Can I Run an Induction Cooktop on Solar? (How Many Watts?)
Since the invention of this induction cooker, families have had to change their cooking pots. Only metals that could be attracted to a magnet will work on these cookers. But to save energy, making the change seemed like a good idea until one goes solar.
Can I run an induction cooktop on solar? Yes, you can run an induction cooktop on solar. Induction cookers low-end wattage usually starts at about 1250 to 1750 watts and goes up from there. You would have to have some large solar panels and batteries to make this cooking option work long-term.
To learn more about using solar to power your induction cooker, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about. If the power supply is there, it should be no problem. But it will depend on how long you will be operating the cooker.
Cooktop on Solar 101
Can Solar Run an Induction Cooktop?
Electricity is electricity, it does not matter the power source. Whether it be by the sun, wind, water, or generator, all electrical power will power any electrical appliance or device. That includes induction cookers.
The key is to make sure you have enough solar panels and other equipment to generate enough electricity to meet the demand the induction cooker will put on your system. This means you will have to make a good investment in solar panel equipment to make it work for you.
Also, you will have to make sure you are in an area that gets a lot of sun each day. Then you have to ask yourself do you have the space for all the panels you need to generate the amount of power to run the induction cooker.
Panels, batteries, the right inverter, and cables will cost you a little bit more than you expect. Your budget is going to have to be substantial to make it all work. Especially if you are going to use solar panels for other electronic devices that run at the same time as the induction cooker.
Can You Use a Portable Induction Cooktop On Solar?
In fear of repeating ourselves, electricity is electricity, and no matter the source of that electricity any electrical device can be run off of that particular system. It doesn't matter if the induction cooker is portable or built-in to your cabinets. The solar system will power either one.
The one caveat is, of course, that you have enough solar panels generating electricity. The number of panels you would need would depend on how many watts your induction cooker needs to operate at top temperature levels.
This is where the idea may not be practical or energy efficient. Even with the low cost of solar panels, there is still the battery bank, inverter, and other equipment needed to run the induction cooker. All of this can get a bit pricey.
On top of that, you have to be careful about the energy loss that is produced while the system is operating. While you may get a lot of power at the panels, some of that energy is lost as the current makes its way to your cooker. You need to factor this loss in to get the right amount of panels, etc., to work right.
Minimum Battery And Solar For Induction Cooktop
The standard rule for battery use is never to drop below 50% of full charge. This is a standard you have to watch carefully when hooking up solar panels to run a high-powered induction cooker.
For the battery, you will need one capable of storing about 750 watt-hours or 62.5 amp-hours for a 12-volt system. Those figures would be your halfway mark so double them to get the right-sized battery capability. That is playing it close to the edge though.
It would be better to triple those figures to get the best minimum-size battery you would need. The reason for saying this is that the constant lowering the load down to 50% would shorten the life of the battery.
Then the minimum number of solar panels would be about any number that amounts to 400 watts, sometimes 600 if you are in rainy regions of the country. While others may disagree with these figures, keep in mind that it is always best to have more, than less than you need.
Remember when the days get cloudy, you will not be able to generate a lot of power. You may not be able to cook every day and you may not be able to cook for longer than one hour.
Solar-powered Induction Cooker
It is possible to find these if you search hard enough. One two-burner option is out of stock at Amazon right now but it can run on solar and battery power up to 1000 watts. It has a digital display and 12 buttons to operate it.
Then there is a model at another company and they are advertising that this power option is healthy and suitable for pregnant women and the elderly. Multiple safety features make it easy to use while making sure that no small children get hurt when they explore the device.
The capacity is 24 volts and needs a 325-watt solar panel to run. Plus a lithium battery is needed to store that power. The controller and battery are supposed to be built-in and a 5-year warranty covers any defects.
Switches are on the side of the cabinet and the buttons to operate are located underneath the burner. if you are interested in looking at this model, just click this link.
The website has an introduction video that shows you how to set the device up and operate. Just make sure to have an induction-friendly pot to place on the burner.
Induction Cooker Comes With a Solar Panel
These can be found and so far we have only come across one and that one is found at the link in the previous section. This included solar panel makes set up a lot quicker and you do not have to worry about matching panel size to cooker electrical needs.
Plus, the built-in battery saves you the time and trouble of finding the right battery to use to store the power. These cooking options may not be popular right now as most people are satisfied with the traditional methods they already have in their homes and RVs.
But they do make a great backup system or cooking alternative when you want to save on propane or microwave use. There are no fumes, no radiation, and no other harmful emissions when you use one of these solar-powered with panel included induction cookers.
That makes your cooking time a lot safer. Propane can be a bit tricky at times and when you run out of propane, you have to make a long trip to get some more. Plus, you are not losing out on any cooking style you like. You can steam, heat, fry, barbecue, and more on these cookers.
The only thing you need is a good sunny spot to charge the battery and the induction-friendly cookware.
Off-grid Induction Cooktop Setup
There are two many benefits you get when you use induction cookers. These benefits take place whether you are using the cooker off-grid or on regular power. The first one is that you get a cooler kitchen. You are not having to endure the heat that comes from alternative cooking methods.
The second is that the burner is not as hot as a gas or electric burner. They are safer to use. There are not too many off-grid complete induction cooker packages that we have seen so far. They do exist but you may have a tough time finding them at your local outlets.
Even Amazon only listed one and it was out of stock. But it is possible to find and the one we have mentioned already is a complete package including the solar panel. But if you want to go another way, you can buy the solar panel, batteries, cables, inverter separately and then set up your system.
This option can be quite expensive as you may need to buy more than one panel to generate the electricity you need to power the induction cooker. Then you have to spend time setting it up, taking it down, storing everything, and so on.
However, despite the equipment you need, it is well worth exploring this option if you like to live off-grid yet do not want to use propane or drain your batteries.
Solar Induction Cooker Cost
The company we linked to earlier, does not seem to print a cost on their different web pages. We looked at several product options and they were all the same. A fine description but no final cost.
They also do not seem to have a checkout for easy use so you would have to contact them to get a price and those outlet names where their products are being sold. The country of origin for this cooker setup is India.
If they list a price, it is in Indian Rupees and you would have to convert it to your currency to see if it is worth it or not. the company has several different models to choose from and they are all very close together in price.
A ballpark estimate would be that the cost is in the neighborhood of almost $500. To give you something to compare with, the average solar panel cost is between $175 to $375 not including the other equipment you would need.
That is just an estimate as you may be able to find them on sale at different outlets for a lot less. For only a 100 watt panel at Amazon, you would be paying between $79 and $170 for just one. A little multiplication will get you your total cost in just solar panels.
When you look at all the facts and figures, induction cooking may seem good but is the expense worth the benefits?
Some Benefits of Induction Cooking
These benefits will come whether you are using solar, battery, or shore power. Nothing changes when you change the power source.
1. The burners are easy to clean- this helps in clean up and saves you a little time.
2. You get an even heat- much like gas, the heat to cook your food is not as uneven as it is with electricity.
3. Cooking time is shorter- because the heat is transferred directly to the pot, your cooking time can be shortened up to 50%
4. Better temperature control- you can be more accurate with the amount of temperature you use to heat your food. Induction cooking is far more accurate than gas or electric
5. It is a safer method of cooking- induction cookers heat the cookware, not the cooking surface. This prevents bad accidents from happening and avoids the risks that come with using an open flame.
6. The kitchen stays cooler- that means you do not have to add a fan or turn on the air conditioning to keep yourself cool
7. Use less energy- since the cooking time is sped up, your energy use goes down. You use less energy with an induction cooker
Some Final Words
Taking advantage of the benefits that come with an induction cooker is a good idea. However, using it off-grid and through solar panels may not be the best use of your resources. Without a complete setup, the cost of using solar panels and equipment may be too great for most RVers.
You would have to do a lot of boondocking to justify the cost of setting up a solar panel system. if you are up to the expense, there is nothing wrong with the idea.
