Solar Kettle: Can Solar Generator Power A Kettle

Solar kettle or solar-powered kettle is the easiest and the most practical way to boil water while camping, mountaineering, hunting, or fishing. They are not only cost-effective and convenient, but they are also very environmentally friendly. Water is an integral part of living; you cannot survive without it.

A solar kettle is a relatively new technology, and it is made of a thermal vacuum tube. This tube absorbs the sunlight and converts it into heat. The next section will discuss what a solar kettle is and how it works.

What Is A Solar Kettle

A solar kettle looks like a thermos. It uses special thermal technology. Thus, it can boil water without any extra power input. It absorbs the sunlight and converts it into heat. Two exterior reflectors maximize the solar power absorption, while the built-in stand aligns and adjusts the kettle position. The ideal position is when it faces the sun. Also, a thermometer is installed on the kettle that helps the user maintain the temperature.

It is important to note that the solar-powered kettle is insulated, so it is cool to touch even when the contents are boiling, so it is very easy and safe to operate.

Solar Kettle VS. Solar Generator for Kettle

Solar Kettle

A solar kettle is a versatile small piece of equipment that every camper or off-grid enthusiast must own. This vacuum flask-type device gathers solar power through its panels and converts the energy into heat to boil the contents. It can boil water, boil an egg, cook instant recipes, and purify water for safe consumption. Since it does not use fossil fuels, it is not only environmentally friendly but also very cost-effective.

Pros

1. A solar-powered kettle is very cost-effective because there is zero fuel cost.
2. It can not only heat water but also maintain the temperature.
3. It is small, lightweight, and portable enough to hand on your shoulder and get going.
4. Low maintenance.

Cons

1. It is weather dependent. While the solar kettle works brilliantly on sunny days, it might not work efficiently when the sunlight is softer on cloudy, foggy, or rainy days.
2. Solar-powered kettle takes longer to heat water.
3. It can only heat water and cannot power other devices.

Solar Generator for Kettle

While solar kettle can heat water, it is of very limited use. On the other hand, when you choose a solar generator for your solar energy usage. A solar generator can power multiple devices simultaneously because it has multiple ports. The Jackery solar generators range has multiple options depending on your power requirement. You can use Jackery solar generators 1000 Pro, 1500 Pro, and 2000 Pro in your camping setup to fulfill all your power requirements with just one generator.

Pros

1. Cost-effective because of no fuel usage.
2. It can power multiple devices at a time.
3. Since it also has a battery setup, you can store solar energy and use it at night.
4. Apart from solar panel charging, you can also charge Jackery solar generators using AC outlets.
5. Low maintenance
6. Quiet and smoke-free.

Cons

1. They use more space than a simple solar kettle.

How Many Watts Does A Kettle Use

When using a solar generator, knowing how many watts your kettle uses to heat water is important. When you know the device's wattage, you can see how long your solar generator can power it and what other device you can use with it simultaneously.

It is also important to find the difference between a watt (W) and a watt-hour (Wh) to understand how much electricity costs you.

1. A watt (W) is a unit to measure power. It is the rate at which energy is produced or consumed. It measures electrical flow.
2. A watt-hour (Wh) is a unit that measures energy and the amount of work performed.

A kettle uses 1000 to 3000 watts depending on its content volume, making, and the model of the device. However, the average usage is around 1500 watts.

How Much Does It Cost to Power A Kettle

An electric kettle consumes around  0.073 kWh to boil water, and if we take the average US electricity cost as 13.72 cents per kWh, the per boil cost is about $0.01.  

So, if you boil your electric kettle five times a day, we will calculate the average per day cost as follows.

Watts-Hours of an electric kettle per day = 5 x .073 = 0.365   

Cost of electric kettle per day = 0.365 x .1372 = 0.05  

Monthly cost of electric kettle = 0.05 x 30

0.05 x 30  days= 1.50  

The running cost of an electric kettle comes out as $1.50 a month.  

How Much Solar Power Does A Kettle Need

Jackery Solar Generator for Kettle

The Jackery solar generators are an ideal power source for kettles and many other pieces of equipment in many scenarios. They are portable and easy to carry, so you can carry them with you for your next camping, boating, or van life trip. Also, they are quiet and fumes-free, so they can be used indoors to cut electricity costs or when there is a power breakdown.

The Jackery solar generators 1000Pro, 1500Pro, and 2000Pro have enough configuration to power your electric kettle.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro

The Jackery solar generator 2000 Pro offers a tremendous 2,160 Wh capacity, 2,200W AC power, and 4,400W peak power. So, you can easily use this solar generator to support your kettle and many other devices. It has dual battery protection and four temperature-core detectors, making it a safe and robust option for risk-free use.

Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro

The Jackery solar generator 1500 Pro offers a 1512Wh capacity with 1800 running wattage. The 1500 Pro is a complete and secure package with an intelligent BMS and eight state-of-the-art temperature sensors for accurate and safe temperature control. The Dual PD100W design allows you to use multiple devices with three 1800W AC charging ports, two USB-C charging ports, and one car charger.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro 

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro is a very safe and versatile piece of equipment. It has an integrated battery system, saving your equipment from fluctuations. Also, charging is very fast and takes only 1.8 hours to charge through groundbreaking SolarSaga 200W solar panels fully. 

Solar Kettle FAQs

1. What size of solar generator do I need to power a kettle?

As we discussed, an average electric kettle uses 1000 to 3000 watts which translates to 0.25 to 0.75 kWh. The Jackery solar generator range has multiple options that you can use to power your electric kettle. Since the solar generator can power multiple devices, you should also consider what other devices you will want to use.

How to calculate the hours:

Working time = Capacity Wh * 0.85 / operating wattage of your device

Suppose the power consumption of your power kettle is 1500W.

A Solar Generator 2000 Pro Working time will be 2016Wh * 0.85 / 1500w = 1.142 hrs.

We multiply the capacity by 0.85 because we will also consider the power loss in running the equipment. We are using a 15% power loss estimation here.

2. How many solar panels do I need to power a kettle?

The number of solar panels you need to power a kettle depends on several factors, including the general weather conditions, your distance from the equator, the quality of your solar panels, and your average use duration. The Jackery solar panels come in 200 watts, and SolarSaga has 100-watt panels.

It is also important to note that these solar panels will not be used directly; you need to connect them to your solar generator.

3. How fast can a solar kettle heat up? And how much sunlight does a solar kettle need? Can a solar kettle work on cloudy days?  

Your solar kettle takes 30 to 45 minutes to reach the boiling water temperature. However, it also depends on the weather.

A solar kettle can work on cloudy days. However, it will take longer and may warm the water but not boil it.

Final Thoughts

Solar kettles are a convenient and safe way to get warm water, do small cooking tasks, and purify water when camping, boating, or have gone off the grid for any reason. However, limitations include limited usage and a longer time to boil the water. The Jackery solar generators, on the other hand, offer a more comprehensive solution to all your camping needs. Both are eco-friendly options and very easy to use.