The energy solution for South Africa is DC power.

[mister]

I herewith challenge all DC fanatics to heat up and boil water within 5 minutes with a standard kettle with DC power.

Rules :

1. Any kettle can be used, as long as it can be filled up with 1.2l of water
2. The experiment must be run consistently, and more than 3 or 4 times in succession, and with cold water at each new start.
3. A youtube video clip will not be accepted as evidence - we can arrange for two (or more forumites) to be present during said experimentation to verify that all cabling is standard cabling, and that the power is indeed DC power (anything from 12v up to 96VDC)
4. Only standard cabling can be used.
5. No inverters allowed.

So, get cracking. Getting a kettle to boil will be the first step. The next step will be to get a vacuum cleaner to operate on DC without any modifications.

Can we use this?

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Can we use this?

View attachment 181552

I said 1.2l not 400ml.

 

[gfmalan]

I don't understand the vacuum part, are we suppose to use a 240vac vacuum on DC with no mods?

I understand no inverter part, but are we no allowed to change things inside the vacuum cleaner?!

 

[mister]

I said 1.2l not 400ml.

okay

this one?

 

[backstreetboy]

I said 1.2l not 400ml.

 

[Lino]

View attachment 181562

You going to get the water boiling in 5 mins? Does this look like a standard kettle to you?

 

[Lino]

okay

this one?

Minimum order 1000 so not sure if you are going to buy that many?

 

[The_Unbeliever]

okay

this one?

go check the specifications out... it is a 220V kettle, not a 12V kettle...

 

[The_Unbeliever]

 

[mister]

go check the specifications out... it is a 220V kettle, not a 12V kettle...

I was hoping you wouldn't notice

 

[mister]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Portable-In-Car-Stainless-Steel-Kettle-1200ml-Camping-Travel-Top-Quality-/141219832942

1200ml large capacity, 120W, DC 12V
High quality dual layer 304 stainless steel
No-toxic spill proof lip lock, pour-out water without twist the lid open.
Fast heat up to boiling point (100 degree, water), then auto cut-off
Multiple structure electric protection


User Instruction:

Always fill with water before plug in.
Indicators red for heating while green for heat keeping
Only suit for 12V power source
Max load is 3cm to the steel wall top end.
Boiling water normally takes 45 minutes.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Portable-In-Car-Stainless-Steel-Kettle-1200ml-Camping-Travel-Top-Quality-/141219832942

1200ml large capacity, 120W, DC 12V
High quality dual layer 304 stainless steel
No-toxic spill proof lip lock, pour-out water without twist the lid open.
Fast heat up to boiling point (100 degree, water), then auto cut-off
Multiple structure electric protection


User Instruction:

Always fill with water before plug in.
Indicators red for heating while green for heat keeping
Only suit for 12V power source
Max load is 3cm to the steel wall top end.
Boiling water normally takes 45 minutes.

Boiling water normally takes 45 minutes.

And why do you think does it take 45 minutes to boil water?

 

[Lino]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Portable-In-Car-Stainless-Steel-Kettle-1200ml-Camping-Travel-Top-Quality-/141219832942

1200ml large capacity, 120W, DC 12V
High quality dual layer 304 stainless steel
No-toxic spill proof lip lock, pour-out water without twist the lid open.
Fast heat up to boiling point (100 degree, water), then auto cut-off
Multiple structure electric protection


User Instruction:

Always fill with water before plug in.
Indicators red for heating while green for heat keeping
Only suit for 12V power source
Max load is 3cm to the steel wall top end.
Boiling water normally takes 45 minutes.

Do you think that waiting 45mins for water to boil is a viable option?

All you DC supporters are making your argument look less and less viable.

 

[mister]

Boiling water normally takes 45 minutes.
And why do you think does it take 45 minutes to boil water?

Because it's going to be plugged into a tiny car battery.

Do you think that waiting 45mins for water to boil is a viable option?

It's better than cold tea.

All you DC supporters are making your argument look less and less viable.

I'm not a DC supporter. I was playing the find a kettle game!

 

[Billy]

When we had a DC supply in our house we did not have a problem with boiling water in a kettle. We put it on the gas stove.

How many forumites, especially the DC supporters have actually lived with DC as the only source of electricity in the home?

And could the DC supporters tell us why both Indian Railways, and UK Southern are converting from DC supply to AC if DC is so good?

 

[SilverNodashi]

Do you think that waiting 45mins for water to boil is a viable option?

All you DC supporters are making your argument look less and less viable.

That's because you're comparing 12VDC to 220VAC! You will need 170+ Amp on a 12V battery to give 2000W heat. Most car batteries are 50 - 70A.
Use the same volts + Amps and you'll get close to the same results. Though 220VDC would very rather expensive to produce, either from wind / solar or batteries.

Level the playing field and you'll see the benefits of DC over AC.

 

[ToxicBunny]

And what would it cost to level that playing field for the average home owner?

 

[Lino]

No response yet?

 

[Swa]

Why is DC right for ours?

Check the posted articles. DC works better on the supply backbone. AC was chosen at a time when DC was unfeasible for the transformer tech but at the same time you had to step up the supply voltage because of the losses. Transformer tech has advanced a lot since then to be able to use DC properly plus most consumer generating tech has DC output.

Do you think that waiting 45mins for water to boil is a viable option?

All you DC supporters are making your argument look less and less viable.

You miss the point. It won't be powering a kettle, geyser, vacuum, or any other appliance you only use occasionally. The point is to reduce the load on the main grid and being able to more efficiently self generate and use power. I am using quite a few appliances on DC right now anyway so there's no good reason not to have a DC supply. If power goes off with only a few batteries and solar panels I can remain switched on for the duration. Being able to boil a kettle in 45 minutes would be preferable to not being able to boil one but for water, cooking, and geyser gas is actually a good option. The only thing left which we require Eskom for seems to be the vacuum.

 

[ToxicBunny]

So you're saying we need to basically rebuild the entire grid then?