For the Cooks! Seaward Princess Cooktop

Dreamscape · March 28, 2010, 04:04:15 AM

We finally bought a cooktop that works! Our first attempt was a counter top type and it failed miserably. I installed this yesterday and we are very happy with the result.

I was surprised to find it only required a 15 amp breaker and minimum 14/2 with ground. I installed 12/2 with ground as that is what I had.

It is a Seaward Princess, model 2247-5200, two burner, 120 volt. Here is a link on where we purchased it, and it's gone down 32 bucks since we bought ours!

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C406%7C694%7C330373&id=742764

Becky made a roast yesterday afternoon and the cooktop performed flawlessly. It sure is nice having a more complete kitchen.

We removed the propane cooktop we never used as we are now all electric.

robertglines1 · March 28, 2010, 05:36:53 AM

we have had this for 5 yrs ...we use daily 2to3 months a winter then during rest of camping year....very good product.are using in our new conversion..

luvrbus · March 28, 2010, 06:07:08 AM

Those are nice if you are on a power pole or generator but it will kill a average battery bank most of us have with inverters in a short time you need a battery bank like Sean's for a electric cook top and it doesn't take much of the electrical items to get into the 50amp service .
I have allways said the total electric on my coach was the biggest mistake I made slowly that is getting changed

good luck

rdbishop · March 28, 2010, 07:34:51 AM

Looks good Paul,

Missy wants to know-Where's the credit? Just kidding.

Richard

Dreamscape · March 28, 2010, 08:22:43 AM

Richard, Tell Missy Thanks! HA

We chose to go this way because we are almost always plugged into the pole. Besides we can't afford a huge battery bank anyway!

When we go to a park that only has 30 amp, we'll adjust accordingly!

Maybe we'll get our hitch finished today!

rdbishop · March 28, 2010, 08:29:25 AM

Is the hitch all welded and ready to install?
Richard

Pics needed.

luvrbus · March 28, 2010, 08:43:18 AM

Paul, I didn't mean anything bad about the cooktop but I know you are planing a trip and you are getting yourself in a corner without a inverter and battery bank running a generator is going to add to your cost of travel at least 25 bucks a day or the 50.00 a day camp grounds we have out here but we all do it different if it works for you great.
With the 12 volt system inverters big enough to run everything is going to require stacked ones unless you go to 24 volts been there done that total electric is a tough and expensive way to go if you want to enjoy your bus at the dry camp rallies

good luck

TomC · March 28, 2010, 08:50:50 AM

We've been using the Atwood 3 burner propane stove with oven. I like it so much, I'm using it again. With one 9,000btu burner and two 5,500 btu burner plus the 10,000btu oven, to duplicate that kind of power with electric would require a 8,500 watt load at 120vac. When considering the 3 burner stove with oven from various manufacturers cost around $500.00, and a propane 35,000btu furnace costs about $600.00, with all plumbing including the propane tank, you can have a furnace and stove for around $1,500.00. Kick in the two electric water heaters for $500.00 each, and you have cooking, heating and hot water for $2,500.00 Compare that to a 3 burner Princess electric stove with oven and an Aquahot heating system at close to $9,000.00 (plus the maintenance on the Aquahot). Good Luck, TomC

Dreamscape · March 28, 2010, 09:24:52 AM

Richard, The guy is supposed to come and weld it up for me today, then paint and install! I just hope I have enough energy to lift it up in place!

Clifford, Our trip is cancelled due to my wife starting a new job at a Dentist office tomorrow. Maybe in 2011 when I retire for good!

She got tired being around me all day!

Maybe by that time I'll have the bat bank setup!

Tom,

Lin · March 28, 2010, 09:25:59 AM

I suppose you could look at using an induction cooktop as a sort of a compromise, but it still would take a bunch of batts.

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · March 28, 2010, 09:54:57 AM

Hi Paul,

I also have the same cook top and love it!

Have a great day
Nick-

BUR · March 28, 2010, 02:57:48 PM

Paul glad to see you went ahead and bought the smoothtop, I'm sure you will like it. If you aren't hooked up to power you just don't fix a roast that day. When we aren't hooked up to power we run the gen while we are cooking and then shut it down. If you aren't hooked up to power you aren't paying a park, so you can afford to use a little diesel. Good Busin' Wilbur

bryanhes · March 28, 2010, 04:02:34 PM

Paul,

I guess it is hard for her to get any work done with you banging and rebuilding things all day, lol

Bryan

belfert · March 28, 2010, 04:17:09 PM

Paul, did the countertop unit you tried have an induction burner?

I'm not sure if I will even install a built-in stove based on several years of using the bus without one. This last Fall a stove would have been nice one day, but not sure that warrants one.

I am thinking about maybe getting one or two of the 115 volt induction hobs instead of a built-in. I have a full sized propane RV stove I originally planned to install, but I really don't have any space for the propane tank. The stove is the only thing that would use propane in the whole bus.

Dreamscape · March 28, 2010, 05:05:46 PM

Quote from: belfert on March 28, 2010, 04:17:09 PM
Paul, did the countertop unit you tried have an induction burner?

I'm not sure if I will even install a built-in stove based on several years of using the bus without one. This last Fall a stove would have been nice one day, but not sure that warrants one.

I am thinking about maybe getting one or two of the 115 volt induction hobs instead of a built-in. I have a full sized propane RV stove I originally planned to install, but I really don't have any space for the propane tank. The stove is the only thing that would use propane in the whole bus.

Brian, It was a Max Burton, similar to this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Max-Burton-6000-Induction-Cooktop-110V-1600-Watts_W0QQitemZ320508256598QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cooktops?hash=item4a9fc7e156

The sensor for high heat was bad, so we sent it back. We never really got to test it, it also came with the plate, so you can use other type of cookware.

I'm glad this is what we ended up with, it's what I've wanted all along. Just needed Becky's final approval.

Wilbur, With the endorsement from you and Richards' wife MIssy, that's all it took for me. Thanks!

Bryan, Hee Hee. It was very hard to plan anytime, now I'll be albe to make all the noise I want!

Nick, glad to get another thumbs up!