cooking with electric

[surferboy]

As the cubbyhouse doesn't have any gas fitted and we prefer not to risk using an old kero stove, we are considering fitting a small electric cooker with two hotplates.
The van is wired with 240volt power points and lights.( there is a clipsal safetyswitch fitted and the remains of an electrical approval sticker thingy on the window)

We have only found one on the market, made by Euromaid. this has a 3point 10amp plug so there's no need to wire it in, but it has its limitations.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with small electric cookers and what your opinions are about fitting one in the cubbyhouse

& Cathy

[groovy]

First up, whatever you do, get the electrics checked by a qualified leccie, 240V is no place for the she'll be right attitude ( Iam not saying you have this attitude) it is just to dangerous to play with.
The maximum wattage you can draw is 3600W, so if you use an electric stove bear in mind what else will be running at the same time such as lights colour tv's DVD's etc. and if the cubbyhouse has a 2 or 3 way fridge, that will use up to 175 watts depending on the model (more usually around the 100-125W in older fridges). I think you would be well advised to go no more than around the 3000W combined hotplate wattage, or a convection microwave, yep I know its not kosher, but all electric isn't either, it is what suits you that counts.
Greg

[Jim]

The brand may be different but we’ve used a Kambrook unit that is probably similar to the one you’ve mentioned.

It’s a double element plug in hotplate with the black closed top elements. I think they are called Ego elements

The limitation for a plug in is 2400W limit
So it has one element that is 1600W and the other one is 800W

Have a look on the back of the one you are thinking of buying to see the wattages.
These are lower rated elements than a wired in domestic stove using the same type of elements.

The 800W element is frankly lousy, while the 1600W is ok, without being terrific.

Buy a jug as well (you’ll need another power point wired in) to make tea or coffee as you’ll wait forever to boil water with a kettle on the elements.

With anything that uses water to cook, such as (say) steaming or boiling veges, use the jug to get the water to the boil quicker then use the element to keep it simmering along.

Kambrook have singles of the same thing and they use the 1600W element.
You could cheat and buy two single ones at 1600W each.

This’ll give better performance but that would take the load to 3200W out of a double power point and no one would recommend you do that!

It also depends on what else you have electric in your van as to how many Watts you have left to play with.

Keep in mind you won’t even have a cuppa if you’re not plugged into power somewhere.

You could supplement the elements with an LPG camp stove set up outside.
This gives you a back up if there’s no power available and a cuppa at lunch time at a roadside stop.

With a grill plate on top of the camp stove this can also double as a small BBQ, and that is probably best used outside anyway.

I do think if you’re going to fit any sort of new stove in a van today you can’t go past LPG

[earlee]

Have you looked at the cheap $20 portable gas stoves that are available.
They use small cans of gas and are extremely efficient. Very convenient when stopping off the road for a cup of coffee. ;D ;D
They can be used inside or outside the van and avoid the leaking LPG dangers. Ask Will.

regards earlee.

I have a powered site at Coledale so I will be using the microwave anyway!!

[belinda]

I too wouldn't like to use kero inside a van, but we're really happy with our metho stove and if I was building a ply van from scratch I'd put in the modern equivalent. "Maxie" metho stoves are still made by Maxco and are considered much safer in yachts than LPG.

There are various posts about stoves old and new on the thread "old stoves, lights and fridges", including the fastest and most fuel-efficient ways of brewing tea.

Most of the time ouf family stays at powered sites, but sometimes we camp without 240v. With efficient 12v lighting and a metho stove the five of us are quite comfy.

Power also isn't available on display days like the NRMA Motorfest. At events like that when you spend 8 hours giving (very short) guided tours of a 9'6" van, a non-electric method for making a cuppa is essential. It also impresses your mother-in-law when she drops by.

That isn't to say I don't think you should ever cook electrically. We pack an electric kettle, and in Winter take the Crockpot (see the thread "keeping warm in Winter" for the reason why). Someone else made the excellent suggestion of putting a 24Ov outlet on the outside of the van at about table-height, allowing you to use a kettle and/or electric frypan in the annexe. That sounds like a terrific idea.

Hope this helps.

[surferboy]

Thanks for your replies everybody
I'm trying to get as much information as possible before i spend any money so your opinions are welcomed greatly.

Greg, the van seems to be wired correctly but I need to move powerpoints and lightswitches(thats my next question)so getting a qualified sparky is on the list of things to do. I dont do electrics and I dont do brakes (I like living to much)
I was hoping to run the cooker, a small bar fridge, the laptop, a kettle and the lights(one ugly fluro at the moment).

Jim, Kambrook and Breville used to make a similar product but not anymore. The specs sheet say,max wattage 2.4KW, oven watt 1KW, grill watt 2KW,doesnt mention individual hotplate KWs. How long will it take Cathy to boil me up a cup of coffee and cook me up some bacon and eggs in the mornings ;D

Earlee & Belinda, Cathy would like us to take the portable BBQ and the gas ring thingy they used in girlguides for cooking, because while we're away we stay at powered sites but we have a bad habit of breaking down and sitting on the side of the road waiting for the RAC man so she needs to be able to boil the kettle for my coffee. We've also got the microwave in the Baravan but rarely use it.

I'm just thinking of options that keep weight down to a minimum, are cheap(?) and easy


all opinions are welcome... we have no idea what we're doing and need all the help possible

[groovy]

If it were me, I would buy one of the camper's style 2 burner and griller gas stoves (they are high pressure and not legal to be built in like a normal van stove is) and use this on a table setup under your awning, it keeps the heat out of the van and they are the fastest stoves for cooking.
Those little single burner $20 things are about as fast as a metho stove, which is about the same speed as grass growing, also they need to be well shielded, as they blow out with the slightest puff of wind.
Greg

[Jim]

Surfer

The unit you describe is quite different to the one I was thinking it was.
It would seem that if you’re using the grill on it (2kw) nothing else would work while that’s on.

The one you mention sounds like the elements might be coil type rather than a solid plates, similar to the small plug in Vulcan stoves that were common some years back.
If so, they are probably about 1000 to 1200 W each and their performance is average at best.

You might be better off with separate items such as a frypan for your bacon and eggs, a jug for coffee and a toaster.. (for toast.. der!) and so on..
Add a single solid 1600W solid top hotplate and you should cover enough possibilities not to starve, especially if you don’t need an oven.

As far as how long will it take?
If your Cathy is anything like my Cathy you’ll get your bacon and eggs heaps quicker if you cook it yourself..

The $20 to $30 portable gas stoves run on disposable cans, use Butane, NOT Propane.

They are very neat and tidy looking, but Butane doesn’t give any where near the same amount of heat as Propane.

Propane is the gas used in refillable camping and caravan cylinders, for high pressure gas equipment.

As Greg suggested, if there is any sort of breeze around when using the Butane units the grass grows quicker.
His idea of a standard, high pressure two burner camp stove to use outside is a good one.