5 ms·

As I have seen an induction furnace very quickly melt an aluminum billet, and this device works on an aluminum pan, it is not clear to me why induction stoves d

As I have seen an induction furnace very quickly melt an aluminum billet, and this device works on an aluminum pan, it is not clear to me why induction stoves do not work on aluminum pans - is it because stoves work at a frequency that depends on magnetic hysteresis losses in ferromagnetic materials for generating most of the heat? Is it likely that this device would work better on an iron or steel pan than the aluminum one used?

nraynaud 8y ago
It "fundamentally works", but it's so crappy that it doesn't work in practice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Cookware https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Cookware You are not crazy.
linsomniac 8y ago
From Wikipedia: "Most induction tops will not heat copper or aluminum vessels because the magnetic field cannot produce a concentrated current; "all metal" induction tops use much higher frequencies to overcome that effect." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking
- linsomniac 8y ago
  Holy cow! After some more searching I found only the Panasonic KY-MK3500 single-burner commercial cooktop supporting all metals, it's over two grand. na.panasonic.com/us/food-service-systems/commercial-equipment/induction-cooktops/panasonic-commercial-induction-cooktop That's a long way from the $40 induction hob I got for the camper.
- anfractuosity 8y ago
  That's really interesting, I didn't realise you could get induction hobs that worked for all metals before. Would that would for stainless steel that's not designed for induction I wonder. Reading wiki it says "Stainless steel pans will work on an induction cooking surface if the base of the pan is a magnetic grade of stainless steel."
  - mannykannot 8y ago
    I am virtually certain it would work, as the only thing they depend on is that the pan conducts electricity well (but not perfectly). The heat is generated by inducing currents in the pan, and induction does not depend on the materials being ferromagnetic.
nanomonkey 8y ago
An induction furnace usually has a graphite crucible around the metal which I believe helps to convert the magnetic field into heat (with the side benefit that it creates a reducing environment as the carbon in the graphite turns into CO2 and CO).

nraynaud 8y ago

It "fundamentally works", but it's so crappy that it doesn't work in practice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Cookware https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Cookware You are not crazy.

linsomniac 8y ago

From Wikipedia: "Most induction tops will not heat copper or aluminum vessels because the magnetic field cannot produce a concentrated current; "all metal" induction tops use much higher frequencies to overcome that effect." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking

linsomniac 8y ago
Holy cow! After some more searching I found only the Panasonic KY-MK3500 single-burner commercial cooktop supporting all metals, it's over two grand. na.panasonic.com/us/food-service-systems/commercial-equipment/induction-cooktops/panasonic-commercial-induction-cooktop That's a long way from the $40 induction hob I got for the camper.
anfractuosity 8y ago
That's really interesting, I didn't realise you could get induction hobs that worked for all metals before. Would that would for stainless steel that's not designed for induction I wonder. Reading wiki it says "Stainless steel pans will work on an induction cooking surface if the base of the pan is a magnetic grade of stainless steel."
- mannykannot 8y ago
  I am virtually certain it would work, as the only thing they depend on is that the pan conducts electricity well (but not perfectly). The heat is generated by inducing currents in the pan, and induction does not depend on the materials being ferromagnetic.

nanomonkey 8y ago

An induction furnace usually has a graphite crucible around the metal which I believe helps to convert the magnetic field into heat (with the side benefit that it creates a reducing environment as the carbon in the graphite turns into CO2 and CO).