On 24/12/2016 20:34, T i m wrote:

So, are you saying that a 'kettling' element *will* be transferring
it's energy to the water as effectively as one with say twice the
surface area that wasn't kettling? (straight question).

They will both transfer the same amount of heat for the same power
consumption/

Of course you can make them better for some values of better.

Like you could use diamond as an insulator as it conducts heat very well.

You could put stainless steel tails on as they don't conduct heat very well.

etc.


However they won't happen until they are cheap.