Induction cooktops

[JSETDB]

What are the reasons that all of the induction type cookers I've seen cycle on and off, rather than using a continuously variable heat control?

 

[ClydeCrashKop]

Edited because my reply was not accurate.

 

[ericgibbs]

What are the reasons that all of the induction type cookers I've seen cycle on and off, rather than using a continuously variable heat control?

hi,
If it uses the local mains frequency of 50/60Hz sinusoidal to generate the Eddy current heating in the iron cooking vessel, trying to control the heating rate using PWM would not be a feasible way.
The better option would be On/Off cycle heating control as it would maintain the required 50/60Hz eddy current heating of the pot.

E

 

[jpanhalt]

What are the reasons that all of the induction type cookers I've seen cycle on and off, rather than using a continuously variable heat control?

One question is how you know it is cycling on and off?
Second question is whether "all" is an exaggeration based on observation of a few?

Here's a description from GE: **broken link removed**
Although some people cringe at using Wikipedia, here is its description:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking
Moreover, if you look at this description of an induction burner from HomeDepot, it seems to make state that the higher settings are not On/Off. Only the two lowest settings use that method: **broken link removed**

Now, on the other hand, my cooktop is not induction. It is just a sealed glass top, and it pulses on most settings. One can see the glowing heating element go on and off. Is there a chance that this discussion is about two quite different types of stove top heaters that look superficially the same?

John

 

[dr pepper]

Its also probably cheaper to have on/off control instead of digital pwm control.
Actually the on/off you notice is pwm, just really slow.