Build a 12 volt sous vide

[Jdege]

The tough, high collagen cuts, end up better tasting if given sufficient time.

I cook NY strip for an hour. I cook chuck for four, and it ends up a better steak. (At 1/3 the price.)

But at one hour, chuck is still tougher than I like.

[john61ct]

DIY, also acts as HWS

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/sh...d.php?p=715545

[owly]

Originally Posted by john61ct

DIY, also acts as HWS

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/sh...d.php?p=715545

Excellent link...........

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by john61ct

DIY, also acts as HWS

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/sh...d.php?p=715545

Yes, makes sense to use the sous-vide water for a hot shower or just doing the dishes afterwards.

[john61ct]

Thinking of Noelex' HW mixer laundry shower tubs. . .

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by boat-energy

Just thought many people discussing the efficiency of inverters should perhaps have a look at the efficiency graph for a very well respected Outback inverter. Many other decent inverters will be similar. As you can see, with a load of less than 300W on a 3kW inverter, the efficiency is down at approx 82%. And the conversion efficiency doesn't take into account the typical power draw of the inverter itself (approx 10 to 12W). I'm not knocking inverters - just sayin that the efficiency advertised is only the peak (as said on a previous post). Many smaller power systems are best only running an inverter when they need to.

Yes, a little common sense comes in handy at times. Like if you're only going to run a 300W load, don't buy a several thousand Watt inverter for several thousand dollars.

[hzcruiser]

To address the issue of efficiency and duty cycle, I ordered a 12V immersion heater that draws about 11A. Put 3 litres of water in a small insulated cooler (esky) and heated it up to 59 C (140F).
Then I added the 300g (10 oz) chuck steak in a freezer bag into the water (while pushing out the air) and kept the temperature between 59 and 60 C via a control device that also measures the Volts and Amps. It looks like this:

16:09:09 42.000C Start, relay is open
16:09:09 42.000C Relay close command send
16:09:10 42.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:38:27 60.000C Relay open command send
16:38:28 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:38:28 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 232302.291Ws. Energy in 134.574Ws, energy out 232302.291Ws
16:39:31 59.000C Relay close command send
16:39:31 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:47:16 60.000C Relay open command send
16:47:16 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:47:16 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 294162.084Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 61859.793Ws
16:52:34 59.000C Relay close command send
16:52:34 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:54:05 60.000C Relay open command send
16:54:06 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:54:06 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 306453.365Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 12291.281Ws


I wanted a cooking time of three to four hours for this steak, so here is the end of that:


18:54:53 59.000C Relay close command send
18:54:54 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
18:58:33 60.000C Relay open command send
18:58:33 60.000C Relay confirmed open
18:58:33 Total energy in 685.607Ws, total energy out 467334.416Ws. Energy in 135.445Ws, energy out 28414.907Ws
19:18:19 59.000C Relay close command send
19:18:19 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
19:22:00 60.000C Relay open command send
19:22:00 60.000C Relay confirmed open
19:22:00 Total energy in 685.607Ws, total energy out 495255.714Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 27921.298Ws
19:41:34 59.000C Relay close command send
19:41:34 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
19:45:18 60.000C Relay open command send
19:45:18 60.000C Relay confirmed open
19:45:18 Total energy in 789.591Ws, total energy out 521480.762Ws. Energy in 103.983Ws, energy out 26225.048Ws
20:04:36 59.000C Relay close command send
20:04:36 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
20:08:16 60.000C Relay open command send
20:08:17 60.000C Relay confirmed open
20:08:17 Total energy in 1054.181Ws, total energy out 549738.264Ws. Energy in 264.590Ws, energy out 28257.502Ws


That's 150 Wh all in all, by the way.

The duty cycle: 4 min on, 20 min off: 16%

at 11A, the average draw is: 1.8 A

Hence at 12V, it took less than 8 Ah to cook this steak. The energy needed for more than one steak would be slightly higher. Once it's been brought up to temperature the number of steaks doesn't matter anymore. Also, as mentioned, you can start the process at your convenience or whenever there is a surplus of energy, then finish it off when you're ready for lunch or dinner.



8 Ah for a bunch of steaks is pretty good, I'd say. You still need to sear them at the end, so add 2 minutes of gas to that. And the one I marinated beforehand tasted really good!

[hzcruiser]

Here is a pic of the setup, the heater is in a stainless steel sock to prevent a possible melting of the cooler or the freezer bag.

[owly]

Originally Posted by hzcruiser

To address the issue of efficiency and duty cycle, I ordered a 12V immersion heater that draws about 11A. Put 3 litres of water in a small insulated cooler (esky) and heated it up to 59 C (140F).
Then I added the 300g (10 oz) chuck steak in a freezer bag into the water (while pushing out the air) and kept the temperature between 59 and 60 C via a control device that also measures the Volts and Amps. It looks like this:

16:09:09 42.000C Start, relay is open
16:09:09 42.000C Relay close command send
16:09:10 42.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:38:27 60.000C Relay open command send
16:38:28 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:38:28 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 232302.291Ws. Energy in 134.574Ws, energy out 232302.291Ws
16:39:31 59.000C Relay close command send
16:39:31 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:47:16 60.000C Relay open command send
16:47:16 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:47:16 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 294162.084Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 61859.793Ws
16:52:34 59.000C Relay close command send
16:52:34 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
16:54:05 60.000C Relay open command send
16:54:06 60.000C Relay confirmed open
16:54:06 Total energy in 134.574Ws, total energy out 306453.365Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 12291.281Ws


I wanted a cooking time of three to four hours for this steak, so here is the end of that:


18:54:53 59.000C Relay close command send
18:54:54 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
18:58:33 60.000C Relay open command send
18:58:33 60.000C Relay confirmed open
18:58:33 Total energy in 685.607Ws, total energy out 467334.416Ws. Energy in 135.445Ws, energy out 28414.907Ws
19:18:19 59.000C Relay close command send
19:18:19 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
19:22:00 60.000C Relay open command send
19:22:00 60.000C Relay confirmed open
19:22:00 Total energy in 685.607Ws, total energy out 495255.714Ws. Energy in 0Ws, energy out 27921.298Ws
19:41:34 59.000C Relay close command send
19:41:34 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
19:45:18 60.000C Relay open command send
19:45:18 60.000C Relay confirmed open
19:45:18 Total energy in 789.591Ws, total energy out 521480.762Ws. Energy in 103.983Ws, energy out 26225.048Ws
20:04:36 59.000C Relay close command send
20:04:36 59.000C Relay confirmed closed
20:08:16 60.000C Relay open command send
20:08:17 60.000C Relay confirmed open
20:08:17 Total energy in 1054.181Ws, total energy out 549738.264Ws. Energy in 264.590Ws, energy out 28257.502Ws


That's 150 Wh all in all, by the way.

The duty cycle: 4 min on, 20 min off: 16%

at 11A, the average draw is: 1.8 A

Hence at 12V, it took less than 8 Ah to cook this steak. The energy needed for more than one steak would be slightly higher. Once it's been brought up to temperature the number of steaks doesn't matter anymore. Also, as mentioned, you can start the process at your convenience or whenever there is a surplus of energy, then finish it off when you're ready for lunch or dinner.



8 Ah for a bunch of steaks is pretty good, I'd say. You still need to sear them at the end, so add 2 minutes of gas to that. And the one I marinated beforehand tasted really good!

************ Exactly the point.... use power when it's available...... I also advocate making ice while the sun shines rather than running a mindlessly cycling refrigeration system from batteries. Pound for pound ice stores energy at about the same density as a good battery....... and water never wears out!! Utilizing solar energy to cook, and then to shower or wash dishes.... I like that.... That's the sort of energy utilization and thought process that is necessary for alternative energy systems like boats.


H.W.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by owly

... use power when it's available...... I also advocate making ice while the sun shines rather than running a mindlessly cycling refrigeration system from batteries. Pound for pound ice stores energy at about the same density as a good battery....... and water never wears out!! Utilizing solar energy to cook, and then to shower or wash dishes.... I like that.... That's the sort of energy utilization and thought process that is necessary for alternative energy systems like boats.
H.W.

Interesting.

Energy Per Kilogram in Mega-Joules *
Gasoline or Diesel 46.0
Grude Oil 42,0
Graphite 32.7
Zinc air battery (future) 0.4 to0 .7
Ice (latent heat) 0.3
Lithium Ion (In Use) 0 .26
Lead Acid 0.1
Water (Top of 100 meter dam) 0.001

From ➥ Battery versusÂ* Ice

* ➥ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy...ge_and_in_fuel

See also "Building Energy Storage: Ice or Batteries?"
➥ https://www.buildings.com/buzz/build...-or-batteries-

[owly]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Interesting.

Energy Per Kilogram in Mega-Joules *
Gasoline or Diesel 46.0
Grude Oil 42,0
Graphite 32.7
Zinc air battery (future) 0.4 to0 .7
Ice (latent heat) 0.3
Lithium Ion (In Use) 0 .26
Lead Acid 0.1
Water (Top of 100 meter dam) 0.001

From ➥ Battery versusÂ* Ice

* ➥ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy...ge_and_in_fuel

See also "Building Energy Storage: Ice or Batteries?"
➥ https://www.buildings.com/buzz/build...-or-batteries-

My calculations on ice did not yield the same result when I did them.... I came up with about equal to a lead acid battery....... That's what happens sometimes to napkin calculations ;-(


I personally do not consider lithium technology mature to the extent of having the reliability and longevity (complete system) and world wide component availability to satisfy me as a system suitable for a world wide cruising boat.

Them's "fight'in words" to any self respecting "Lithian", but that's my story and I'm sticking to it ;-)......... They are expensive, and I feel finicky in terms of control systems. I don't like the idea of having a mission critical system that is dependent on components that I have to import if it breaks down in a remote area. The logistics and expenses can be a pain. Lead acid technology is "stone age" but very well known and universal. To me the best, though expensive battery option available today is the AGM. I consider the rest "pie in the sky" as far as voyaging boats. Coastal cruisers that range around the developed world only (most boats) are perhaps a different story.


.....

[hzcruiser]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Interesting.

Energy Per Kilogram in Mega-Joules *
[...]

Yes, that is interesting, esp. that zinc-air should have double the energy density than Li. .
In the context of this thread, it's more a "use it or lose it" question WRT excess solar energy during some parts of the day. Even if ice is less efficient, the drinks still taste nicer