12 Volt Cooktop PROTOTYPE - First Test! Pure DC No Inverter Hotplate

[@solarpoweredge]

Notes from my work on recent cooktop prototypes: 1. Thermal Transfer: hot plates / cooktops like this have an unusual looking heating element insulated with a fibrous ultra high temp material I could not identify at the time of this video. The heat projects upwards into the cookware. Internal temps inside the element chamber are very high. There is practically zero space between the heated radiative surface and the cookware. Because of this, thermal transfer is good. Vast majority of the heat goes into the cookware. A thin stainless pan or pot works incredibly well, heating within seconds. 2. Efficiency: a native 12 hot plate does not use complicated electronic circuits such as DC-AC inverters and induction circuits. Therefore this type of hot plate can cook with much less DC power and efficiency exceeds 90% with no moving parts. 3. Cost: this type of appliance is hard to build DIY, BUT very cheap to mass-produce in a factory. Therefore it's 100% possible to mass produce with cost

[@soniashapiro4827]

Please more on this and projects like it.

[@solarpoweredge]

@soniashapiro4827 Working on it :) :D 👍

[@KerbyDaFrog]

Great work!

[@solarpoweredge]

@chriserb2645 Thank you sir!! :)

[@TinyGoHomes]

This looks like a party I wanna be invited too. 👍🤣 I’ll be doing a bunch of this stuff this summer. I’m about 60% done my first prototype and living inside it currently. Ive been building out the shop in preparation for the last push. This summer I’m on solar and power, axles and exterior siding. I’m also diesel swapping my hummer, which is my company tow rig. My plan is to make redundant, easy to fix, off-road, multi purpose trailers and survival rigs. Custom built for the customers needs.

[@solarpoweredge]

@TinyGoHomes Very cool! :D I am interested in tiny houses. Been wanting to build one for years. Have room in the driveway, just need some obstacles out of the way so I can get something decent started. Your projects sound very interesting 👍

[@marcelb.7224]

you´re so right. The worlt really nead more 12V and solar cooking! I will make a new facebook Group about this topic

[@solarpoweredge]

@marcelb.7224 Awesome! hopefully a factory will start shipping these out someday

[@hyltonvillet9362]

Great work Dave!!!!

[@solarpoweredge]

@hyltonvillet9362 Thank you :) :D

[@MarkSpohr]

How about a 12v induction cooktop? Would eliminate the high temperature inside the burner problem.

[@solarpoweredge]

@MarkSpohr Yes, good idea. I am looking into giving it a try, been trying to sort out the details. My goal on this project was reliability, simplicity and low cost, hence I usually avoid electronics when possible. But induction technology works well. If I get anything working with induction I will upload the results.

[@MarkSpohr]

@@solarpoweredge yes, looks like you have to build an electronic oscillator which makes it more complicated

[@OFFGRID_Trucker]

On a nice sunny day, have you tried using a solar panel directly to the hotplate..? I'm sure it would work, I just have done it. Yeah.. a short circuit with a rheostat. Yes.. I'm subscribed.

[@solarpoweredge]

@OFFGRID_Trucker Hi! thanks for subscribing - I haven't tried it but it would surely work with enough solar panels. Rheostats and solar can be fun!

[@waynehutson6225]

Very interested in how to build one. Hope you are able to make a video on this.

[@solarpoweredge]

@waynehutson6225 Hello, right on. If I can do that I will surely upload. Looking for a way to make a safer DIY build. Maybe a good company will see them and build a million for us - I hope!

[@p0tr3bit3l]

Keep going

[@solarpoweredge]

@p0tr3bit3l Right on! Working on a 12 volt oven project, hope to have that posted asap

[@tjthrillajaw]

Super interesting, thank you so much. Really trying to become more self sustainable and this was something i scratched my head on too! Why the heck isn't this commonplace? You think the dirty inverter industry doesn't want it to be? 😂 also if you don't mind me asking (I can look this up too so no need to answer haha), but what kind of 12v battery should I get as my first one? Will be working mainly off of diy wind and perhaps solar in the future, I'm thinking :D thank you!

[@solarpoweredge]

@tjitjo welcome! who knows, but there is no reason why a kitchen-grade 12v cooktop (hotplate?) could not exist, for about 25 bucks. It needs slightly different components and construction vs. 120vac, but not really high tech at all. My first battery for solar was a LiFePo4, you might want to look at a 100ah 12v one for a startup system. That's enough power to do cool stuff including cook small meals, run lights etc. and have good backup power if need be. Hope that helps :D

[@bobcole3852]

I just looked on Amazon. Found 12v rice cooker, roaster, sauce pan and slow cooker. Think you have a good idea but there are cooking appliances that run on 12v DC out there already

[@solarpoweredge]

Yep, been seeing those for years. Could never find a standard hot plate... or cook top whatever it's called. They are needed because any cookware will fit on top. Why these simple cheap kitchen devices are not sold everywhere in 12/24v continually perplexes me.

[@JT-lq4yd]

They, the appliances you mentioned are indeed available but they take a very long time to reach cooking temperature.

[@MarcillaSmith]

​@@JT-lq4ydyes, I have only ever seen 12v cookers under 200w. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed!

[@denniskwasnycia1950]

Have you looked at induction cook tops? They are basically a rotating disk of magnets. The faster you spin them, the hotter it gets. Convert the motor to 12v? Not sure, never pulled one apart, but worth looking at. May be better than a hot coil

[@solarpoweredge]

@denniskwasnycia1950 Hello, yes I bought a quite small induction cook top, it's really neat! It does require an inverter and has an internal power driver circuit. I am thinking for grid-down scenarios simple, robust tech is cheaper and easier to service and repair. A resistance cooktop should not require power electronics, at least they'd be optional and could work without it

[@MarcillaSmith]

I didn't think induction cooking uses a motor, but instead uses the native properties of AC for the oscillation needed for the heat.

[@denniskwasnycia1950]

@@MarcillaSmith Magnetic induction is a rotating disk with magnets on it of alternating poles to create eddy currents to heat aluminum or copper. The motor is used to rotate the disk of magnets

[@MarcillaSmith]

@@denniskwasnycia1950 as used in the kitchen of chef Rube Goldberg himself

[@fookschool]

​@@denniskwasnycia1950induction is achieved with a rotating magnetic field in a static coil using a zvs(zero voltage switching) circuit. This can 100% be done on DC power and is fully adjustable.

[@OFFGRID_Trucker]

I used my Ecoflow Delta to power my electric griddle to fry a couple of eggs and warmed up\toasted some bread this morning. I also have and use my Roadpro mini skillet to warm up\cook a can of soup or chill occasionally.. So yeah.. I do some low voltage cooking frequently myself. Also use a NUWAVE hotplate? to boil water with my Delta as well. I'm not much of a cook.. so I don't get too creative. On this subject.. I wonder if anyone has ever put together a 12v cookbook.. lol..

[@solarpoweredge]

@OFFGRID_Trucker Good going... yeah there should be a 12 volt cook book

[@CarlosSanchez-s4m]

How do a get two of this??

[@solarpoweredge]

@CarlosSanchez-s4m Hello sir, right now they're just a prototype and not safe for retail sale. I hope in the future someone will manufacture and sell a similar device with simple construction and low cost, low voltage (12v).

[@davidrobertson1980]

Dave you're funny sometimes ;) Hey man, go to PCBway and make your plans, they will build practically ANYTHING, including circuit boards, metal stuff, plastic 3d printing etc AND assemble if you want for more $$ Combine your diodes, large power transistors etc with metal tight fit parts and you have your solutions even if you assemble them yourself. Pretty sure aluminium would be best but tin will suffice and likely cheaper. In fact you could have them assemble the whole thing into a large metal plate with the devices distributed evenly around. Cheers mate.

[@solarpoweredge]

@davidrobertson1980 Hah :) I do want to work with PCBway to make some CNC metal parts, first need a 3D CAD model. At the moment I am unable to keep up with the circumstances here, let alone make 3D models. Hoping for the future! I'd like to see a nice CNC aluminum housing for a custom 12v cooktop, that would be amazing... take care man!

[@kha2Musie]

Can you supply to Africa, can be a solution to most poor people without electricity. Most house hold are using battery for power. Great job.

[@solarpoweredge]

@kha2Musie Right, I hope a factory can start manufacturing them... there is no reason why they can't be made available at low cost to the world. High current 12 volts DC is a bit more challenging than 120v AC, but the appliance should still be affordable and mass-produced

[@tyronvandermerwe2367]

South Africa has no power, clowns

[@KeyboardBuster]

Africa doesnt deserve anything.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

I'm not vegan, but I have a dairy intolerant child and a wife that can't really eat beef or pork. So we eat a lot of vegan alternatives to dairy and meat products. I'm just thankful for the nice vegans creating a market for awesome alternative products. Vegans tend to be extremely overbearing but this lady is coocoo

[@solarpoweredge]

I totally understand where vegans are coming from. My diet is highly restricted due to migraines, not fun! :)

[@KeyboardBuster]

Wussy kid and high maintenance picky wife? If i was the man of the house, their tune would change.

[@KeyboardBuster]

Yes solar edge, people are getting weak and wussy and soft. Soft asses. Just eat it and stfu.