Trying to find a portable power with AC socket to plug in a jug to boil water

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Trying to find a portable power with AC socket to plug in a jug to boil water

RustyViewer

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#209025 9-Mar-2017 15:20

I'm looking for a portable AC socket. What I envision is a box with a standard 3 hole socket. You could charge it up at home and then use it anywhere, much like you charge up your phone etc.

The situation I'm in is that I am involved in a café as a fill in for the Christchurch rebuild that has no direct access to power so currently they use gas to keep the water heated. I am looking for an alternative to this. If we had a portable power with an AC socket, we could simply plug in a jug to boil water.

I'm sure such technology exists. If you can charge up an electric car overnight, how hard would it be to have this?

Maybe what I'm looking for already exists but so far I haven't found it. I looked through the Jay Car catalogue and the closest I could find was inverters (but these need solar power) or Uninterrupted Power Supply boxes.

I know the technology is there but so far I haven't seen the exact combination I am looking for. Can anyone help me here?

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#1733760 9-Mar-2017 15:25

You could use an inverter (12VDC - 240VAC) but a jug normally draws around 2kW or so. This means a high specced inverter, a sizeable 12v battery to power it, and associated charging issues.

Alternative is a petrol or diesel powered generator.

gregmcc

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#1733763 9-Mar-2017 15:29

Anything is do-able, but remember a jug takes about 2kw of power to run it, you would need a beefy battery and inverter to do that, no to mention an equally good charger to re-charge overnight

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1733764 9-Mar-2017 15:31

You need a LOT of energy to boil water. What's wrong with gas? This is a perfect use case for it, as the energy density is far more than any battery.

richms

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#1733770 9-Mar-2017 15:44

I would have thought that one of those cheap butane camp stoves with the spraycan sized cans of butane would be the ideal heat source for something that small. I have one that I use to make noodles and cook bacon during frequent winter power outages when its too cold to use the bbq outside. Works great.

If its just to make a single cup of hot drink there are 12v powered kettles that you could get a large jumpstarter with an accessory socket and plug it into that, but they are heavy as they have a lead acid battery in them. Forget catering to many people with anything battery powered tho.

Richard rich.ms

kiwi_64

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#1733773 9-Mar-2017 15:50

I've use one of these for remote AC power: https://lifepower.be/

ubergeeknz

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#1733777 9-Mar-2017 15:59

kiwi_64:

I've use one of these for remote AC power: https://lifepower.be/

That would not run a kettle whatsoever...

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sidefx

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#1733778 9-Mar-2017 15:59

kiwi_64:

I've use one of these for remote AC power: https://lifepower.be/

That might annoy the water slightly, but won't come anywhere near boiling it :P

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Bung

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#1733779 9-Mar-2017 16:00

richms:
I would have thought that one of those cheap butane camp stoves with the spraycan sized cans of butane would be the ideal heat source for something that small. I have one that I use to make noodles and cook bacon during frequent winter power outages when its too cold to use the bbq outside. Works great.

OP appears to be running a pop up cafe. One of those cheap camp stoves wouldn't come close to heating enough water.
When we take ours away in the car we also take hot water in a thermos to give the camp stove a head start.

If the water is being heated using a 9kg bottle you could save a bit by getting it refilled rather than swapping.

Rikkitic

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#1733838 9-Mar-2017 16:52

I agree with the other comments here. Your best option by far is gas or something similar. I guess you could always bring in a big generator but that doesn't make much sense. You are right that an electric car battery pack could do what you want. It shouldn't cost more than a few tens of thousands.

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wellygary

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#1733927 9-Mar-2017 19:50

If you are wanting to boil a reasonable amount of water in a jug you are going to end up needing something like a tesla powerwall,, it would let you run a 2kw jug for about 2.5 hours... It weighs 100kg..

Stick with gas, or buy a generator and extension cord....

mdf

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#1734042 9-Mar-2017 22:10

Gas it too slow. Go with a thermite model!

More seriously, you could try a Kelly Kettle/Thermette.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Kettle

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blackjack17

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#1734130 10-Mar-2017 05:37

Butane canisters or gas cylinder

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/gascraft-double-country-cooker-with-hose-and-regulator/R1739363.html

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/necessities-brand-butane-table-top-cooker/R2031926.html

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sbiddle

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#1734166 10-Mar-2017 07:22

Trying to use a DC power source and inverter to boil water is about the most inefficient use of energy there is. Basically what you want to do couldn't be easily done without spending way more than the obvious solutions - gas or a generator.

Jaxson

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#1734183 10-Mar-2017 08:08

As above. Water absorbs heaps of energy before it changes state. That's one of the reasons why we chuck it on fires.

It could be done, but there are obvious alternatives. Probably keep the window open though if indoors.

sxz

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#1734191 10-Mar-2017 08:33

Do you need a new motorbike too?

I can't speak for the power rating, but this electric motorbike is marketed to farmers and can run their power tools through a standard plug. Might run a kettle too.

http://www.ubcobikes.com/

Edit: my bad. Looks like its cigarette lighter and usb only - the power tools they show are being charged by an inverter!

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