4 ms·

> Second, America is on 110 Kind of: 240V is fed into homes (along with a neutral), and gets split in half. Most receptacles are 120V for most appliances, bec

> Second, America is on 110 Kind of: 240V is fed into homes (along with a neutral), and gets split in half. Most receptacles are 120V for most appliances, because it gets the job done. There aren't many appliances that need more than that. The two main ones that do have 220V plugs are clothes dryers and kitchen ranges (hobs/ovens). If you want a kettle that boils faster change your NEMA 5 socket (and breaker) that does 120V (at 15A or 20A) for a NEMA 6, and get an UK/EU kettle and change the plug. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#Nomenclature https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#Nomenclature (Not sure how up to code any of the above would be.)

el_benhameen 3y ago
For what it’s worth, I make drip coffee with a 120V kettle, and it boils plenty fast for my needs. A several hundred to thousand dollar electrical project seems overkill to save what I assume would be a few seconds to a minute per cup of coffee.
- yamtaddle 3y ago
  My regarded-as-moderately-high-end US electric kettle isn't really any faster to boil water than my stovetop is—but, it can hold a temperature, and has several settable stop-and-hold-points at sub-boiling temps, which is great for various teas and coffees. What's not relatable to me is European (I assume?) reports of boiling water in an electric kettle, then transferring to the stovetop. My kettle's not meaningfully faster than the stovetop, and is a lot slower for quantities past a liter or so—it's only worth having for the other features. I assume that's the voltage difference making itself known.
- throw0101b 3y ago
  Yes: I generally only fill up a kettle in the 500-750 mL range if I'm only making one cup, and it generally boils fast enough for my tea.
ubermonkey 3y ago
Peak HN right here. Absolute PEAK.
noobly 3y ago
How would this boil water faster if it’s still the same wattage?
- throw0101b 3y ago
  > How would this boil water faster if it’s still the same wattage? It wouldn't be the same wattage: it would be double the wattage. The wiring can handle 15 or 20A, and at 120V that's a practical limit of 1800W. You keep the amperage limit (no cabling replacement needed), but 240V would allow 3600W.

el_benhameen 3y ago

For what it’s worth, I make drip coffee with a 120V kettle, and it boils plenty fast for my needs. A several hundred to thousand dollar electrical project seems overkill to save what I assume would be a few seconds to a minute per cup of coffee.

yamtaddle 3y ago
My regarded-as-moderately-high-end US electric kettle isn't really any faster to boil water than my stovetop is—but, it can hold a temperature, and has several settable stop-and-hold-points at sub-boiling temps, which is great for various teas and coffees. What's not relatable to me is European (I assume?) reports of boiling water in an electric kettle, then transferring to the stovetop. My kettle's not meaningfully faster than the stovetop, and is a lot slower for quantities past a liter or so—it's only worth having for the other features. I assume that's the voltage difference making itself known.
throw0101b 3y ago
Yes: I generally only fill up a kettle in the 500-750 mL range if I'm only making one cup, and it generally boils fast enough for my tea.

ubermonkey 3y ago

Peak HN right here. Absolute PEAK.

noobly 3y ago

How would this boil water faster if it’s still the same wattage?

throw0101b 3y ago
> How would this boil water faster if it’s still the same wattage? It wouldn't be the same wattage: it would be double the wattage. The wiring can handle 15 or 20A, and at 120V that's a practical limit of 1800W. You keep the amperage limit (no cabling replacement needed), but 240V would allow 3600W.