On Thu 02 Mar 2006 03:57:50p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Peter
Aitken?

> "Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote in message
> 28.19...
>> On Thu 02 Mar 2006 02:34:01p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Peter
>> Aitken?
>>
>>> "Steve Calvin" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Steve, some smoothtop ranges have a hi-limit circuit that turns the
>>>>> element off (causing it to recycle when it cools) if it overheats.
>>>>> On some of those cooktops, using an oversize pot, such as a 22 qt
>>>>> pot, will cause the symptoms of overheating. Usually, such ranges
>>>>> explain that in the user manual.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Goog point Wayne.
>>>> But, (you knew that was comin' didnja? ;-) )
>>>>
>>>> I have a *huge* aluminum pot that I use for live lobsters. I'm not
>>>> exactly sure of the size but I'd guess that it's at least 22qt. I
>>>> can cook 4, 2 pound lobsters in it with no problem. I use it on the
>>>> glass top and have no issues at all.
>>>>
>>>> Not saying that I don't believe you or anything but I've personally
>>>> never seen anything that it won't handle. Maybe I just am not doin'
>>>> what causes the problem.
>>>>
>>>
>>> The overheating tends to happen with too small a pot (smaller than the
>>> element) and/or a pot that does not have a reasonably flat bottom. The
>>> reason is that the heat is not conducted away from the element so it
>>> overheats.
>>
>> It can happen with either too small or too large a pot.
>>
>>
>
> How would you know with a too-large pot? You'd need to see the element
> cycling off. In any case, so what? The worst that would happen is that
> the canning bath would take slightly longer to boil.

Depending on the cooktop, the cycle-off period may be extended. It should
be obvious if the heat subsides for too long. The worst that could happen
is a damaged element/circuit, based on some manual I read while researching
ranges. I don't recall the brand.

If anything, one should be sure about the particulars when making a choice.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA