don't then gas is the best bang for your bucks?

 

[Puddleduck]

I think I would go for gas as induction hobs do take a lot of electric - but then you would need a gas locker.

 

[VXman]

Do you mostly do campsites with EHU - then induction would be fine. (as long as the site as decent electric supply - might not work in some French ones)

If you intend going off grid a lot then it depends - How much battery/solar have you got?

 

[scotjimland]

self sufficient van

for cooking, then LPG is the one to go for .. never let you down, hail rain or shine.. all we have ever used in 30 odd years of camping and motorhoming .. a 6kg of gas used for cooking last ages..

if you go all electric you need a big lithium battery bank with solar + inverter + lithium charger + b2b charger .. which is a cash heavy investment, from what I read on here .. circa £3k

space heating = diesel

fridge = 12v compressor with a solar panel and a pair of FLA batteries is what we have

we use gas for water heating.. but if fitting new, would fit the Truma diesel water and space heating unit

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[CJK]

Do you mostly do campsites with EHU - then induction would be fine. (as long as the site as decent electric supply - might not work in some French ones)

If you intend going off grid a lot then it depends - How much battery/solar have you got?

We’ll be trying to avoid hook ups as much as poss. Haven’t finalised how much battery etc we’ll have but we will be in the UK a lot and the sun isn’t very helpful at times. Just makes me a little nervous.

 

[CJK]

for cooking, then LPG is the one to go for .. never let you down, hail rain or shine.. all we have ever used in 30 odd years of camping and motorhoming .. a 6kg of gas used for cooking last ages..

if you go all electric you need a big lithium battery bank with solar + inverter + lithium charger + b2b charger .. which is a cash heavy investment, from what I read on here .. circa £3k

space heating = diesel

fridge = 12v compressor with a solar panel and a pair of FLA batteries is what we have

we use gas for water heating.. but if fitting new, would fit the Truma diesel water and space heating unit

That’s interesting and yes, you’re right on costs. After years of gas / electric hook ups this is a big change for us so we need to get it right. I figure we’ll use very little gas just on cooking so gas cupboard shouldn’t need to be too big. Just nervous if all eggs in one basket if trying to operate everything all the time in rubbish weather.

 

[CJK]

I think I would go for gas as induction hobs do take a lot of electric - but then you would need a gas locker.

Yes, this is true - all the operating equipment takes more space than I’d hoped when I started sketching on an envelope…

 

[scotjimland]

That’s interesting and yes, you’re right on costs. After years of gas / electric hook ups this is a big change for us so we need to get it right. I figure we’ll use very little gas just on cooking so gas cupboard shouldn’t need to be too big. Just nervous if all eggs in one basket if trying to operate everything all the time in rubbish weather.

you can also get diesel hobs with combined space heating.. .. but no experience of them

Wallas XC Duo - Combined Diesel Hob And Heater

The Wallas XC Duo is a simple cooking and heating solution, designed for campervan use. Ceramic cooking hob and efficient heater

www.campervanheating.co.uk

 

[CJK]

If you have a large battery bank then the induction makes sense but if you don't then gas is the best bang for your bucks?

Yep, good point - think I’d better check the space available again

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[Stonemags76]

Underslung gas tank?

 

[CJK]

Oh! There’s a thought. I’ll look into that.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I’ve been going around in circles with this for ages. We’ve downsized and are kitting out a small but self sufficient van. Diesel heating and hot water. Solar panel (good sized fridge). But what about cooking? Cook top only, won’t have space for bbq. Can anyone give an opinion on whether an induction hob would be the best or whether gas would take up similar space and could boil a kettle if we don’t have enough spare electric. I keep thinking that if we went all electric we’d end up still carrying a little gas stove for emergencies.

Check out this discussion too

Cooking in Van what would you spec now?

We'd better rename our eggy creations if they aren't omelettes 🤔 Seeing as the don't meet the criteria of cheffy type ones we are obviously a bit stupid so maybe calling them gormlettes would be more appropriate? 😄

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[CJK]

Check out this discussion too

Cooking in Van what would you spec now?

We'd better rename our eggy creations if they aren't omelettes 🤔 Seeing as the don't meet the criteria of cheffy type ones we are obviously a bit stupid so maybe calling them gormlettes would be more appropriate? 😄

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Thank you - didn’t see it before - really useful thoughts. Horses for courses though eh? Merits of every way depending on what you cook and how you live!

 

[Pausim]

Yep, good point - think I’d better check the space available again

A 5kg bottle of gas holds 70kWh of energy a 100Ah Li battery is about 1.3kWh.

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[kurvengeisst]

We did a lot of research on this cos we like our dinner. We use a ninja air fryer for everything at home so we're looking for an all electric van set up already with a big battery and solar to cook electric. I convinced myself electric is safer, better for the planet, and lpg is on the wane. You could argue any of these points but anyway, we didn't get what we wanted , and have gas and 220ah AGM. If I was you and had the choice I'd go electric. There's a good video on the amp hours you get from a big battery set up by leisurebit on utube which shows it's cost effectiveness. It's definitely not cost effective to switch afterwards so you're bang on to GIRFT.

 

[jezport]

Induction combined with large lithium battery and solar

 

[TheMachMan]

I’d go gas. Just for cooking will last ages and always available. Been off grid all this week touring and keeping a decent charge has been the biggest headache. No sun so only charged up my driving to next place or run engine whilst stationary which I hate to do.

 

[CJK]

I’d go gas. Just for cooking will last ages and always available. Been off grid all this week touring and keeping a decent charge has been the biggest headache. No sun so only charged up my driving to next place or run engine whilst stationary which I hate to do.

Ha! Just when I was convincing myself that electric was the way to go! It’s the off grid dull weather that stuffs it.

 

[CJK]

We did a lot of research on this cos we like our dinner. We use a ninja air fryer for everything at home so we're looking for an all electric van set up already with a big battery and solar to cook electric. I convinced myself electric is safer, better for the planet, and lpg is on the wane. You could argue any of these points but anyway, we didn't get what we wanted , and have gas and 220ah AGM. If I was you and had the choice I'd go electric. There's a good video on the amp hours you get from a big battery set up by leisurebit on utube which shows it's cost effectiveness. It's definitely not cost effective to switch afterwards so you're bang on to GIRFT.

I’ll watch that. Have been impressed by argument from RoadPro.

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[Carpmart]

I like redundancy in equipment and cooking is no different. I would still go a gas based approach. As good as induction is, if we don’t have the power available and replenishable with good solar forecast the next 24hrs, we use gas.

 

[VXman]

That’s interesting and yes, you’re right on costs. After years of gas / electric hook ups this is a big change for us so we need to get it right. I figure we’ll use very little gas just on cooking so gas cupboard shouldn’t need to be too big. Just nervous if all eggs in one basket if trying to operate everything all the time in rubbish weather.

Yes, if just using gas for cooking a small bottle would suffice. Or, go for induction and have a small portable gas camping stove for emergencies.

We have a large motorhome 3 hob cooker, oven, loads of gas but personally if the weather is nice I still prefer cooking outside on a camping stove, had BBQ or proper charcoal.

 

[dunnah01]

Forget solar as a main source of electricity in a van in the UK. 'All electric' needs EHU unless you're touring Europe with a decent B2B to charge everything up with diesel.

 

[Pausim]

Forget solar as a main source of electricity in a van in the UK. 'All electric' needs EHU unless you're touring Europe with a decent B2B to charge everything up with diesel.

I get by offgrid in the UK with no solar power using an Efoy fuel cell instead. It is a slow steady charge that easily keeps up with normal domestic demands, including 8 hours of CPAP use per day. However it would not keep up with the demands of cooking, heating and hot water.

 

[jezport]

Unless you have tried lithium you have no idea how much easier it is. We were away at the NEC for 2 nights using a 1000w electric kettle for numerous drinks and soup and washing up. We have a 230ah lithium and used 11% over 2 days. Then ot was fully charged on the way home by the regular alternator with no B2B.

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[dunnah01]

Unless you have tried lithium you have no idea how much easier it is. We were away at the NEC for 2 nights using a 1000w electric kettle for numerous drinks and soup and washing up. We have a 230ah lithium and used 11% over 2 days. Then ot was fully charged on the way home by the regular alternator with no B2B.

Presumably it was warm or you're not 'all electric'

 

[CJK]

I get by offgrid in the UK with no solar power using an Efoy fuel cell instead. It is a slow steady charge that easily keeps up with normal domestic demands, including 8 hours of CPAP use per day. However it would not keep up with the demands of cooking, heating and hot water.

Thanks, will look into that.

 

[CJK]

Unless you have tried lithium you have no idea how much easier it is. We were away at the NEC for 2 nights using a 1000w electric kettle for numerous drinks and soup and washing up. We have a 230ah lithium and used 11% over 2 days. Then ot was fully charged on the way home by the regular alternator with no B2B.

Thank you; that is quite a testament to the batteries. Also, I have to remember it’s not as though we intend to be in one place in middle of nowhere in middle of wet winter for weeks on end!

 

[CJK]

I get by offgrid in the UK with no solar power using an Efoy fuel cell instead. It is a slow steady charge that easily keeps up with normal domestic demands, including 8 hours of CPAP use per day. However it would not keep up with the demands of cooking, heating and hot water.

That sounds good - we’re going for diesel on space and water heating.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks, will look into that.

You will get a shock at the price.