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#1
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you
select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... |
#2
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Hi Bill,
There are electronic thermostats for electric heating applications that modulate output (I have some from Aube that control with my in-floor radiant heat), but they're fairly expensive. I suspect their high cost and perhaps concerns related to long-term reliability would limit their use elsewhere. Variable wattage control would be a nice feature from the utility's point of view (i.e., by smoothing out demand), but I suspect most consumers wouldn't care one way or the other. Cheers, Paul On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:35 -0800, "Bill" wrote: Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... |
#3
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 10:39 am, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote: Hi Bill, There are electronic thermostats for electric heating applications that modulate output (I have some from Aube that control with my in-floor radiant heat), but they're fairly expensive. I suspect their high cost and perhaps concerns related to long-term reliability would limit their use elsewhere. Variable wattage control would be a nice feature from the utility's point of view (i.e., by smoothing out demand), but I suspect most consumers wouldn't care one way or the other. Cheers, Paul This makes no difference to the utility, because they have thousands of stoves and similar loads, which are all randomly cycling on and off, effectively averaging it all together, so smoothing out demand from one stove doesn't do anything. They would never see it. The reason its done the way it is on electric ranges is it's a cheap mechanical switch, that cycles it on and off for varying periods. To make the heating more even would require turning it on and off rapidly, which is what is done in wall switch dimmers, which do it on each AC cycle. That requires electronics. And to do that for a dimmer, which is 600W max, takes a smaller, less expensive semiconductor than it would require for a range. It's possible someone offers it, but I haven't seen one. On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:03:35 -0800, "Bill" wrote: Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well....- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#4
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
I'm not so sure about that. My utility, Nova Scotia Power, like
virtually ever utility here in Canada, is winter peaking and these peaks typically occur around 17h30 when street lights start coming on and electric ranges are being used to prepare evening meals. **Anything** that helps minimize concurrent demand, no matter how small, would be helpful from the utility's perspective, especially in light of the high percentage of homes that are electrically heated in this country. Let's say the average electric oven draws 3.0 kW (my convection oven happens to be 5.5 kW). We might expect the typical household oven to operate at full power for the first ten minutes or so, then cycle on perhaps one third of the time thereafter (i.e., an average of one minute on for every two minutes off). Let's also assume there are 100,000 electric ovens in use province-wide during the suppertime peak (and here in Nova Scotia, virtually all ovens are electric since only 500 or so homes are currently served by natural gas). If all 100,000 ovens were energized at the same time, we would expect this load to be 300 MW. We're assuming, of course, that as each of these ovens come up to temperature, the actual load at a 33% duty cycle, would be closer to 100 MW, and since these ovens are not all turned on at the same time, a coincidental peak of 100 MW is probably within spitting distance of the mark. If, however, each of these ovens were equipped with variable wattage controls and, again, assuming a 33% duty cycle, our coincidental peak should drop to just 33 MW. On a typical winter's day, Nova Scotia Power's peak falls between 1,500 to 2,000 MW, so a 67 MW reduction in provincial demand would represent a peak savings of perhaps as much as 3 to 5 per cent. In theory, it would exceed the province's total installed wind capacity of some 60 MW (which, assuming a 40 per cent annual capacity factor, I take it might be closer to just 25 MW). Even if we were to cut the number of ovens in operation by half, the impact on a utility such as Nova Scotia Power is not exactly insignificant. Cheers, Paul On 12 Feb 2007 07:49:37 -0800, wrote: This makes no difference to the utility, because they have thousands of stoves and similar loads, which are all randomly cycling on and off, effectively averaging it all together, so smoothing out demand from one stove doesn't do anything. They would never see it. |
#5
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 1:31 pm, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote: I'm not so sure about that. My utility, Nova Scotia Power, like virtually ever utility here in Canada, is winter peaking and these peaks typically occur around 17h30 when street lights start coming on and electric ranges are being used to prepare evening meals. **Anything** that helps minimize concurrent demand, no matter how small, would be helpful from the utility's perspective, especially in light of the high percentage of homes that are electrically heated in this country. Let's say the average electric oven draws 3.0 kW (my convection oven happens to be 5.5 kW). We might expect the typical household oven to operate at full power for the first ten minutes or so, then cycle on perhaps one third of the time thereafter (i.e., an average of one minute on for every two minutes off). Let's also assume there are 100,000 electric ovens in use province-wide during the suppertime peak (and here in Nova Scotia, virtually all ovens are electric since only 500 or so homes are currently served by natural gas). If all 100,000 ovens were energized at the same time, we would expect this load to be 300 MW. We're assuming, of course, that as each of these ovens come up to temperature, the actual load at a 33% duty cycle, would be closer to 100 MW, and since these ovens are not all turned on at the same time, a coincidental peak of 100 MW is probably within spitting distance of the mark. If, however, each of these ovens were equipped with variable wattage controls and, again, assuming a 33% duty cycle, our coincidental peak should drop to just 33 MW. This also means that you have eliminated the normal full on heating mode of the oven and reduced it to 1/3 of that. Which means now everyone has to wait 3X as long for the oven or burner to warm up, which few people are going to put up with. After that, the oven or burner will be cycling randomly anyway and the sum of them all cycling randomly is the same And presumably, this cooking load comes late in the day, like 6PM+, which is after industrial/commerical use is decreasing. With all the other loads I fail to see how this is going to make any difference in the generating capacity needed to meet peak demand or save the utiltiy even 5cents. It will mean a lot of ****ed off users though, who can't get their oven hot in a reasonable time. On a typical winter's day, Nova Scotia Power's peak falls between 1,500 to 2,000 MW, so a 67 MW reduction in provincial demand would represent a peak savings of perhaps as much as 3 to 5 per cent. In theory, it would exceed the province's total installed wind capacity of some 60 MW (which, assuming a 40 per cent annual capacity factor, I take it might be closer to just 25 MW). Even if we were to cut the number of ovens in operation by half, the impact on a utility such as Nova Scotia Power is not exactly insignificant. So, you have just as many ovens running longer. Unless you have proof that ovens are causing a peak demand that results in either higher capital cost for generators to meet peak capacity or are causing the need to kick in some higher cost energy source during dinner time, this is just a pipe dream. Cheers, Paul On 12 Feb 2007 07:49:37 -0800, wrote: This makes no difference to the utility, because they have thousands of stoves and similar loads, which are all randomly cycling on and off, effectively averaging it all together, so smoothing out demand from one stove doesn't do anything. They would never see it.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#7
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Paul M. Eldridge writes:
Let's say the average electric oven draws 3.0 kW (my convection oven happens to be 5.5 kW). We might expect the typical household oven to operate at full power for the first ten minutes or so, then cycle on perhaps one third of the time thereafter (i.e., an average of one minute on for every two minutes off). Suppose you *did* have an oven with electronic variable power control, where temperature controlled the "on" time of a triac. This oven would still operate at full current until it came up to operating temperature, and then sit at 33% duty cycle after that. The only difference between this and what you have now is that the on/off cycle repeats every 1/120 second, rather than every couple of minutes. But that makes no real difference to the utility, which is looking at the load averaged over 100000 ovens. In fact, the electronic control wastes a bit of power in the switching element, and consumes slightly *more* power than the non-electronic oven. The triac control also distorts the utility waveform into something that is less of a sine wave, which the utility also will not like (the power factor gets worse, so they need higher current capacity for the same billable watts). If all 100,000 ovens were energized at the same time, we would expect this load to be 300 MW. Right - whether or not they have electronic controls. We're assuming, of course, that as each of these ovens come up to temperature, the actual load at a 33% duty cycle, would be closer to 100 MW, and since these ovens are not all turned on at the same time, a coincidental peak of 100 MW is probably within spitting distance of the mark. Again, true with or without electronic controls. If, however, each of these ovens were equipped with variable wattage controls and, again, assuming a 33% duty cycle, our coincidental peak should drop to just 33 MW. This makes no sense. The 33% duty cycle has already been factored into the drop from 300 MW to 100 MW. You can't divide by 3 *again*. You need that 100 MW to keep all of the ovens at operating temperature. On a typical winter's day, Nova Scotia Power's peak falls between 1,500 to 2,000 MW, so a 67 MW reduction in provincial demand would represent a peak savings of perhaps as much as 3 to 5 per cent. In theory, it would exceed the province's total installed wind capacity of some 60 MW (which, assuming a 40 per cent annual capacity factor, I take it might be closer to just 25 MW). Even if we were to cut the number of ovens in operation by half, the impact on a utility such as Nova Scotia Power is not exactly insignificant. This is all based on the assumption that you can somehow run all these ovens with electronic controls on 1/3 the average power you would need with conventional switching controls. That's nonsense - they need just as much energy, on average, to heat the same contents to the same temperature for the same time. The only time it makes sense to use dimmer-like electronic power control is when the temperature swings with conventional controls are too large. Dave |
#8
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Hi Dave,
You're right. Clearly I was a couple neurons short in my thinking. Let me see if I can move closer to the mark this time or, failing that, embarrass myself further trying, as the case may be. Our basic assumption is that these elements will operate 33 per cent of the time, once the oven reaches its set temperature. But this cycling will be random in nature, so our 100,000 ovens won't be cycling "perfectly" in the sense that only one-third will be energized at any one time. As the total number of ovens increase, I take it we'll move ever closer to this ideal scenario, but it's probably fair to say their combined load will fluctuate due to the unevenness in this cycling. If we were to take a series of snap shots, we might find that perhaps 50 per cent of these elements are energized, in which case our load at that particular moment in time is closer to 150 MW and not the 100 MW I had stated. The point of this exercise was to determine if it might be possible to "smooth out" or flatten this load, so its net contribution to peak can be lowered. If we have 100,000 ovens running at a constant 1 KW each once they reach their set temperature, their combined load should remain fairly close to 100 MW (slightly more to account for the higher demand during start-up). Again, my thinking is that energy consumption should remain constant (or perhaps slightly more due to control related losses, as you suggest), but peak demand should be reduced. Your concerns related to power quality are well taken. There may be ways to address that but I'm afraid I'm not very knowledgeable in this area. Please let me know if I'm a little more successful this time out, or if I should be hiding my face. :-0 Cheers, Paul |
#9
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
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#10
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Actually, there were electric cooktops that did this--sorta- the old
GE's with the 7 button pushbutton switches. They used coils that were actually 2 separate coils of different wattages in one., and also had a neutral to the switch. Highest setting was 240 to both segments of the coil, then 240 to one and 115 the other, then 240 to one only ( and am not sure about the exact sequence) it would put the 2 circuits in series with 240 volts, etc, and finally on the lowest would put 115 to both in series. In the early 70's we worked on a few ranges, and I remember the service manager explaining this setup. I do remember going out on one where the lady said that on certain settings none of the burners would work right. She also said "the same time the trouble started, I found this in the drawer underneath the cooktop", and handed me a wirenut. The incoming power was just spliced right there wide open and something in the drawer snagged the neutral and pulled it loose. I lived in an apartment about that same time that had that type of range. It seemed to work OK, though I really couldn't say it was any better than a regular type cooktop. Granted my experience with electric was limited (as it still is) so it wasn't much of a comparison. Larry |
#11
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 9:39 am, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote: Hi Bill, There are electronic thermostats for electric heating applications that modulate output (I have some from Aube that control with my in-floor radiant heat),... Looking at the product brochures at http://www.aubethermostats.com/, they're switching thermostats, too, just w/ models as fast as 15-20 second cycle times and solid-state switching instead of mechanical relays. They don't actually "modulate" output except in the sense of averaging, same as the range controls. To do otherwise would require a mechanism to waste the "extra" power as a in a voltage-divider-type rheostat which would be quite inefficient and require quite large power resistors or other sinks. The mass of the burner element is made relatively large in electric stoves to make the average temperature reasonably constant. Better stoves control on higher frequency cycles and have better-designed burners to minimize the thermal cycling -- my Mom used to claim she could tell the difference between her stove and others in that regard. Whether real or simply perceived I have no idea... |
#12
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Hmm, good point. Because it uses a triac, I had assumed (incorrectly)
that it works pretty much like a standard household dimmer. I have the in-floor heat in my den set at 30C and when I started typing this, my Aube thermostat was showing three wavy bars indicating the floor was operating at 60 per cent capacity (and what I had thought to be 540 watts, versus 900 watts). Oddly, the thermostat will still cycle on and off because I can hear a loud "snap" when it does this; in fact, it just clicked off seconds ago and I can see there are now no bars shown on the display. In a few minutes, I expect to hear it click back on. I took a look at one of the manuals and it does clearly state the bars indicate "the percentage of heating time required to maintain the desired temperature", so that seems to suggest you are correct. Source: http://www.aubetech.com/manuel/2/TH108PLUS.pdf Ah, sure enough, "snap" and we're back to three bars again. Cheers, Paul On 12 Feb 2007 08:18:13 -0800, "dpb" wrote: Looking at the product brochures at http://www.aubethermostats.com/, they're switching thermostats, too, just w/ models as fast as 15-20 second cycle times and solid-state switching instead of mechanical relays. They don't actually "modulate" output except in the sense of averaging, same as the range controls. To do otherwise would require a mechanism to waste the "extra" power as a in a voltage-divider-type rheostat which would be quite inefficient and require quite large power resistors or other sinks. The mass of the burner element is made relatively large in electric stoves to make the average temperature reasonably constant. Better stoves control on higher frequency cycles and have better-designed burners to minimize the thermal cycling -- my Mom used to claim she could tell the difference between her stove and others in that regard. Whether real or simply perceived I have no idea... |
#13
Posted to alt.home.repair
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 1:13 pm, Paul M. Eldridge
wrote: On 12 Feb 2007 08:18:13 -0800, "dpb" wrote: .... they're switching thermostats, too, ... .... Hmm, good point. Because it uses a triac, I had assumed (incorrectly) that it works pretty much like a standard household dimmer. .... The triac is essentially just a bi-directional gated switching circuit able to be controlled for either voltage polarity, so unless there is more internally than that, it is essentially just an enhanced switch. Less expensive dimmers are essentially the same, more expensive may include other circuitry to modify the waveform and phase to provide nearer a sinusoidal voltage, but I'd guess these thermostats don't have that sophistication. |
#14
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Thanks. I had only a sketchy understanding of how this technology
works so this helps me considerably. And given these thermostats are connected to resistance loads that should happily work with pretty much anything you throw at them, they most likely lack any sophisticated circuitry, as you suggest. Which brings me to this question: these thermostats are becomming increasingly popular and they do work extremely well from a consumer's point of view, but I wonder what impact they may have on power quality. I understand triacs can generate some nasty THD numbers; one thing to dim a 60-watt incandescent bulb but 6,000 watts of electric heat has to kick things up a notch or two. Any thoughts? Cheers, Paul On 13 Feb 2007 15:00:43 -0800, "dpb" wrote: The triac is essentially just a bi-directional gated switching circuit able to be controlled for either voltage polarity, so unless there is more internally than that, it is essentially just an enhanced switch. Less expensive dimmers are essentially the same, more expensive may include other circuitry to modify the waveform and phase to provide nearer a sinusoidal voltage, but I'd guess these thermostats don't have that sophistication. |
#15
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 12:03 pm, "Bill" wrote:
Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... Our rough and ready electric cooking range seems to work well enough. It has two larger and two smaller elements on top. Each 'burner' has one of those rotary thermal controls. They last a long time; we have rarely replaced one. Also the usual top and bottom elements in the oven controlled by the clock/timer and a thermostat. Seems to be no problem setting any element to Full, or Low or anything in between. I think you are correct; but it would require a thermostatic control for each element'. More complicated, more wiring and more expensive. Do not see the practical need. Cooking requires attention in any case; something as simple as sliding a pan off centre of a 'burner' (hob) can slightly alter the cooking and improve/ruin an omelet! |
#16
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
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#17
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Peter A" wrote in message
Why do you want this? Well I installed a woodstove and tried cooking on it. I cooked eggs and noticed they came out perfect! When I cook eggs on my electric range, they will tend to stick to the bottom of the pan or overheat / underheat. Anyway the difference between cooking on the woodstove and on my electric range is amazing! The difference of course is the "steady heat" of the wood stove as opposed to the "on/off" heat of the electric range. And of course I don't have my woodstove fired up in the summer.... |
#18
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
I think you're jumping to conclusions. I doubt it's any variation
in heat that's making the difference. Bill wrote: "Peter A" wrote in message Why do you want this? Well I installed a woodstove and tried cooking on it. I cooked eggs and noticed they came out perfect! When I cook eggs on my electric range, they will tend to stick to the bottom of the pan or overheat / underheat. Anyway the difference between cooking on the woodstove and on my electric range is amazing! The difference of course is the "steady heat" of the wood stove as opposed to the "on/off" heat of the electric range. And of course I don't have my woodstove fired up in the summer.... |
#19
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Bill" writes:
Well I installed a woodstove and tried cooking on it. I cooked eggs and noticed they came out perfect! When I cook eggs on my electric range, they will tend to stick to the bottom of the pan or overheat / underheat. Anyway the difference between cooking on the woodstove and on my electric range is amazing! The difference of course is the "steady heat" of the wood stove as opposed to the "on/off" heat of the electric range. There are many possible explanations for this. Perhaps you just pay more attention when cooking on the woodstove. Perhaps the large flat iron cooking surface of the wood stove heats your pan more evenly than a coil element on the electric stove. Or maybe the cyclic temperature variations do matter. You haven't provided any evidence for the latter explanation. It would be interesting to measure the amount of temperature swing at the surface of your electric element as the element cycles on and off. Then measure it on the inside surface of the pan. I'll bet the temperature range is not very large. Dave |
#20
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Dave Martindale" wrote in message
... "Bill" writes: Well I installed a woodstove and tried cooking on it. I cooked eggs and noticed they came out perfect! When I cook eggs on my electric range, they will tend to stick to the bottom of the pan or overheat / underheat. Anyway the difference between cooking on the woodstove and on my electric range is amazing! The difference of course is the "steady heat" of the wood stove as opposed to the "on/off" heat of the electric range. There are many possible explanations for this. Perhaps you just pay more attention when cooking on the woodstove. Perhaps the large flat iron cooking surface of the wood stove heats your pan more evenly than a coil element on the electric stove. Or maybe the cyclic temperature variations do matter. You haven't provided any evidence for the latter explanation. It would be interesting to measure the amount of temperature swing at the surface of your electric element as the element cycles on and off. Then measure it on the inside surface of the pan. I'll bet the temperature range is not very large. Dave Coming to conclusions while missing 90% of the pertinent information is a great American pastime, apparently. |
#21
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:13:12 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote: "Dave Martindale" wrote in message ... "Bill" writes: Well I installed a woodstove and tried cooking on it. I cooked eggs and noticed they came out perfect! When I cook eggs on my electric range, they will tend to stick to the bottom of the pan or overheat / underheat. Anyway the difference between cooking on the woodstove and on my electric range is amazing! The difference of course is the "steady heat" of the wood stove as opposed to the "on/off" heat of the electric range. There are many possible explanations for this. Perhaps you just pay more attention when cooking on the woodstove. Perhaps the large flat iron cooking surface of the wood stove heats your pan more evenly than a coil element on the electric stove. Or maybe the cyclic temperature variations do matter. You haven't provided any evidence for the latter explanation. It would be interesting to measure the amount of temperature swing at the surface of your electric element as the element cycles on and off. Then measure it on the inside surface of the pan. I'll bet the temperature range is not very large. Dave Coming to conclusions while missing 90% of the pertinent information is a great American pastime, apparently. That's normal. It's a lot easier to ignore 90% or more of what you heard, and make up stuff to fill the gap. |
#22
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
In article , Peter A writes:
In article , says... Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) Why do you want this? The on/off technique works just fine in my experience. The thermal mass of the burner and the pan even things out. For example, when I am simmering a soup on low, the soup simmers at an even, constant rate even though the element is on for 2 seconds then off for 10 (more or less). I'm with the OP. I was just commenting that this kind of thing would be nice to my husband yesterday as I was making our week's dinners. We have a ****-poor glass-topped electric stove. We think it's crappy because it might be low-watt, but don't know for sure. It can't boil a gallon of water unless it's tightly lidded, and even then it takes over a half an hour. Last weekend, I was making a roux, and I really noticed how poor it is there too. I had trouble getting the correct temp to cook the roux - it cooked fine while the burner was on, but all cooking stopped when the burner cycled off. We HATE the thing. - Sharon "Gravity... is a harsh mistress!" |
#23
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Sharon" wrote in message
... In article , Peter A writes: In article , says... Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) Why do you want this? The on/off technique works just fine in my experience. The thermal mass of the burner and the pan even things out. For example, when I am simmering a soup on low, the soup simmers at an even, constant rate even though the element is on for 2 seconds then off for 10 (more or less). I'm with the OP. I was just commenting that this kind of thing would be nice to my husband yesterday as I was making our week's dinners. We have a ****-poor glass-topped electric stove. We think it's crappy because it might be low-watt, but don't know for sure. It can't boil a gallon of water unless it's tightly lidded, and even then it takes over a half an hour. Last weekend, I was making a roux, and I really noticed how poor it is there too. I had trouble getting the correct temp to cook the roux - it cooked fine while the burner was on, but all cooking stopped when the burner cycled off. We HATE the thing. - Sharon "Gravity... is a harsh mistress!" You cannot compare a crappy glass top stove with a well designed electric open-coil stove. That's like saying you like a certain shampoo better than you like the size of the glove box in your car. |
#24
Posted to alt.engineering.electrical,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking,rec.food.equipment
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
In article ,
says... In article , Peter A writes: In article , says... Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) Why do you want this? The on/off technique works just fine in my experience. The thermal mass of the burner and the pan even things out. For example, when I am simmering a soup on low, the soup simmers at an even, constant rate even though the element is on for 2 seconds then off for 10 (more or less). I'm with the OP. I was just commenting that this kind of thing would be nice to my husband yesterday as I was making our week's dinners. We have a ****-poor glass-topped electric stove. We think it's crappy because it might be low-watt, but don't know for sure. It can't boil a gallon of water unless it's tightly lidded, and even then it takes over a half an hour. Last weekend, I was making a roux, and I really noticed how poor it is there too. I had trouble getting the correct temp to cook the roux - it cooked fine while the burner was on, but all cooking stopped when the burner cycled off. We HATE the thing. Sounds awful, but it has nothing to do with it being electric. A decent electric stove will boil water faster than a gas stove and is usually superior at low-heat cooking. Time for a replacement maybe? |
#25
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Ï "Sharon" Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá ... In article , Peter A writes: In article , says... Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) Why do you want this? The on/off technique works just fine in my experience. The thermal mass of the burner and the pan even things out. For example, when I am simmering a soup on low, the soup simmers at an even, constant rate even though the element is on for 2 seconds then off for 10 (more or less). I'm with the OP. I was just commenting that this kind of thing would be nice to my husband yesterday as I was making our week's dinners. We have a ****-poor glass-topped electric stove. We think it's crappy because it might be low-watt, but don't know for sure. It can't boil a gallon of water unless it's tightly lidded, and even then it takes over a half an hour. Last weekend, I was making a roux, and I really noticed how poor it is there too. I had trouble getting the correct temp to cook the roux - it cooked fine while the burner was on, but all cooking stopped when the burner cycled off. We HATE the thing. Well, excuse me, but in EU (at least in Greece)glass-topped electric stoves are state-of-the-art, and very expensive, and very robust, and efficient, too.The traditional stove has four hobs with the elements inside a ring of iron (not steel),ours is glass-topped (or better, glass-ceramic, and cost like, 700 euros, while a cheap iron one, like 400-500 euros. |
#26
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Peter A" wrote in message ... -snip- Microwave ovens work the same way, although I have some vague recollection that some fancy models have variable power. I recently purchased a new microwave that has variable output power (labeled as "inverter technology"). It was sub $100 US so I wouldn't call it "fancy". It has 4 power ranges and uses duty cycle control between the power ranges to regulate the 10 available power settings. It is FAR superior at the lower power settings. When defrosting or cooking on low, my old microwave would singe and pause repeatedly. Cycling 1/4 power more often yields MUCH better results. The new microwave also behaves much better on my small backup generator - conventional microwaves have really poor power factor AND significant even order harmonics, both not appreciated by generator voltage regulators. The even order harmonics are from the voltage doubler magnetron circuit. On one half of the line waveform, the diode charges the cap up. On the other half cycle, it fires the magnetron with the cap in series with the line voltage. Since the back EMF when charging the cap is not equal to the fire voltage of the magnetron minus the cap charge, the waveform is highly asymmetrical. |
#27
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious
amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. -- Steve Barker "Bill" wrote in message ... Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... |
#28
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Steve Barker" wrote in message
... I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. -- Steve Barker Bull****. Who told you to say that? |
#29
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Hello, JoeSpareBedroom!
You wrote on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:27:24 GMT: J "Steve Barker" wrote in J message ... ?? I think the main question here is why would anyone who ?? does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range ?? to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. ?? ?? -- ?? Steve Barker You probably have noticed the massive cross-posting on this topic: a pretty good troll indicator, IMHO! James Silverton Potomac, Maryland E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not |
#30
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
In article , "James
Silverton" not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not says... You probably have noticed the massive cross-posting on this topic: a pretty good troll indicator, IMHO! You are right - I had not noticed, I should pay more attention to this! -- Peter Aitken |
#31
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:22:38 -0600, "Steve Barker"
wrote: I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. Nonsense. Maybe 50 years ago, but today electric smoothtops have just as much heat and control as gas. Lou |
#32
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 11:48�am, Lou Decruss wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:22:38 -0600, "Steve Barker" wrote: I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? *No real cooking can be done on them. today electric smoothtops have just as much control as gas. Bull****. Who told you to say that? Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha . . . . Sheldon |
#33
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
Lou Decruss wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:22:38 -0600, "Steve Barker" wrote: I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. Nonsense. Maybe 50 years ago, but today electric smoothtops have just as much heat and control as gas. There's an element of truth to it. Unless you use an induction element, you cannot turn an electric element *down* quickly...it takes some time for the heat in the element to dissipate. Also, commercial-grade gas ranges have heat outputs that far exceed electric ranges (and indeed most residential gas ranges). This can be useful for some types of cooking. Chris |
#34
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 2:58 pm, Chris Friesen wrote:
Lou Decruss wrote: On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:22:38 -0600, "Steve Barker" wrote: I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. Nonsense. Maybe 50 years ago, but today electric smoothtops have just as much heat and control as gas. There's an element of truth to it. Unless you use an induction element, you cannot turn an electric element *down* quickly...it takes some time for the heat in the element to dissipate. Chris I bought two Berghof induction units, and like them. As far as turning down an induction element quickly, the induction plate/element still holds the heat from the pan, while it is being turned down. I have not tried the induction by turning it from a 10 to a 1 to see how long it takes to stop boiling; vs. turning the range unit from a 10 to a 1 to see how long it will take to stop boiling. From cooking with both, but neither one for a loooooong time, I would say the induction takes less time to stop boiling. However, this was not the question, I realize, as the OP's emphasis is on creating a invariable/non-variable heat. Dee |
#35
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:58:55 -0600, Chris Friesen
wrote: Lou Decruss wrote: On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:22:38 -0600, "Steve Barker" wrote: I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. Nonsense. Maybe 50 years ago, but today electric smoothtops have just as much heat and control as gas. There's an element of truth to it. Nice pun. Unless you use an induction element, you cannot turn an electric element *down* quickly...it takes some time for the heat in the element to dissipate. I did mention smoothtop. The disk on a good quality pan will hold heat longer than the glass. The element is on or off. Also, commercial-grade gas ranges have heat outputs that far exceed electric ranges (and indeed most residential gas ranges). This can be useful for some types of cooking. This is very true. But I don't think the OP was referring to a commercial setting. Lou |
#36
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
In article ,
says... I think the main question here is why would anyone who does any serious amount of cooking want an electric range to begin with? No real cooking can be done on them. Absolute drivel. Anyone who cannot figure out how to use an electric range for any and all cooking is a feeble-minded nitwit. See http://www.pgacon.com/KitchenMyths.htm (scroll down to "Gas stoves are better than electric"). -- Peter Aitken |
#37
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
"Bill" wrote Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) If you're talking about the stovetop, perhaps a diffuser would help your situation if you can't find what you're looking for. nancy |
#38
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 11:45?am, "Nancy Young" wrote:
"Bill" wrote Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) If you're talking about the stovetop, perhaps a diffuser would help your situation if you can't find what you're looking for. Electric cooktops maintain constant heat (as do gas), Electric element cooktops are just not instantly responsive. If one wants the best of both worlds they need to consider induction cooking, but will also amplify the worst of both worlds. All things considered, for precision cooking nothing to date beats gas. Sheldon |
#39
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 10:03?am, "Bill" wrote:
Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... Electric cook tops do not cycle on and off, only the oven does because it is thermostatically controlled, exactly the same as with gas ovens. I don't think you understand your own question... I think what you want is an electric cooktop with a constantly varible control rather than with preset detents as most all incorporate, but such a system would serve no purpose because you cannot visually interpolate the heat setting directly as one can with an open flame... having preset detents makes more sense with electric cooking. If you really want constant variable control buy an inexpensive electric hot plate... perhaps buy an electric fry pan... or get a gas stove. Sheldon |
#40
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"Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?
On Feb 12, 12:06 pm, "Sheldon" wrote:
On Feb 12, 10:03?am, "Bill" wrote: Does anyone manufacture a "variable heat" electric range, where when you select the heat setting, it would have a constant heat at a certain temperature? (Like you can do with a gas range...) This would be sort of like a dimmer switch for a light where you can adjust how much light is output from the bulb. The way electric ranges work now is they go on and off, on and off. Less heat means the "burner" goes on for a little while, then off for quite awhile. Then with more heat, the "burner" is on for a long time, then off for a little amount of time. With a gas range, you can adjust the heat so it is constant - no off and on. Seems they could do this with an electric range as well.... Electric cook tops do not cycle on and off, only the oven does because it is thermostatically controlled, exactly the same as with gas ovens. Of course they cycle on and off, that's how they control the amount of heat. What do you think they use, a big resistor? I don't think you understand your own question... I think what you want is an electric cooktop with a constantly varible control rather than with preset detents as most all incorporate, but such a system would serve no purpose because you cannot visually interpolate the heat setting directly as one can with an open flame... having preset detents makes more sense with electric cooking. I understood his question. What he wants is an electric range element that produces a more uniform and more constant heat, as opposed to cycling on and off for many secs at a time. I too question how important that is, but that's what he wants. And not all electric ranges have detent settings. My Jenn-Aire has a smooth, constantly variable control. But the element behaves exactly as he describes, going on and off for many secs at a time, depending on how high the setting is. If you really want constant variable control buy an inexpensive electric hot plate... perhaps buy an electric fry pan... or get a gas stove. I'm not sure an electric hot plate or electric fry pan behaves any different. I think they all apply full current to the heating element, and just cycle in on or off for varying duty cycles. What he wants could be done with that approach, but requires varying the duty cycle on cycles of very short duration. Sheldon |
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