A kettle is one of the staple home appliances which offers great convenience. You can quickly boil your water, make coffee or tea in just a few minutes. Boiling water in a pan and on a stove takes longer and most people aren’t too patient. Additionally, boiling water with a stove leads to a lot of energy wastage. That is why an electric kettle comes in handy for most homes.
However, although the kettle is fast and convenient, there is a price to pay for that; the high cost of electricity.
In this article, let’s explore the little known facts about your kettle, the power consumption rates, the electric kettle wattage, and how to cut down on electricity bills while using your kettle. Keep reading!
What’s an Electric Kettle?
The main difference between an electric and non-electric kettle is the source of power. With an electric kettle, start by plugging it into an electric outlet. The electric currents heat up the kettle’s heating element, thus warming up the conductor plate of the kettle. The electric energy produces heat that is transferred by conduction throughout the kettle.
Water molecules are loose, thus heat is transferred faster through conduction than in convention processes. This makes boiling water in an electric kettle faster compared to using a regular kettle.
How Many Watts Does an Electric Kettle Use?
Generally, most electric kettles operate at 1200 watts to 1500 watts. The specific wattage depends on the brand and the model of the kettle. Different kettle models have varying wattages and efficiency. The higher the wattage of a kettle, the higher the energy consumption and the higher the boiling efficiency and speed.
Such factors include the kettle’s wattage, use patterns, and efficiency influence the overall energy consumption of an electric kettle. Understanding the wattage enables you to make the right decision when it comes to purchasing the right kettle depending on your needs.
What’s the Energy Consumption of a Kettle?
As discussed above, there are several factors that influence the energy consumption of a kettle. Some of these factors include the usage frequency, the efficiency, the amount of water, and the wattage. An average kettle wattage ranges from 1,200 to 1,500 watts. Some kettles have a wattage of up to 2000W.
Here’s the formula for calculating the total energy consumption by your kettle when boiling water.
- Energy Consumption= Power in Kilowatts x time(hours)
For instance: If a kettle has a power rating of 1200 W, it will take approximately 125 seconds to boil water. Therefore, the average energy consumption is 0.04 kWh.
Checking the wattage, allows you to make informed choices when buying the right kettle for your home.
What Are the Average Costs of Using an Electric Kettle?
It takes approximately 5 to 6 cents to boil water in one sitting. The total costs you incur per month depends on how many times you use the kettle in a day.
Also, the size and the wattage of your kettle will influence the amount you incur in a year.
How to Minimize the Power Consumption with Your Kettle?
Follow these tips to help you minimize the kettle power usage for a more energy-efficient lifestyle.
1. Carefully Choose the Right Kettle
Consider buying an energy efficient kettle with features such as temperature control and automatic shut-off. Such features help reduce the amount of energy the kettle consumes thus saving you money.
2. Proper Usage
Make optimal use of your kettle to do various tasks. For instance, you can make hot beverages, boil water, sterilize some utensils, among other uses. Maximizing the use of your kettle will help you save energy and minimize the costs in the long-run.
3. Regular Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Kettle
A clean and well maintained appliance such as a kettle will operate efficiently. Lime scale and dirt buildup affects its performance and causes increased energy use. Remember to clean your kettle regularly to reduce the costs.
4. Only Fill Up What You Need
Do not boil water more than is necessary. Boiling water that you don’t need leads to energy wastage. Just fill your kettle with enough water just for the task you intend to minimize the costs.
5. Preheat the Kettle
Preheating the kettle before boiling water is a good way of cutting on costs. If you have unused warm or hot water from a previous task, use it to preheat the kettle. Preheated kettle boils water faster, thus saving on energy.
6. Use Solar Energy
Solar energy is a great way of cutting down electricity costs and reducing your carbon footprint. You can use solar power to boil water using your electric kettle.
To use solar power for your electric kettle, you must have solar panels for harnessing the sun rays and a power station for storing the solar energy. Here are some of the BLUETTI solar panels and power stations recommendations to help you curb the high electricity costs.
Portable Power Station
A portable power station is a battery powered storage system that comes in various power capacities and sizes. The BLUETTI power stations have several outputs including DC, AC, carport, and USB to charge your devices and power your appliances such as electric kettle.
You can charge the BLUETTI power stations using solar power or electricity, depending on your needs. Some of the power stations you should consider includes the:
1. BLUETTI AC300 + B300 | Home Battery Backup
Features
- High Power Capacity
The power station features a AC300 inverter and B300 LiFePO4 battery pack which delivers a high capacity of up to 12,288Wh. With such a high power capacity, you can boil water with your electric kettle several times before recharging the power station.
- 5400W Fast Recharging
You can quickly recharge the power station using solar panels and an adapter at 5400W power input rate. Using a 30A AC charging cable or by dual charging with 2400W PV and 1800W AC, you can fully recharge the battery in just 1.5 hours.
- 5 Recharge Modes
The AC300+B300 is a versatile battery pack which enables you to recharge in five different ways. You can recharge using solar panels, a wall outlet, generator, car, and lead-acid battery. The versatile charging methods allow you to access power anywhere anytime.
- Several Output Ports
The power station comes with several output ports for various uses. The NEMA TT-30 and the 12V/30A DC output ports come in handy for outdoor lifestyle. Also, the power station has wireless chargers to allow you charge your devices such as watches, phones, earphones among others.
- 24/7 UPS Home Backup
The BLUETTI Smart Home Panel allows you to tie the AC300 to your home grid power system. That way you are always ready for power outages.
2. BLUETTI AC200MAX | 2,200W 2,048Wh
Features
- High Expandable Power Station
The AC200MAX is the first expandable power station from BLUETTI with up to 2,048Wh LiFePO4 cells with 2,200W pure sine wave inverter. It is capable of meeting all your devices and appliances power needs.
- Versatile Charging
The power station allows charging up to 900W solar input and up to 500W using adapter. Also, you can simultaneously charge it using solar panels and a wall adapter at a total charging rate of 1400W allowing you to fully recharge in just two hours.
- Versatile Outlets
The AC200MAX has 16 outlets. You can meet all you charging needs of your devices and appliances simultaneously. Additionally, it has the powerful built-in 12V 30A super powerful DC outlet and a 30A NEMA TT-30 outlet.
BLUETTI Solar Panels
Solar panels are essential for harnessing solar power. The BLUETTI solar panels are portable and easy to use, renewable, durable with monocrystalline silicon and have high shading performance.
The panels convert the sunlight into DC or direct current electricity, which is then converted into AC electricity used for powering appliances such as electric kettles and devices. You can store the power tapped by the solar panels in power stations for later use. Here are the recommended BLUETTI portable solar panels that will help you minimize the costs of electricity.
1. BLUETTI PV420 Solar Panel/ 420W
Features
- High Power
The BLUETTI PV420 is a high capacity solar panel which will fill up your battery in just a few hours.
- Excellent Performance
The PV420 utilizes the monocrystalline solar cells with multi-layered ETFE to ensure high light transmittance, long lifespan and increased efficiency. The ETFE coating has an IP65 rating to prevent water splashes, dust and scratches. You can easily clean the panels with a wet cloth without damaging it.
- Easy Portability
The solar panel is light weight with a foldable design for easy portability. It has a convenient handle for easy handling of the panel. The foldable design makes it easy to store and carry in the trunk.
- High Conversion Rate
The PV420 Solar panel has a high conversion rate of up to 23.4% conversion rate. It has the capacity of capturing approximately 2kWh solar power daily with up to 6 hours of good sun. Such an amount of energy is sufficient for powering your devices and home appliances such as electric kettles.
2. BLUETTI PV200 Solar Panel | 200W
Features
- Versatile Charging
The PV200 is a lightweight and easily portable panel that you can carry and leave anywhere as long there is sun. Stay powered all the time.
- High Efficiency
The PV200 is built using monocrystalline cells capable of converting up to 23.4% of sun rays into solar power. It allows you to charge your solar generators and batteries even during bad weather days.
- Durable
The ETFE coating on the panel and the IP65 junction box are made to withstand scratches and water splashes. The durability makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and much more.
- Easy to Set-up
The PV200 comes with kickstands with adjustable angles to allow you to maximize the amount of sunlight the panels receive.
FAQs: Electric Kettle Wattage
- How much electricity does a kettle use per hour?
The electric kettle wattage determines the amount of electricity it consumes. For instance, a 1500W kettle will consume 1500Wh per hour.
- What is more efficient? An electric kettle or a stove?
An electric kettle is highly efficient compared to a gas stove. Also, it is more energy-efficient than a gas stove. If you heat water on a stove, a lot of heat energy is lost. Electric kettles are insulated and a coil is precisely placed at the bottom of the kettle, which significantly reduces loss of energy.
- How long does 1 Liter of water take to boil in a kettle?
It takes approximately 3 to 4 minutes to boil one liter of water in a kettle. However, time may vary depending on the electric kettle wattage.
- How many electricity units does it take to boil water in an electric kettle?
For instance, if the kettle capacity is 1.5 L, it will take approximately three minutes to boil water. The electric kettle uses about 0.1 kWh electricity. Therefore, it will take around 2 points of electricity to boil a kettle of water.
Final Thoughts
Your electric kettle might be contributing to high electricity bills in your home. However, an electric kettle is one of the basic home appliances and you cannot do away with it.
The costs may vary depending on the electric kettle wattage, the usage frequency, among other factors. We have discussed several ways you can apply to minimize the energy consumption of your kettle. One of the most effective and long-term solutions is shifting to using solar energy.
