From boiling your water, tea, and coffee to even a packet of Maggi and eggs, an electric kettle is one magical appliance without which your kitchen is incomplete. It saves our time and sweat and makes the lives of busy bees like you and me much easier.
Electric kettles are one of the most popular ways to heat water. They are simple, efficient, and quick. It is important to know about the main components and energy consumption of electric kettles. An electric kettle has a few main components such as the heating element, the water reservoir, and the switch. The most important thing to consider when purchasing an electric kettle is its energy consumption. Some kettles use more energy than others, so it’s important to find one that is energy-efficient.
To know more about the main components and Energy Consumption Of Electric Kettles, read more about them here.
Main Components of an Electric Kettle
An electric kettle has a bunch of handy features which make this appliance user-friendly and convenient to use.
We have already discussed the heating element – the coil that does the main job. There’s also an on/off switch on the front panel. The deal with some electric kettles is that you have to turn it off by pressing on this switch manually. However, there are modern ones that have an auto turn-off switch.
The best quality electric kettles also have a 360° rotating base at the bottom to be placed in any direction. A bimetallic thermostat at the bottom also works to maintain the hot internal temperature.
An electric kettle also has a cord wrapping facility near the base to avoid counter clutter. All electric kettles have a large dripless pour spout at the top for easy filling and pouring. Many top-end kettles will also have a digital LED temp screen on the front with various options to externally control the temperature.
Lastly, moving onto a kettle’s two most basic and common components – the hinged lid on top and a ‘Cool Touch’ handle right above the water gauge. Some kettles will also have a well-lit water level indicator to prevent you from overfilling them.
Let’s talk about the main body of an electric kettle – it’s generally made of aluminum or stainless steel. There are some cheaper plastic ones available in the market too. We will briefly explain the pros and cons to help you decide better.
So, the plastic ones are comparatively less heavy and don’t feel burning hot when you touch them with your bare fingers. But your water may have a chemical-like smell and taste a bit different than usual.
On the other hand, although the stainless steel ones are more pricey, they are relatively safe with no health risks. But if you’ve got curious toddlers at home, you’ll need to be careful since they can get really hot with boiling water. Your fingers might burn when you touch the outer surface.
Electric Kettle Energy Consumption
Different electric kettle models of other brands have varying rates of energy consumption. Some consume less, and some consume more. But on average, an electric kettle will likely draw in 2-3 kilowatts of energy to run efficiently.
As far as we know, a kettle with a 1.2 – 1.7 liter capacity will use between 1350 to 1800 watts to be able to boil water. A typical kettle at 50 Hz 230V will consume approximately 1500 watts. Electric kettles with a storage capacity of 2.0 liters will use a minimum of 2000 watts.
For small electric kettles with a low capacity, the minimum energy used in watts is 600. In contrast, the minimum energy value for a regular-sized kettle is 1200 watts. The maximum power a kettle can draw in is 3000 watts depending on the voltage and size.
Most electric kettles have an automatic shut-off feature that kicks in when they reach a boiling point, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking your tea or coffee. It also helps conserve energy as kettles only use energy when boiling water, not while sitting on a hot plate waiting for you to come back with your cup of joe!
How does a Cordless Electric Kettle work?
Some of you may be confused when we write ‘cordless electric kettle‘ – so what does it mean if a kettle is cordless? How is it different from the one we previously discussed?
When it comes to an electric kettle, we use a cord to plug the appliance into an electric outlet. But these cordless ones don’t have to be plugged into an external power source. The base has got it all. So, the base is basically like a docking station with an invisible power cord in-built and at the same time connected to an electric outlet.
When you think about it, this is great – you can use your kettle on the dining table or anywhere else and take it with you. Okay, this is how it works: First, you need to set the kettle on its base. The 360° base will be rotatable, so you can place it facing any direction you want. And your job is done!
The sealed coil with the heating element inside will complete a circuit, generating thermal energy and powering up the base.
Another interesting fact is that cordless electric kettles don’t need batteries and are not so expensive either compared to corded ones. So, would you prefer an electric tea kettle with a cord or without a cord? It’s totally up to you, buddy, but we believe the cordless electric kettles save more energy and are more user-friendly.
If you want to know more about How Electric Kettles Work and Why You Should Use One then head over to this article that explains it all.
Final Words
Electric kettles are a convenient way to heat water for tea, coffee, or other hot beverages. They come in various sizes and shapes, with different features and energy consumption levels. The main components of an electric kettle are the heating element, the water reservoir or tank, and the power cord. Most electric kettles have automatic shut-off mechanisms that turn off the kettle when it reaches a boiling point to prevent overheating and save energy. Some also have timers so that you can preset how long you want your water heated. Kettle size is measured in liters; smaller kettles use less energy than larger ones.