News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by MrBuddyCasino on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:14AM (#37309142)
Another thing Americans miss out on - the "boost" function on modern induction stoves. Since the oven usually gets one phase and the cooking fields get two dedicated phases of the 400V lines, you can use "boost" to steal power from the other phase. Water boils even faster than in a tea kettle!
Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by andersa on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:24AM (#37309296)
Sure would be nice to have some kind of hyper boost setting. There's a 3 phase connection, so why don't they use it? Time to heat that one pot of water with 11 kW.
Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by Ekaros on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:43AM (#37309601)
Having 3 different inducting circuits would be hard to fit and make less even heating distribution. Also I think they would induct to each other. Also 11 kW could be dangerous with empty containers that is quite a bit of power. Like resistive heaters get red hot at lower power.
Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by andersa on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @04:26PM (#37313483)
There are actually some stoves out there that can use two phases for one large pot, reaching 7.2kW. For example, Miele stoves with the "PowerFlex" feature do this (that is quite the big brain name given the context).

Since it is possible to do for two phases, why wouldn't it also work for 3? More power!

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by dtgriscom on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @02:12PM (#37311697)
Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by Kirby64 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:53AM (#37309745)
What do you mean? Comparing a UK Bosch induction hob with a US one, they both seem to offer roughly 2.5kW of power in normal mode, and both offers a "boost" functionality that boosts the output temporarily to 3.6kW.

Stove outlets can handle 12kW in the US... So there's plenty of power to go around. Built in outlets can go even higher, with 240V/60A being somewhat common for larger appliances.

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by MrBuddyCasino on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @01:18PM (#37310975)
It is hard to find numbers, but combining phases is definitely how it works for some models, eg Miele PowerFlex uses "booster output of up to 7.4 kW" [0]. This is why you can only use it for one field.

> Stove outlets can handle 12kW

wasn't aware, in that case I was wrong, good for them

[0] https://www.miele.co.th/domestic/1512.htm?&&&info=200004302-...

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by sbradford26 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:58AM (#37309822)
American induction cooktops also have boost functionality. All boost does is temporarily increases the power output usually at the expense of other elements. Power isn't "stolen" from other phases. Usually the reason why the cooktop cannot be in boost mode the entire time is cooling related.

https://www.subzero-wolf.com/assistance/answers/wolf/common/...

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by chinchilla2020 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @07:00PM (#37315307)
It's just increasing the power draw. There is no concept of 'stealing power from another phase'