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.

 

[Pausim]

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

Me too on the new van.

 

[Pausim]

You will get a shock at the price.

It helps with spending the children’s inheritance. I may be running out of time?

 

[Trackman]

We got a portable induction hob last year, now we hardly use a gas hob, whether at home or in the van. It was only about £50 for a single unit.
It's clean, quick & it's more controllable than gas, as you can set a temperature. We cook outdoors with it when the weather allows.
However, it would quickly use up the power of our lithium battery, so we use EHU a lot when available. As we did that anyway, it wasn't an issue for us though.
We find the versatility of having both the induction & gas hobs is invaluable.

 

[hja]

There seem to be plenty of full timers who do not use gas for cooking and have induction hobs. However I do think you need other appliances like a slow cooker or there are electric pots, not sue what to call them but have them advertised and in use. Not the same as a slow cooker. These mean you are not using induction hob for long periods of time. But you would need a fair wack of lithium.

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[two]

I would not entertain the idea of any kind of heating from 12V. Batteries contain only a modest amount of useable power so save that for electronics and light.
Gas is usually the cheapest form of heat. If you include gas, you might also consider using it for hot water and heating.
I don't know what diesel hobs are like, but that may be worth exploring.
Pans for gas (or diesel) are lighter (and cheaper) than induction ones.

 

[Puddleduck]

There seem to be plenty of full timers who do not use gas for cooking and have induction hobs. However I do think you need other appliances like a slow cooker or there are electric pots, not sue what to call them but have them advertised and in use. Not the same as a slow cooker. These mean you are not using induction hob for long periods of time. But you would need a fair wack of lithium.

I wouldn't be without my slow cooker or my multi-cooker (electric pressure cooker). I can live happily without an oven.

 

[Joethejoiner]

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.

As many will say it really depends on what your travel/camping habits are .
For me gas is a no brainer . Did have a van with diesel heater which was great

 

[CJK]

It helps with spending the children’s inheritance. I may be running out of time?

This is the general plan…

 

[CJK]

I would not entertain the idea of any kind of heating from 12V. Batteries contain only a modest amount of useable power so save that for electronics and light.
Gas is usually the cheapest form of heat. If you include gas, you might also consider using it for hot water and heating.
I don't know what diesel hobs are like, but that may be worth exploring.
Pans for gas (or diesel) are lighter (and cheaper) than induction ones.

I’ve pretty much gone off the idea of diesel cooking as they seem to take a while to heat up and emit a lot of heat too. Fine in winter but not much fun in summer in a small space when it’s wet outside.

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[CJK]

There seem to be plenty of full timers who do not use gas for cooking and have induction hobs. However I do think you need other appliances like a slow cooker or there are electric pots, not sue what to call them but have them advertised and in use. Not the same as a slow cooker. These mean you are not using induction hob for long periods of time. But you would need a fair wack of lithium.

I’ve got a Mr D (hay box type thing) which I am more and more keen on the more I use it.

 

[Andy_Elddis125]

We have a Stirling induction hob, 2kW inverter, 200Ah lithium battery, B2B and 350W solar panel. The hob on half power boils the kettle in no time. Works well and I do not like the idea of a gas hob in the smaller van (fumes and fire)

 

[CJK]

We have a Stirling induction hob, 2kW inverter, 200Ah lithium battery, B2B and 350W solar panel. The hob on half power boils the kettle in no time. Works well and I do not like the idea of a gas hob in the smaller van (fumes and fire)

Thank you, we’re going to go induction hob. It’s something to get used to but I think you’re right about smaller vans. Also no point investing in all the other kit if we then have gas which could have done everything.

 

[jezport]

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

Don't know of any all electric vans, heating is either gas or diesel.

 

[Otter Spotter]

There seem to be plenty of full timers who do not use gas for cooking and have induction hobs. However I do think you need other appliances like a slow cooker or there are electric pots, not sue what to call them but have them advertised and in use. Not the same as a slow cooker. These mean you are not using induction hob for long periods of time. But you would need a fair wack of lithium.

Romoska, electric 400w cooker pan

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[BryanW]

I have fitted out our van with 320Ah of Lithium, Sterling twin induction hob (never need more than 50% power), compressor fridge 400w solar and victron B2B, 3000w inverter(RCD compatible) + diesel heating/hot water. Wouldn't go back to gas only downside is cost