Should I convert to Induction Cooktop and go all electric?

[awol50]

Our coach has propane 3 burner. Countertops are coran and have two removable pieces that lock in place over the cooktop when not in use and travel.
I bought a nice portable induction cooktop from Costco for around $75. For 90% of cooking, this is all we need. Pulls less than 10 amps.
Frees up counter space as when not in use while camping, I can stand it on its side against the rear backsplash and only has a footprint of about 1/3 the propane cooktop when in use.
Very happy with it. And still have the gas cooktop if I boondock or need more horsepower.

[falconman]

We bought a counter top to try it out and didn’t like it, I prefer to see a flame. Sticking with propane.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by creativepart

Sounds like a great plan, if you ask me. Many like induction better than gas for cooking.

If you can get rid of the propane tank - and build in a new compartment in it's place - BONUS!

Yes, great plan!

[docj]

Originally Posted by creativepart

Sounds like a great plan, if you ask me. Many like induction better than gas for cooking.

If you can get rid of the propane tank - and build in a new compartment in it's place - BONUS!

We use induction >90% of the time we do stovetop cooking. But this summer we spent ~6 weeks on a 30A site in Canada. We have a residential propane cooktop and for that period it was nice to be able to use it to reduce our electric power requirements. It's not used often but it's nice to have when we need it.

[zonie911]

Hi...I have a portable Induction single burner, that I keep handy in my MoHo, just in case....
I definitely use it sometimes, when the mood arises...

[Kodiakan]

If the Mrs doesn't like the induction another option is to take out the huge propane tank, build your bay, and use one or two 5 gallon tanks. Even one will last a long time on a cook top. Personally that is what I would do. I'm guessing your huge propane tank was sized the same for most of the manufactures coaches, some which have propane hot water and heat.

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by pete5016

I have a 2008 Classic Tiffin Allegro Bus. I have Aquahot and a residential fridge. ....
We plan to be fulltime in the next two years and would like to boondock. We have multiple solar panels along with 6 coach batteries.

I am asking for your advice and thoughts....Thanks!

My advice is to do nothing until you figure out if you like being full time and like boondocking.

Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.

We were on home leaving when home leave from working in China when I got a call offering early retirement packages. No house, no car, no plan! Needed a box truck to move furniture to storage at the in-laws. Found a cheap one with low miles, windows, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

The BIL watched the RV channel and told be about free boondocking. First night camping on the beach for free, we loved it.

First thing you learn is to conserve water and electricity. For example, when not hooked up to the grid, I boil water to make coffee in a French press. It also takes the chill out of the MH in the morning. Gloomy overcast days are perfect for soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

I am a mechanical engineer in the power industry. When You are boondocking, using electricity to produce heat rejects 5 times the energy to outside air compared to direct propane heating.

Thermodynamics 101!

While it was not a plan, my classic luxury MH is designed for booddocking and 50 amp hookups. I can sit on 22 miles of beach with 3 other RV or along side a mountain stream where you can see anyone else for the trees.

Unfortunately your 'classic' RV is designed for snooty RV parks that have restriction on 'classic' MH.

Bottom line is booddocking is about enjoying the solitude of nature. It is nice to have a comfortable bed and hot showers. When you are full time, there are others things that are nice but do not use a lot of electricity.

I am very skeptical of solar. In general, wind and solar are shiny things to distract city dwelling tree hugers. It is not about making electricity, it is not cost, it is not about protecting the environment, it is about feeling good about saving the planet that does not need saving.

Since MH already have large batteries to store electricity, part of the cost of solar is covered. However, there are limits to what you can do so conserving electricity.

Let me use path lights as an example for 12 volt systems. If you have 5, 10 watt incandescent lights; you need a 50 watt transformer. If you have 5, 1 watt LED lights you only need a 5 watt transformer.

So if you use more power you need a more expensive transformer. And you need more batteries. One factor is the largest single load added to the little loads that you can not disconnect.

The second factor is the total amount of power you use. Transformers use power just sitting there. My inverter/ charger uses about 30 watts. My refrigerator uses about 350 watts on 120 vac. Then the efficiency of the batteries must be considered when charging and discharging.

My conserving electricity by doing things like putting the fridge propane, I use about 1200 watts a day. It takes an hour to charge the batteries. If I would leave the fridge on 120 vac from the inverter I would have to charge the batteries twice a day for about four hours.

That is a big difference in generator run time. That is why I suggest waiting to find what you like and do not like.

I also dry camp places with out hookups with others nearby like a Casino parking lot. At one, I park clear at the end with a nice view of the ocean and the sound of the surf. In pulls a MH and immediately starts the generator. Next a TT pulls and starts a generator in the bed of the pick up truck.

I tell myself it is a casino parking lot and for only one night. I take my walk along the ocean and hope they do not run all night.

[Filthy-Beast]

Bought a portable 2 burner for our camper. During the winter two years ago started using it home. We prefer it over the gas stove we have and haven't used gas since even at home.

[Grn_Mtn_Boy]

I would do the induction cook top even if it wasn't "better" than the gas stove. Safety issue alone! No LP, less fire risk, less weight, more storage space. Outweighs any advantage to a gas cooking experience. JMO

[falconman]

Not so sure about your safety argument. Many fires start from an electrical malfunction. If there’s a propane leak you might be made aware of it from the propane leak detector before a fire. If it’s an electrical issue that warning comes from the smoke/ fire alarm.

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by falconman

Not so sure about your safety argument. Many fires start from an electrical malfunction. If there’s a propane leak you might be made aware of it from the propane leak detector before a fire. If it’s an electrical issue that warning comes from the smoke/ fire alarm.

I agree. Most people are not trained to do safety evaluations and make have irrational fears.

When it comes to consumer products, a team of people evaluate what is needed to safely use the product. For example adding odor to gas, or smoke detectors.

The problem comes when 'design changes' are made without a safety review.

When I was working in China the company provided apartment had an induction stove. I happened to not be not wearing shoes one day and I got a shock. The problem was fixed.

This got me thinking. The apartments did not have smoke detectors. I wrote this up but was ignored. So when our son came to visit I had him bring enough smoke detectors for the Americans families and those I worked with that children in the apartment.

Part of my job was to mentor young Chinese about safety culture. I sure I failed. First they were really nice people and it was not in the DNA to object to things.

[holstein13]

Originally Posted by WantAB

Buy an inductive countertop to test at home. If the wife likes the way it cooks then try it out on your next RV trips. If you still like it and your coach electrical can keep the batteries charge then rip the LP out.

This is exactly what I would recommend with one caveat. Some induction cooktops max out at 120 volts and 10 amps (1200 watts). I've cooked on great induction cooktops and I've cooked on awful induction cooktops. Unfortunately, the one they provided in our 2015 Newmar, King Aire, is awful.

My wife absolutely hates it. Especially when using both burners because the power is split between the two burners. You only get half the power on each burner. It's really ridiculous. So please be cautious and ask in advance 1) how much power does each burner have (watts) and 2) does the power get shared when both units are being used.

Whatever you do, get your wife's full agreement on the subject before proceeding. My life has been difficult because she complains about the darn thing every time she cooks on it.

[pete5016]

Originally Posted by holstein13

This is exactly what I would recommend with one caveat. Some induction cooktops max out at 120 volts and 10 amps (1200 watts). I've cooked on great induction cooktops and I've cooked on awful induction cooktops. Unfortunately, the one they provided in our 2015 Newmar, King Aire, is awful.

My wife absolutely hates it. Especially when using both burners because the power is split between the two burners. You only get half the power on each burner. It's really ridiculous. So please be cautious and ask in advance 1) how much power does each burner have (watts) and 2) does the power get shared when both units are being used.

Whatever you do, get your wife's full agreement on the subject before proceeding. My life has been difficult because she complains about the darn thing every time she cooks on it.

Good Advice....Thanks!

[Ivylog]

A 2 burner fit better in the space when I removed the propane cooktop, but it only cooks well on one burner and warms on 2. You would need a 240V unit to be able to cook on both at the same time.