12v Car Kettle

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:03
ThreadID: 91424 Views:20629 Replies:13 FollowUps:7
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We usually use our small gas stove to boil the kettle for a cuppa, but it's just a little bit fiddly and time consuming to set up.

So....we (2 of us) were thinking of giving a 12v kettle a try. I googled the item and a few came up but I was wondering if anyone is using this type of kettle and do you have any recommendations??

Thanks in advance
Wayne
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Reply By: Time - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:27

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:27
Had one a few years ago. I wouldn't recommend you buy one.

Was extremely slow to "boil" (never actually reached boiling point), chews a fair amount of power and ended up being another piece of clutter in the kitchen kit that didn't earn its keep.

We now use either the single burner stove which boils up the billy pretty quickly or fill the thermos in the morning.
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Reply By: ben_gv3 - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:42

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:42
My parents got given one. They said they gave up after an hour of trying to boil the water.
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Reply By: nsngood - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:05

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:05
I use a waeco 12v kettle in my truck all the time when doing long trips.
yes they are slow to boil if you plug into a normal outlet.
even so... My normal routine in the mornings is to get up do my engine check start the engine and plug the kettle in. then i do the rest of my vehicle checks make breakfast and then the kettle is usually boiling its little head off.
i usually use about twice the amount of water i need for a cuppa and use the excess to rinse my plate and cup.i will keep a bottle of water and the kettle handy when driving and if i know im pulling up for a wee break i plug it in and its ready to go.
I would suggest putting in a heavy duty socket wired directly to the battery as the kettle can and will blow fuses on a normal cig lighter type outlet.
Just to qualify the fuse thing. They dont blow all the time and sometimes it would boil 15 times then blow the fuse which is why i now have a lead directly to the battery.
Hope this helps,
Brendan
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Reply By: Capt. Wrongway - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:29

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:29
Truely not worth the effort. Stick with gas, much faster. The small gas canister single burner units are ideal for this.
Capt.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:34

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:34
True blue

We have been using a Dingo Kettle for about 3 years and wouldn't use anything else.

Unlike one of those little gas stoves the wind has little effect on the kettle.

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Reply By: member - mazcan - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:41

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:41
hi true blue
now theres an aussie title if ever there was one lol

yes i have a waeco and it is heavy on power draw and as slow as as wet camp fire
takes at least 20-25 minutes to boil and it also blew fuses even on a 20 amp wired socket system i have in my car for heavy duty use/12v air compressor /12v drill use etc
i bought one of those small single burner gas stoves that take the gas cartridge and it craps all over the waeco electric jug and can be used for all modes of heating /cooking and very economical to run and doesnt zap your battery power in the car where there is only one battery for everything
imho
dont waste your money
cheers
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:49

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 13:49
Don't bother

We are others into effective touring all work thru a thermos.

I.E. We leave camp with 1.8lt of hot water - and also last chore before
going to bed is to make sure your thermos is full of hot water.

Saves just so much time.

Note - there are few good thermos flasks, we have fought that fight - but thats another issue.
Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 14:13

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 14:13
Heres another vote for using a thermos, first heating water over gas or the campfire. Fill thermos at night and use that water to quickly reheat for morning cuppa. Fill again for the day and any left over goes into the wash-up water.

Its those little tricks like making the most of a minimal number of appliances that adds to the fun of camping.

Cheers,

Val
J and V
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Reply By: Member - Noldi (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 14:40

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 14:40
We use the enviro kettle, boils pretty quick with just a handfull of sticks
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Reply By: Fab72 - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 15:44

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 15:44
This has been covered on here before. The consensus was don't bother. It'll take the best part of an hour to end up with 2 cups of luke warm water.

I bought a Kelly Kettle/Bush Kettle and we get enough BOILING water out of one of these for 5 serves of instant noodles. Takes about 5 minutes to boil off a handful of leaves/twigs and a sheet of newspaper.

It cools down extremely quick too, so no waiting around before packing it away.

Fab.
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Reply By: Dereki - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 16:35

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 16:35
One word, Jetboil
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Follow Up By: BJ - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 21:09

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 21:09
Too right Dereki, we have a Jetboil which I also carry in my pack when trekking.

It is the easiest and fastest way to make 2 cups of boiling water Ii know - 2 minutes go to wo, and no problems in a breeze.
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Reply By: The Bantam - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:26

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:26
The issue is that even on mains power electricity is an inefficient method of heating.
And at home we have very large amounts of electricity available.

Consider the the jug at home uses similar amounts of energy to your stater motor.

If you want to heat someting and fast, there is no substitute for burning something.

cheers
AnswerID: 475913

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:30

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:30
Agreed,

Though an electric kettle would be an effective method of exposing a dodgy old battery!


Geoff,
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Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:59

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 18:59
Consider a few numbers:

The typical household electric kettle is 2400 watts.

If a 12 volt electric kettle were 2400w then it would be drawing 200 Amps from your battery!

Waeco do not disclose the wattage or current draw of their electric kettle, but lets make the reasonable assumption that it is no more than 20 Amps. This represents 240 watts on 12 volt, one tenth of the heating capacity of the household 240v kettle. So it sure is not going to boil your water very quickly, yet at the same time is dragging 20 Amps out of the battery. Not a good scenario I think.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: member - mazcan - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 23:07

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 23:07
hi alan b
i actually found my waeco .750ltr 12v electric kettle in the back corner of the shed today and read the label on the bottom
12volt
200watt
15amp
and it said min size fuse 16amp but mine was blowing 20amp fuses regulary while operating on 20amp fuse and wiring set up even on its own thats only one of the reasons why it s in the corner of the shed others are in my first post
cheers
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:08

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:08
Hi Mazcan,
Yes interesting. Those specs don't quite add up but even so, a 20 amp fuse would be cutting it close with the alternator charging and raising the voltage to some 14 volts. Even big concerns like Waeco don't get it right sometimes.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Member - Walter H (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 21:37

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 at 21:37
Hey True Blue...Get yourself a Jetboil...Will boil a ltr in around 2mins and they are suppose to be the fastest personal cooker in the world ...very fast and very compact...Just a little expensive at around $200...I use mine for hiking and also keep it in the 4by...and the smallest gas canister's will boil around 12 ltrs before they run out...

Happy Motoring
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:22

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:22
Couldn't agree more.

Then, instead of paying $9.00 for 220g of gas, get one of these Gasmate Butane Appliance Adaptors that adapt readily available 220g Butane bottles for $2.00 ea. Better still get them from Big W and they are Isopropane like the $9.00 hiking ones so they are hotter and work properly in the cold.
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Reply By: River Swaggie - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 18:49

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 18:49
Mate i take what i call a day box...

One is the Coleman Duel Fuel Stove:

Coleman Sportster 2

and the Trangia .9 litre Kettle:

Trangia .9l Kettle

Bring a bit of water and tea and coffee...It always lights in all weather and quick and its always hot...
AnswerID: 476076

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