Recently I read a post by,I think,Jonathan (Whenarewethere) where a Birko Food and Drink heater was listed as using little energy, and was recommended.Because this man seems to talk a lot of sense,I did a bit of research,and eventually ordered one. Maaate! What an amazing bit of gear,low price,low power,and works brilliantly.Highly recommended.Thanks Jonathan.Cheers
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:59 PM Nov 4, 2020
I Birko drink heater (we use one) uses an enclosed resistance heater. Resistance heaters themselves are reasonably efficient but that efficiency is reduced because the heat produced needs to also heat the bottom of the container before that heat gets into the contents.
If you are simply heating water, nothing is more efficient than an old style electric jug where the open element is immersed in the water itself.
The other attractive feature of the Birko is that is is only 850W (from memory), so can operate from a smaller inverter than a typical electric jug, but it will take longer and be less efficient.
Cheers,
Peter
Whenarewethere said
08:13 PM Nov 4, 2020
They are very solid as they are built for commercial use. No plastic in the jug itself which we like.
The 750 watt load obviously takes longer to boil but if you running off batteries it's far better to have the load spread out.
A disadvantage is it is plugged in, but you get used to it after a few weeks.
& don't walk away & do something else as it will boil quicker than you think! Maybe put on an egg timer.
P.S. We paid nothing for ours, a neighbour chucked it in the bin!
yobarr said
08:26 PM Nov 4, 2020
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I Birko drink heater (we use one) uses an enclosed resistance heater. Resistance heaters themselves are reasonably efficient but that efficiency is reduced because the heat produced needs to also heat the bottom of the container before that heat gets into the contents. If you are simply heating water, nothing is more efficient than an old style electric jug where the open element is immersed in the water itself. The other attractive feature of the Birko is that is is only 850W (from memory), so can operate from a smaller inverter than a typical electric jug, but it will take longer and be less efficient. Cheers, Peter
Thanks Peter...mine is 750W,and works well.Because I have little else to do,I am happy to wait a little longer for temps to rise.I discarded a 2250W jug because the small solar system in the car didn't like it too much,and it was heavier than the Birko.No big deal,but every little bit helps! Cheers
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:54 PM Nov 4, 2020
I reckon ours is probably 750W too (not 850 as I said).
Cheers,
Peter
Cupie said
12:03 AM Nov 5, 2020
Birko! That brings back memories. We used to have one to heat the babies bottles about 45 years ago. They were a must have for all new mothers. I wonder if they are still the same.
(Ours was like an open nickel plated metal jug)
hufnpuf said
06:18 AM Nov 5, 2020
Cupie wrote:
I wonder if they are still the same.
(Ours was like an open nickel plated metal jug)
I also had one a long time ago. When I saw this thread, I looked them up. They look exactly the same. Not many products are so good they've been making them for 50 years (or however long it's been).
yobarr said
08:43 AM Nov 5, 2020
Cu
Cupie wrote:
Birko! That brings back memories. We used to have one to heat the babies bottles about 45 years ago. They were a must have for all new mothers. I wonder if they are still the same.
(Ours was like an open nickel plated metal jug)
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 5th of November 2020 08:46:44 AM
Similar but a few minor differences .... if you can trust my memory. That's a big ask.
The handle looks a bit different, larger & I can't remember a lid.
Thanks for that.
hufnpuf said
09:43 AM Nov 5, 2020
Mine had the lid, and the egg poacher. My memory tells me mine was not as tall and wider, but after so long, that could be wrong. Essentially, the same thing.
yobarr said
10:03 AM Nov 5, 2020
Cupie wrote:
Similar but a few minor differences .... if you can trust my memory. That's a big ask.
The handle looks a bit different, larger & I can't remember a lid.
Thanks for that.
Yeah Cupie...the white bit is an egg poacher that takes 2 eggs,and I suppose the black lid is there to help steam poach the tops of the eggs? As you inow,many things can be heated in the Birko,which has a flat bottom.Cheers
Recently I read a post by,I think,Jonathan (Whenarewethere) where a Birko Food and Drink heater was listed as using little energy, and was recommended.Because this man seems to talk a lot of sense,I did a bit of research,and eventually ordered one. Maaate! What an amazing bit of gear,low price,low power,and works brilliantly.Highly recommended.Thanks Jonathan.Cheers
If you are simply heating water, nothing is more efficient than an old style electric jug where the open element is immersed in the water itself.
The other attractive feature of the Birko is that is is only 850W (from memory), so can operate from a smaller inverter than a typical electric jug, but it will take longer and be less efficient.
Cheers,
Peter
They are very solid as they are built for commercial use. No plastic in the jug itself which we like.
The 750 watt load obviously takes longer to boil but if you running off batteries it's far better to have the load spread out.
A disadvantage is it is plugged in, but you get used to it after a few weeks.
& don't walk away & do something else as it will boil quicker than you think! Maybe put on an egg timer.
P.S. We paid nothing for ours, a neighbour chucked it in the bin!
Thanks Peter...mine is 750W,and works well.Because I have little else to do,I am happy to wait a little longer for temps to rise.I discarded a 2250W jug because the small solar system in the car didn't like it too much,and it was heavier than the Birko.No big deal,but every little bit helps! Cheers
Cheers,
Peter
Birko! That brings back memories. We used to have one to heat the babies bottles about 45 years ago. They were a must have for all new mothers. I wonder if they are still the same.
(Ours was like an open nickel plated metal jug)
I also had one a long time ago. When I saw this thread, I looked them up. They look exactly the same. Not many products are so good they've been making them for 50 years (or however long it's been).
-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 5th of November 2020 08:46:44 AM
The handle looks a bit different, larger & I can't remember a lid.
Thanks for that.
Yeah Cupie...the white bit is an egg poacher that takes 2 eggs,and I suppose the black lid is there to help steam poach the tops of the eggs? As you inow,many things can be heated in the Birko,which has a flat bottom.Cheers