merc
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It's always the same. The standard kettle life in our home is some 30 months - until its heating element interrupts and the kettle stops working. No matter if plastic, glass or stainless steel - the heating element seems to be always the same ( from the same manufacturer), with a precisely set planned obsolescence. Never tried a "smart" kettle. It offers some extra features but I strongly doubt the heating element quality is better. I don't like it. Not because you have to periodically pay (it's not much) but because it produces unnecessary waste as the kettle itself might probably work many times longer. In times when kettles used a heating spiral in the water (not the built-in heating element in the bottom) their lifespan was usually longer. But they don't make them any more. Our last three kettles were 1370-1630W (probably for the 220-240V range?). With typical 245-253V in the outlet (according to UPS charts), it must be even more. I wonder if a step down transformer decreasing those 250V to 220V could significantly improve the kettle life? Longer heating times shouldn't be a problem. |
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sox35
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Our last three kettles were 1370-1630W (probably for the 220-240V range?). With typical 245-253V in the outlet (according to UPS charts), it must be even more. I wonder if a step down transformer decreasing those 250V to 220V could significantly improve the kettle life? Longer heating times shouldn't be a problem.
Our mains voltage is around 245V, we are right next to two substations. Never had a problem with kettles, or anything else for that matter. Incandescent lamps might last for a slightly shorter time, but nothing noticeable. The kettle we have at the moment is rated 2500-3000W at 240V. By the way, what's a "smart" kettle, FFS..? Does it take itself off to the tap to fill itself up and bring you coffee in bed..? Now that would be smart..!  |
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« Last Edit: March 10, 2020, 03:49:09 PM by sox35 »
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marcopete87
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| have you tried to switch producer and model?
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merc
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Our mains voltage is around 245V, we are right next to two substations. Never had a problem with kettles, or anything else for that matter. Depends on how much you use it. Possibly also on the amount of water, dunno. have you tried to switch producer and model?
Never had the same brand twice. The problem is that all of them were probably made in the same Chinese factory (see the link above). Tefal, AEG and some less known brand. |
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sox35
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Depends on how much you use it. Possibly also on the amount of water, dunno. The kettle itself generally only gets used once a day, to make tea at night, as I don't like coffee at bedtime. For coffee we use a Tefal Quick Cup machine, which I have had for at least 7 or 8 years. That gets used at least 5 or 6 times a day, we're coffee addicts here..! We also have an electric percolator which we use on a timer to make "real" coffee for first thing when we wake up  |
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marcopete87
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Never had the same brand twice. The problem is that all of them were probably made in the same Chinese factory (see the link above). Tefal, AEG and some less known brand.
Try Philips, Delonghi (if you have this brand in your country), they aren't so bad. In extreme case, step down transformer. |
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sox35
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Try Philips, Delonghi (if you have this brand in your country), they aren't so bad.
In extreme case, step down transformer.
A transformer capable of handling that current rating would be expensive  |
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Ash
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| Most kettle failures i seen are switch mechanism related (once it is not the original Strix but some knockoff)
The good kettles i had lasted for years and they died either by developing a short to PE in the heating element, or in one the plastic kettle lid deteriorated and became crumbly (this happened on a kettle that lasted some 10 years, i replaced it due to concern about getting bits of plastic in the water and not from it stopping working)
Since the heating element is water cooled i dont think the voltage difference 220V vs 250V makes any difference to the heating element life. Most likely its some problem with how the heater is made, a weld between the heater wire and the terminal that comes out fails or something like that. I mean yep the voltage difference does make a difference in the current in this spot, but the water boiling clamps the temperature to (100C + P*Rth) which is well below the melting point of any metals anyway
So keep looking for more kettles... Maybe try from a different supplier
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dor123
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@merc: See what happened to the former kettle in the storage of Carmel hospital after one year only: https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-158607 |
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I"m don't speak English well, and rely on online translating to write in this site.
Please forgive me if my choice of my words looks like offensive, while that isn't my intention.
I only working with the international date format (dd.mm.yyyy).
I lives in Israel, which is a 220-240V, 50hz country.
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Medved
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| For already a long time I haven't seen the heater itself going bad when it was correctly used and maintained.
However I've seen already a few ones, where the limescale deposition formed so thick layer, the thermal safety fuse within the heater had tripped (a nonreversible thermal cutout fuse, designed as a last resort to protect against fire).
The limescale really has to be removed regularly. And never by "heat shock" (heating it dry for some second or so and then shock cooling by a cold water), but always chemically (citric or acetic acid solution brought to boiling point).
Another cause for tripped fuse is the habit of keeping the kettle without any water in it, plus on its stand. Then way too often someone accidentally switch it on dry. There are reversible cut out switches, but first even when in most cases the safety fuse does not trip, it may do so after few thermal shock cycles or when the temperature spikes a bit more than usual.
The thing is, that irreversible fuse has its tolerance (as well as the "first line" cutout switches) have their tolerances.
Plus of course Ive come along way more of them with the switch or base connector problems, with crumbled plastic or leaky, but that uses to happen after 5..10 years of use.
And because the "brands" like Concept or so (so the cheapest cheepeese imports) are so common, they were in the mix I've got into my hands to fix...
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No more selfballasted c***
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merc
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The average use of a kettle in our home could be like 6 - 8 times every day. That makes a difference. Try Philips, Delonghi (if you have this brand in your country), they aren't so bad.
Thanks for the tip. AFAIK (I don't drink coffee) Delonghi is one of the best coffee machine brands wordwide. I'll try to look for Delonghi after our current kettle fails (that's 2022/09). So keep looking for more kettles... Maybe try from a different supplier
There are indeed some very interesting brands like this. (Unfortunately not as a "-19" model.  ) @merc: See what happened to the former kettle in the storage of Carmel hospital after one year only: https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-158607
Wow - that's really bad. Our kettles die very peacefully. They just stop heating. 1. The limescale really has to be removed regularly.
2. Another cause for tripped fuse is the habit of keeping the kettle without any water in it, plus on its stand.
3. And because the "brands" like Concept or so (so the cheapest cheepeese imports) are so common, they were in the mix I've got into my hands to fix...
1) It is. By vinegar solution. 2) I believe nobody does that. 3) The Concept kettle was for about CZK 800,- ($35) - not expensive but also not a cheapest price category. I've even tried more expensive brands and the result was about the same. I'm not a fan of art design products and smart things as there are many other options for failure. The simpler the better. |
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HomeBrewLamps
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| Get a vintage one off Ebay. I have better luck with older tech.
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~Owen
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sox35
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Get a vintage one off Ebay. I have better luck with older tech.
Or try thrift/charity shops. We have an electric coffee percolator that we got from the Salvation Army shop near here. Brand new, never been used, cost us £8 and makes brilliant coffee |
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dor123
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My mother, father and brother, all purifiers the water from fur with Brita jugs, having an active carbon filter that can be replaced, and boils the purified water in their kettles:  |
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I"m don't speak English well, and rely on online translating to write in this site.
Please forgive me if my choice of my words looks like offensive, while that isn't my intention.
I only working with the international date format (dd.mm.yyyy).
I lives in Israel, which is a 220-240V, 50hz country.
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migette1
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Get a vintage one off Ebay. I have better luck with older tech.
I would agree my ones always from Boot Sale the last one made in China for the Chinese even has their plug on it and is very quick to make my morning cuppa boils within in minutes when I am in need of that cuppa to wake me up. Wix is the name on the kettle. In the past I have used an Australian jug kettle which the bare element into the water but there was always a funny taste so stopped using, they showed one of these on Home and Away many years ago blowing up...featured one on the Gallery some years ago. Safe as houses if used carefully and when the element burns out just replace. |
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Interested in the history of electric lighting and incandescent in particular and neon glow lamps.
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