Best Low Voltage Kettle For Your Touring Caravan

Sharing this content

Why on earth would you want to buy a low wattage kettle for your touring caravan? Surely low wattage just means it will take much longer to boil? Well yes, that’s true but it’s far from the whole story. 

Take our Caravan Cooking Quiz

Start Quiz

Question

Your answer:

Correct answer:

Next

You got {{SCORE_CORRECT}} out of {{SCORE_TOTAL}}

Your Answers

Should you use a high wattage kettle in your caravan like the 3000W kettle that you may have in your kitchen at home? No. As soon as you flick the switch to brew up and I speak from personal experience, all of the electric goes off. This will usually catch you out after dark and you will find yourself scrambling around for a torch so that you can go to the electric hook-up post (probably in the rain) to try to switch it all back on. Not a great example of caravan comfort!

So why does this happen? Well without going into the physics of ohms law, the caravan site will only provide you with so much power at one time. If you turn on the kettle at the same time as the heater and, for example, the water heater then you are asking for too much at one time and this will result in the electric tripping out to prevent an electrical fire.

So how can this be avoided? Easy. Use a low-wattage kettle that has a fraction (about a third) of the power to boil the water. Yes, it will take longer than the more powerful models, but not when you take a trip to the electric hook up post into account. 

Best low-wattage kettles available on the market. 

I am going to discuss some of my top-recommended low wattage kettles which are perfect for use in a touring caravan. I hope it will help guide you through what you need to consider when buying a caravan kettle. 

1. Kampa’s 0.8L, 1000W, collapsible kettle. 

Kampa is a well-known caravan equipment brand and they specialise in awnings. The stand-out feature of this kettle is its collapsibility. Collapsible kettles are fairly new to the market and if space is a premium for you, which it regularly is in a caravan, then this is perfect. The kettle collapses down for easy travel and packing and pops back up to hold water. A 1000W kettle will take around 6-8 minutes to boil a litre of water, this seems like a long time but as low wattage kettles go this is fairly fast. This kettle is blue and is made from food-safe silicone, I think it will be an attractive addition to any kitchen. 

2. Crystals 1 litre 830W kettle 

This kettle has a lower wattage of 830W which means, as expected, it will take longer to boil than 1000W kettles. However, by using a kettle with a lower wattage this means you can use more appliances at the same time, for example, you could probably use this kettle whilst running an electric heater. This kettle comes in white and has a more traditional look. It’s 1 litre capacity means it will be a nice size for travelling. This kettle’s classic design means that it is very sturdy and durable and will do well when packed in a suitcase or tossed about on long journeys. The kettle has a built-in auto shut-off safety feature which means there is less risk of the kettle dry boiling and risking a fire. 

3. Kampa’s Fizz 1.7 L, 1000W kettle 

This kettle has a very extravagant stainless-steel exterior and it also has a removable filter which can be washed and re-used, this would be great in areas of hard water where limescale is a problem. 

The kettle’s 1.7 litre capacity is very generous compared to other models and will be perfect for brewing up for a crowd. The kettle also has water level indicators and this is part of its higher spec design. The kettle has a hidden stainless-steel element inside, this is good because the interior of the kettle won’t rust and it prevents the common and unfavourable plastic taste that new kettles produce. 

4. Outwell’s 1.5L collapsible kettle 

Most people are accustomed to using electric kettles in our homes; however, I think this kettle which can be placed directly on a gas hob should definitely be considered as an option. This kettle’s collapsibility means it is very good for space-saving and the lack of element means it folds down even smaller, its other key features are that it is dishwasher safe and BPA free. This will come in handy when you’re returning from a trip and want to give everything a thorough clean. Just chuck it in the dishwasher! This kettle comes in both lime green and a dark teal. Using a kettle like this means the issues of tripping electrics will be forgotten. Outwell is a well- known camping equipment brand and they promise quality in all their products. This kettle doesn’t have a whistle and relies on visual cues so you know the water is boiling but the lack of whistle does mean you can retain early morning tranquillity without an abrupt and irritating interruption. 

5. Quest’s 0.5L, 600W Kettle 

Quest is a home appliance brand and their small 0.5L kettle would be perfect for couples. The kettle comes with two handy cups, which means one less thing to take! It’s lower wattage of 600W means that, again, it will take longer to boil water. It is by far the smallest traditional kettle on this list but I think its size would come in very handy as it could be popped in a cupboard when not being used which would free up worktop space. The kettle has maximum and minimum markings to keep you right and it has been praised for how quiet it is, this is a handy feature if you’re trying to brew up when your other half is still asleep! 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, there is a wide range of low-wattage kettles available and choosing the right one for you will depend on your preferences. If you value space a collapsible kettle will be right for you, however if you have a big family the Kampa Fizz 1.7L kettle will be the most practical but if you’re part of a caravanning couple then the Quest 0.5L kettle will suit you perfectly. If you value style and want a high spec kettle the Kampa Fizz will be an attractive addition to your kitchen but if you prefer a more contemporary look the Crystal kettle will blend in perfectly. The most important thing to consider though is which wattage do you want. As I’ve already covered, your everyday 3000W household kettle is not going to be practical so a low wattage option is going to be handy. The 1000W kettles boast faster boiling times but they will eat up more of your electricity supply, the 600W Quest kettle does have a slower boiling time but it provides the flexibility of using more appliances at once. Low-wattage kettles do have the added bonus that they use less energy and this will be very attractive to eco-friendly buyers. 

Overall, the best and most practical way to boil water in a caravan is using a gas stove. This is why the Outwell kettle or a whistling kettle will probably be the best choice. I hope this post has broadened your kettle horizons and that you now feel you have all the information you need to make the right caravan kettle choice. If you found this post useful please check out some of my other posts to answer more of your caravanning questions.