What is dual voltage ?

[Fatmrsgeorge]

And another thing...can you refer me to am idiots guide to electricity please. I have you tubed it but there is so much I'm struggling to wade through. This all started because of a kettle. We want to get a low wattage kettle but what even is that ? Amps. Voltage. Wattage. Not a clue. I could be living in the middle ages.

 

[David and Sally]

Watts = Amps x Volts.

So, a 1000 watt kettle using 250 volts draws 4 amps. Or any other combination of W,A or V.

A kettle is a big draw on the electrics so if using a mains powered kettle it may draw up to 8 amps or more (2000 watts) and some sites have limits on their EHU systems.

Are you planning to use a mains kettle or one running off the 12v Moho system? If 12v it will take forever to boil.

For info, the mains is really 230v or 240v but it is easier to use 250v as the number as it is near enough and easier to calculate ( for me)

 

[fishplug]

Dual voltage kettles are normally 'travel kettles' which can work off 110v like they have in the US or 240v like civilised people have.... Same kettle, but can operate at both voltages.

A low wattage kettle is just that. One that operates with fewer watts than a standard home kettle.

Your low wattage ones will typically be 1000w or less whereas your home one will likely be around 2-3000w.

So, the low wattage one will work with lower powered systems like you have in your van or without needing crazy expensive inverters and cables as thick as your arm, but it will take longer to make a brew.

 

[LostInSpace]

Watts = Amps x Volts.

The volts is almost invariably fixed for any installation.
230 volts in the UK for house or EHU.

and

The volts is also almost invariably fixed in our motororhomes leisure battery,
nominally 12volts, can often be higher (say 14 volts, if the batteries are on charge.

But the same calculation (Watts = Amps x Volts) still applies for both and it is the Watts that change for every individual device.

Now think back to you school days. If watts = Amps x Volts
then Amps = Watts / Volts

So now, you can work whether any particulay applliance will work on the campsite EHU supplly.
For example, a 2000 watt kettle will not work on a 6 amp EHU supply 2000 / 230 is over 8 amps

The maths is just the same for inverters. The voltage is still 230 volts.

 

[Tombola]

The lowest wattage Kettle is Gas esp if you are short on leccy or off grid

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[Badknee]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

 

[fishplug]

The lowest wattage Kettle is Gas esp if you are short on leccy or off grid

It's always worked perfectly for me! Boils faster than a low wattage kettle too.

 

[LostInSpace]

The lowest wattage Kettle is Gas esp if you are short on leccy or off grid

Actually, the equivalent watts for a gas kettle is a lot more - hugely so.
but, then, the gas supply does not have a 6 amp equivalent limit.

 

[LostInSpace]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

We are on our third up before you are even out of bed.
And we have enjoyed the toast.

 

[Tombola]

Actually, the equivalent watts for a gas kettle is a lot more - hugely so.
but, then, the gas supply does not have a 6 amp equivalent limit.

My post was meant to be tongue in cheek but true,

but gas is generally more energy efficient for cooking etc
but then we can start talking about solar generation I spose

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[carolyn]

Now that we have lithium we like to use “free electric” . We have a 800w kettle as our inverter is 1000w . I put the water in at night. First thing I flick the switch and it’s boiled by the time I’ve had a quick wee and washed my hands so ideal.

Thanks for the reminder to hunt out my little dual voltage kettle to take to Panama and Mexico. We’re travelling around. Can’t survive without my Yorkshire gold!

 

[meanders]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

14 minutes at 230V? However 230V mains can vary in UK and Europe from 216V to 253V. As a kettle is a resistive load, it will boil faster or slower depending on the actual voltage being delivered.

To hopefully help the OP, most 220-240V devices will work on 110-120V system (Mainly in North America) albeit more slowly. However NEVER connect a 110-120V item to the higher voltage. The other thing of note is that if something has a motor, it might run at the wrong speed as the AC frequency is 60Hz compared with 50Hz (Cycles per second).

110V is much safer than 230V which is why UK building sites use 110V tools connected to a transformer that reduces the main voltage. 110V is still enough to kill under certain circumstances, but everything else being equal, the risk of death is much lower.

 

[fishplug]

Part of the reason that electric kettles aren't as popular in the US is exactly because they have the lower voltage so it takes longer to boil.

Most of them will boil water in a microwave or on a stovetop kettle.

Also, they tend not to drink tea as much.

But, as usual, I digress...

 

[Barti Ddu]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

14 minutes wait for a brew? Strewth. Mrs B-D would find that purgatory!

Small old fashioned kettle on the gas hob; whistling merrily within 2 minutes. That's the kettle, not Mrs B-D!

 

[Lenny HB]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

Something not right there, unless you are filling it to the brim.

Our 800 watt kettle with enough water in for two fairly larve mugs takes 5½ min to boil.

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[Fatmrsgeorge]

Watts = Amps x Volts.

So, a 1000 watt kettle using 250 volts draws 4 amps. Or any other combination of W,A or V.

A kettle is a big draw on the electrics so if using a mains powered kettle it may draw up to 8 amps or more (2000 watts) and some sites have limits on their EHU systems.

Are you planning to use a mains kettle or one running off the 12v Moho system? If 12v it will take forever to boil.

For info, the mains is really 230v or 240v but it is easier to use 250v as the number as it is near enough and easier to calculate ( for me)

Ahhh. Light dawns. Thanks very much for this .Perhaps if you had been my physics teacher I would have been able to continue with physics and not have to Sew the dreaded lap bag in home economics.

We are going for a low wattage kettle for mains hook up, and an old pot for the gas. Might boil an egg in it too....

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Another stupid question....if I had a 12v kettle ( I don't but just bear with me) could I use it in the Moho 12v socket if we were on mains hook.up or can I only use 3 pin plugs then ?

 

[Raul]

Something not right there, unless you are filling it to the brim.

Our 800 watt kettle with enough water in for two fairly larve mugs takes 5½ min to boil.

Dito, we have a 750W kettle that boils 1L max, but we fill to 800ml as thats enough for two large mugs. Takes about 3minutes max to boil.

 

[Raul]

Another stupid question....if I had a 12v kettle ( I don't but just bear with me) could I use it in the Moho 12v socket if we were on mains hook.up or can I only use 3 pin plugs then ?

The 12v will plug into 12v cigarette lighter style socket only, no 3 pin.
It will boil a mug of water in about 12 minutes.

 

[autorouter]

110V is much safer than 230V which is why UK building sites use 110V tools connected to a transformer that reduces the main voltage. 110V is still enough to kill under certain circumstances, but everything else being equal, the risk of death is much lower.

Actually it's even safer than that. The 110V is from an isolating transformer, with the 110V output centre-tapped so the two 'live' and 'neutral' poles become both live at 55V. When one is +55V the other is -55V, so the difference between the pins is 110V. But the maximum voltage from earth is 55V, which is reasonably safe if you happen to touch it.

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[TheCaller]

To hopefully help the OP, most 220-240V devices will work on 110-120V system (Mainly in North America) albeit more slowly. However NEVER connect a 110-120V item to the higher voltage. The other thing of note is that if something has a motor, it might run at the wrong speed as the AC frequency is 60Hz compared with 50Hz (Cycles per second).

110V is much safer than 230V which is why UK building sites use 110V tools connected to a transformer that reduces the main voltage. 110V is still enough to kill under certain circumstances, but everything else being equal, the risk of death is much lower.

Actually it's even safer than that. The 110V is from an isolating transformer, with the 110V output centre-tapped so the two 'live' and 'neutral' poles become both live at 55V. When one is +55V the other is -55V, so the difference between the pins is 110V. But the maximum voltage from earth is 55V, which is reasonably safe if you happen to touch it.

And if I understand it correctly, that's the principle the American domestic supply uses too. They have 240V with a centre tapped transformer, so have 2 'hot' wires at 110V each from the centre tap. Low power outlets have one hot wire & one from the centre tap, so 110V. High power outlets have both hot wires, giving 240V between them (mostly used for fixed appliances, I believe).

Every outlet is radial - i.e. direct from their 'breaker board' - no ring main. The UK is one of the very few countries to use a ring main system. That's also why we are unusual in needing fused plugs - most systems have the breaker (fuse) back at the main board, but that doesn't work on a ring main system.

(With apologies to the OP, for thread drift )

 

[Raul]

Actually it's even safer than that. The 110V is from an isolating transformer, with the 110V output centre-tapped so the two 'live' and 'neutral' poles become both live at 55V. When one is +55V the other is -55V, so the difference between the pins is 110V. But the maximum voltage from earth is 55V, which is reasonably safe if you happen to touch it.

This is 100% right, I had this on the BS7671 18th am2 regs exam, and yes the site transformer is called reduced voltage SRV. Separated reduced voltage, 50vAC, safe to touch.

 

[CAB96]

Your 12v in the van runs off the Leisure battery, so yes, you can still use them when hooked up.

The Leisure battery gets charged up by the mains as well.

The 12v in the vehicle cab will be from the Starter battery, usually only works when the engine is running.

 

[MisterB]

I know it's not what you asked, but this is Motorhome Fun and everything goes off topic

At some stage consider getting a decent sized lithium battery and a suitable inverter, then you can usually just use standard 240v appliances that perform exactly as they do when in your brick home....!

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Your 12v in the van runs off the Leisure battery, so yes, you can still use them when hooked up.

The Leisure battery gets charged up by the mains as well.

The 12v in the vehicle cab will be from the Starter battery, usually only works when the engine is running.

Thanks. This is exactly what I needed to know.

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[Minxy]

Our kettle is 700 watts, takes 14 min to boil. Get up, switch kettle on, get back in bed, wait for the click, get up brew tea. Sorted

14 minutes just to boil plus the brewing on top I'd be dead before mine was ready as I like it strong!

As an aside, a quick way to get tea in half the time is to initially boil just 50% quantity of water you need and half fill the mugs, put the kettle on again with another 50% and by the time it's boiled you simply top up the mug, give the teabag a stir round, squeeze and then remove it, the tea is ready to drink.

Oh, to keep our tea hot whilst brewing we use can caps - the lids you put on open cans when you haven't used all the contents - these keep the tea nice and hot until it's brewed. Obviously you can use whatever you want but can caps fit our vintage Pyrex mugs perfectly and we already had a load of them for dog food cans.

 

[meanders]

Not if you are using leaf tea.... Teabags.... Yuk!

Freshly drawn cold water. When kettle is close to boiling, warm the pot, put kettle back on to finish. Empty warming water and add the tea and poor the water the moment it boils. Cover with a tea cosy and leave 3-5 minutes. Then you have a proper cup of tea without the flavour of the tea bag and the flavoured dust they fill them with.

It's a good job we are all different?

 

[Jon Stewart]

And another thing...can you refer me to am idiots guide to electricity please. I have you tubed it but there is so much I'm struggling to wade through. This all started because of a kettle. We want to get a low wattage kettle but what even is that ? Amps. Voltage. Wattage. Not a clue. I could be living in the middle ages.

...or just heat the water on the gas, using a whistling kettle.

 

[nicholsong]

Why use a kettle, when gas and a saucepan save storage space?

 

[CAB96]

14 minutes just to boil plus the brewing on top I'd be dead before mine was ready as I like it strong!

As an aside, a quick way to get tea in half the time is to initially boil just 50% quantity of water you need and half fill the mugs, put the kettle on again with another 50% and by the time it's boiled you simply top up the mug, give the teabag a stir round, squeeze and then remove it, the tea is ready to drink.

Oh, to keep our tea hot whilst brewing we use can caps - the lids you put on open cans when you haven't used all the contents - these keep the tea nice and hot until it's brewed. Obviously you can use whatever you want but can caps fit our vintage Pyrex mugs perfectly and we already had a load of them for dog food cans.

Aargh!

1 litre kettle.

1 litre double walled stainless steel insulated cafetiere converted into a teapot.

3 Yorkshire Tea bags.

10 minutes brewing.

2 x 275ml double walled stainless steel mugs.



There's only one thing better than a (good) cup of tea.


And that's a second cup.

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