Portable Induction Cooktop?

[KeepMovingForward]

Hey folks, after having recently bought a van I'm now in the stages of converting it into a suitable living space for myself, my wife, and my cats. Space will be tight so efficiency is key! I like the way these little guys look because well, they're small so that's nice and they stay cool to the touch so I won't have to worry about barricading it after every use so my cats don't walk on it or I don't touch it by accident. The latter is far more likely to happen <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">. Anyway! Has anyone every tried using an induction cook top before? I'm less worried about price, what sort of pans are useable, and amount of time it takes to cook something; and more worried about how much solar power I would need to power the little guy and if it does indeed cook items at all. Any help on how much solar I would need to run it (it'll only be plugged in when in use of course.) would be greatly appreciated thanks! <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">

 

[VanFan]

I have been curious about these too.<br>Vickie

 

[akrvbob]

I have a friend who lives in a 35 foot fith wheel and they love the induction stoves. They say it cooks fast and is super safe. But, they stay in campgrounds and have shore power. <br><br>I haven't done the whole research, but my first thought is it is not practical on solar/batteries. If it draws 1200 watts and you use it for 20 minutes that's at least 40 amps (10% waste for the inverter at a minimum) and that is too much. If you use it for 10 minutes then it is down to 20 amps and that might be doable.&nbsp;<br><br>Overall I think it is something best done from shore power or a generator. And then I have to ask myself are its advantages so great that its worth it to me to use instead of propane, and the answer to me is clearly no. So i will stick with my Coleman propane stove.<br>Bob

 

[KeepMovingForward]

Thanks for the fast reply and the help <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[wrcsixeight]

Cooking on battery power is not viable. &nbsp;You would need a huge battery bank and solar system and a lot of sunlight to break even.<br><br>One little green Cannister of propane stores as much energy as hundreds of pounds of batteries. <br><br>&nbsp;I hate the induction cooktops. &nbsp;I'd rather cook over gas any day. &nbsp;Much better heat control.

 

[Scoundrel]

Have a look at this.&nbsp; May be helpful.<br><br>http://www.lifeedited.com/fagor-portable-induction-cooktop/

 

[VanFan]

Nice review.&nbsp; I'm a little fire phobic in part because I have so much foam in the van and it's very&nbsp; flammable.&nbsp; Shore power is often available for us, so an induction burner is on the "maybe someday" list.&nbsp; Money and space are always considerations, of course.&nbsp; Thanks!<br>Vickie