I was experiencing temperature fluctuations (the bottom of my boiler is thin).
Timers control the stovetop heaters and they go on and off 4-6 times a minute. This is what I found at a local metal shop – ½ inch thick steel plate 12x12 inches. Today I had a wash ready to run and guess what? The temperature was finally stable.
I could even go to higher heat settings because of this.
The plate did not increase the time to bring the wash to boil.
I measured the surface temperature of the plate just for fun (with one of these IR thermometers). It went up to 200°C. I am happy!
Here is a pic:
If you care for life on earth - never do something, which makes someone very rich.
The steel plate concept for smoothing temperature variations on a stove top has been covered many times, pomiataa, although pictures have never been posted...
One thing I'm noticing from your picture is that with the overhang you are running the risk of discoloring and/or cracking the enamel paint on the stove top... If at all possible, I'd recommend cutting the plate down to the diameter of the electric element to avoid the potential problem... I'm speaking from experience here because the enamel on the side of my stove top did discolor and crack from heat buildup even before using the steel plate... The large diameter of the pot was the culprit... Now that I'm using a plate the size of the element I no longer have heat buildup issues...
You’ll laugh at this, but it is true. Last night I couldn’t fall asleep because I was thinking how to cut the 4 corners of the plate and make it octagonal.
I didn’t know this might cause cracking to the enamel. I just wanted to do it for esthetical purposes.
Thanks for the info RAD.
This is why it is a good idea of sharing experience, because you cannot know everything. You always learn.
If you care for life on earth - never do something, which makes someone very rich.