Should I convert to Induction Cooktop and go all electric?

[Bravesoul]

I totally suck at propane cooking so I took it out and replaced it with a 2 burner induction stove cooktop. I had to cover the hole left above the drawers and build a trim around the original hole. Here are a few pics of my work on my '07 Fleetwood Revolution. As an avid woodworker I would be happy to work with anyone that needs something made.

[RayJo]

Originally Posted by pete5016

I have a 2008 Classic Tiffin Allegro Bus. I have Aquahot and a residential fridge. I have a large propane tank that only feeds a small cooktop.

The wife wants to replace the countertops in the Coach. I was thinking if the countertops are replaced, this would be a good time to replace the old gas cooktop with a new induction cooktop.

The wife is not a fan of electric stoves, but has heard good things about induction cooktops. Switching would allow me to remove the large tank, gain a storage compartment, and have one less thing to pull around.

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!

Did That, Love it!
But don't get too far ahead of your plan to have LP tank removed. Once the cost of removal was quoted we decided to keep the LP tank and install hook-ups for direct use with our outdoor BBQ Weber Grille---Love it too!

[Doug Patton]

I changed out ours in our 2007 Monaco Signature and we are now totally electric. The swap out was easy with only a minor adjustment on the counter top which is not visible. To get rid of the heavy propane tank was justification enough for me. I removed the tank myself and actually sold it on Craigslist for $495. The induction top I chose was a Tru Incuction and, yes the power is split between the two burners buy once you learn where to put which pan or pot it works perfectly. One of the best modifications I have made to our coach.

[rluxt]

Originally Posted by pete5016

I have a 2008 Classic Tiffin Allegro Bus. I have Aquahot and a residential fridge. I have a large propane tank that only feeds a small cooktop.

The wife wants to replace the countertops in the Coach. I was thinking if the countertops are replaced, this would be a good time to replace the old gas cooktop with a new induction cooktop.

The wife is not a fan of electric stoves, but has heard good things about induction cooktops. Switching would allow me to remove the large tank, gain a storage compartment, and have one less thing to pull around.

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!

One thing to be aware of, induction cooking is something to avoid for anyone having a pacemaker.
Rich

[Kergan]

We full time in our motorhome spending two weeks at a time boon-docking in the summer and 5 months at a 55 plus park in Mesa. I love my induction cooker but when the power goes off in the park, which for some reason happens quite frequently, we can use the propane stove or furnace. Our friends in park models envy the flexibility that RVers have. Running the generator is really not an option when you are in close proximity to neighbors and not allowed in the park We like having the propane for boon-docking and as a backup

[docj]

Originally Posted by Kergan

Running the generator is really not an option when you are in close proximity to neighbors and not allowed in the park

Although I agree with the fact that it's nice to have propane as a backup, IMHO when the power goes out I'm entitled to run my generator for as long as necessary. The park's rules are null and void IMO if the services I contracted for aren't being provided.

I'll turn the generator off as soon as power is restored, but in the meantime it will run.

[BillJinOR]

I’ve been in several parks when they lost power , normally in the summer when their inadequate electric fails. My generator is on and so is everyone else’s. In fact the park has always encouraged it.

[tjh47]

My understanding is that Induction Cook Tops may not be compatible with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. I'm not an expert but it's worth researching for the safety of yourself and any guests you might have. We have a portable induction cook top we don't use if anyone with a pacemaker is present.

[docj]

Originally Posted by tjh47

My understanding is that Induction Cook Tops may not be compatible with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. I'm not an expert but it's worth researching for the safety of yourself and any guests you might have. We have a portable induction cook top we don't use if anyone with a pacemaker is present.

Although the concern about interactions with pacemakers is a valid one, as far as I can tell the actual data shows that there is very little real risk.

Here's a technical article on the subject. I would accept it a but more than I would rumors passed around the internet.

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ca...al-environment

[Don Juane]

Go with induction if:

a) you do not cook and you do boondock
b) you do cook and you do not boondock

If cooking is your thing, then sorry we are not there yet with solar capacity unless you perhaps have a giant bank of expensive lithium batteries and only cook one day a week. Gas is a beautiful, reliable thing for boondockers and while you may go "all electric" and impress your friends while paying enough money to seemingly warrant getting there - sorry the technology will let you down if you are used to doing a lot of cooking and there's not a power pole outside.

[Davejohn]

IMO both of your thoughts are great; get rid of the propane and go with induction.
You gain space, no longer have the hassle of refilling propane and don't have to worry about places that don't allow propane.
As for induction, the wife and I both find it to be the best cooking method that we have ever tried. It is fast, clean, quiet and easy to clean up. As a bonus, you gain counter space for general use when not cooking. (We have it both at home and in our coach. Absolutely love it!)

[trayl]

Apologies if this is a bit long, but I think some points are important...and see WARNING below...



Background: We have an all-electric Tuscany with an induction cooktop.


1: As others have noted, AquaHot should be heating both hot water and living space, so furnace should not be an issue.


2: RV induction cooktops are generally 2-burner, 1800amp units. They must be on their own dedicated 15amp circuit. Be sure you have/add this circuit. Also be sure your electrical system can handle this load.



3: Because of (2), the burners must SHARE the 15amp power. My cooktop does this by switching power from one burner to the other, if needed. Thus, if using both burners, heating may be limited. Not good if trying to boil up a big pot of spaghetti, but otherwise probably okay.


4: Induction cooktops require ferromagnetic cooking vessles (read: iron or steel). Check with a magnet. No more tossing Corning Ware onto the stove, but that can still go in the microwave.


5: As others have mentioned, the cooktop has a "pan present" sensor and will turn itself off (quickly!) if it senses a pan-not-present situation. So, if you like to pick up the pan to stir your eggs of flip your pancakes, remember to turn your burner back on when you set your pan down.



6: Here's the WARNING!!! Our cooktop has flat surface "touch" controls. IT DOES NOT HAVE A CONTROL LOCKOUT like our home (conventional) cooktop to disable the touch controls. This bit us in the donkey, potentially big time... We put a meal in the Crock Pot and started it cooking (plugged in CP, not using burner). However, we did use the cooktop as extended counter space. Yes, the additional flat space is indeed handy at times. All is well, so far...


Then, at some point, one of us must have unknowingly touched/brushed the power touchpad for the burner the CP was setting on. Since the CP had a steel outer shell, the cooktop detected a "pan present" and turned on. OOPS! Of course, we did not notice until a few minutes later when we smelled a VERY unpleasant burning smell. This was quickly traced to the CP having burned paint on/near its bottom and 2 of ts 3 little rubber feet being melted. We iquickly shut off the stove vented the space, and (ultimately) trashed the CP as we didn't think we could EVER get rid of that residual smell.


I hate to think what could have happened if we had left for an outing! I came to the immediate conclusion that this was a VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. I looked for a replacement cooktop with a lockout and found none. So...


I installed my own solution: I added a standard on/off electrical switch at about eye level near the stove. It's wired onto the plug, so the cooktop is now plugged into a switched plug. In our case, this is essentially on a side wall just in front of the microwave...convenient but unlikely to be accidentally turned on. This allows us to simply deactivate the stove and all its controls when not in use.


So... If you're planning to sway to an induction cooktop, best to you. I hope it works well for you. BUT, I VERY STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU INSTALL A MANUAL ON/OFF SWITCH AS A SAFETY MEASURE.

[richard5933]

Surprised you cooktop doesn't have a lock out. My $50 cheapie unit from Ikea has to be unlocked every single time I plug it in. I just checked a few on Amazon and found units with and without the lockout, starting at about $125 for a double burner model. They're out there.

[pete5016]

Originally Posted by RayJo

Did That, Love it!
But don't get too far ahead of your plan to have LP tank removed. Once the cost of removal was quoted we decided to keep the LP tank and install hook-ups for direct use with our outdoor BBQ Weber Grille---Love it too!

Yep...thanks! The cost to remove the tank and finish out the basement compartment costs more than the install of the induction top. The cost to remove the tank and finish out the basement compartment is more than $1k.