In the process of choosing an electric stove, the consumer takes into account many characteristics and nuances of operation. Power and the dimensions of equipment and functionality come to the fore. It is difficult to overestimate the significance of these criteria during the use of the stove, but there are also fundamentally important selection criteria that determine the quality of the cooking process and the safety of operation of the equipment. The burner type also applies to these parameters. Especially this characteristic has become relevant against the background of the appearance of plates equipped with glass-ceramic surfaces. When familiarizing themselves with such models, many housewives first discover the Hi Light burners. What is this and what is their peculiarity are quite logical questions, a general overview of this part of the electric stove will make it possible to understand them. It often happens that the emergence of innovative technologies overshadows all the advantages of traditional devices. In order not to miscalculate when switching to new equipment, it is worth evaluating the features and capabilities of different burners.
Rapid burners
On such a surface, red-hot, high-temperature spirals can be seen. The heating process takes an average of 10 seconds, which ensures ease of preparation. Burners of the rapid type are present in the model lines of almost all manufacturers. The versions of the plates differ in the shape of the working surface and power. By the way, there are rapid burners for electric stoves with an expandable heating zone, as well as made in the traditional round shape. Thanks to this approach, the owner of the stove will be able to cook in any dishes, without thinking about the unevenness of heating and the waste of energy. In burners with a diameter of about 21 cm, the power is usually 2.1 kW, and options for 14.5 cm provide heating with a power of 1.2 kW. The advantages of such models include efficiency in heating large dishes, for example, if you need to cook a large pot of soup or cook a lot of vegetables at the same time.
Halogen cooking surfaces
The heating process in this case is provided by a high-temperature spiral, which combines with a halogen lamp - from here this ring got its name. Cookers of this type are equipped with a gas-filled quartz tube, which is involved in the heating of dishes. Such surfaces can also be distinguished by the characteristic glow of a bright red lamp, which, as incandescent, emits more and more heat.
The advantages of a halogen surface include high power, fast heating and the same cooling. Such plates gain maximum power almost immediately after switching on, so you won’t have to wait for an optimal temperature regime for a long time. To date, the halogen type of burners can be found in the model lines of manufacturers Bosch, Zanussi, etc.
Induction models
This is one of the latest technological developments, providing both high functionality of plates, and good ergonomics. The principle of operation in this case is based on the interaction of an inductor and a powerful electric generator that form an electromagnetic field. Due to changes in the directions of this field, induction hobs for electric stoves provide quick heating of dishes. In practice, you can notice another feature of such panels: they remain cold to the touch. This difference increases the safety of using induction cookers and makes operation convenient.
There is also an advantage in the form of savings, since energy is consumed exactly in the amount that is required to heat a specific dish. The technology itself is quite complex, so you can find such models exclusively in the lines of leading manufacturers. In particular, the induction hob is found in cookers Electrolux, Siemens and Booster.
Hi Light Models
Burners of this type are characterized in that a tape made of a high-resistance alloy is used as a heating operating element. It is laid in the basis of the hob, the work of which it provides. The heating rate in this case is one of the highest - on average 5-6 seconds. A rational approach to heat distribution is also noted. The fact is that radiation is distributed over the entire area of the Hi Light working area. Heating such a stove is quite effective, but it also consumes a lot of energy. So, if a standard rapid surface requires 1.5 kW per hour, then in the case of Hi Light models, up to 2 kW can be consumed. Despite all the advantages, a complete transition to this technology has not yet been observed. That is, models in which all burners are implemented according to this principle are still rare. More often you can find plates in which a combined type of heating is provided.
Combined burners
Perhaps the most technologically advanced type of modern electric stove can be called a combination of two types of burners - induction and Hi Light. The four-zone configuration that has become familiar provides for two compartments that operate on the principle of an electromagnetic field, and two panels in which tapes are made of high-resistance alloy. In this case, the user can extract the maximum of useful qualities that offer Hi Light-burners. What is this from the point of view of the owner of the combined model? First of all, the ability to quickly heat water, boil eggs and perform other operations that require fast and maximum heat transfer. If the efficiency fades into the background, then you can switch to the function of the induction burner, which will provide ease of use with less energy consumption.
Disadvantages of Hi Light burners
Experts note two unpleasant moments that should be prepared for when buying a Hi Light electric stove. First of all, this is the lack of step adjustment. The surface works in a given mode; fine tuning is not provided. In other words, in terms of functionality, this option significantly loses even to outdated models. Another drawback that the Hi Light burner type has is its economy. If you omit the high cost of the stoves themselves, working on this technology, then there will remain demanding electricity. It is for this reason that manufacturers are reluctant to develop this concept. Nevertheless, if you need quick heating of food, reliability and durability, then this option is quite suitable.
Hi Light burner reviews
I must say right away that housewives use such burners that appreciated all the advantages of glass-ceramic coatings, respectively, and the level of requirements for technology in this category is quite high. So, the power of the plates, ease of use, stylish appearance, ease of maintenance and reliability are noted. It should also be noted the reviews that get combined Hi Light-burners. What is this from a practical point of view? The combination of electromagnetic and electric heating eliminates the disadvantages of induction panels and the “gluttony” of Hi Light systems. According to the owners, the former cope better with the tasks of long cooking and stewing, while the latter should be used for frying and heating.
How to choose the best model?
First you need to decide on the paramount selection criteria. If power is at the forefront, then there will be no problems with a choice - a high power potential today is typical for all types of hobs . Another thing is that peak power is not reached immediately, and here the Hi Light burner type, which provides heating for 6 seconds, comes first. Also, this option may be of interest to those who appreciated the stylistic advantages of glass-ceramic panels, but are not ready for the shortcomings of induction models. Other electric stoves should be contacted only because of financial constraints. Traditional stoves are cheaper, however, in terms of ease of use and technical capabilities, they lose to modern hobs.
Conclusion
Glass-ceramic surfaces appeared on the market not so long ago. This concept was primarily attracted by the advantages of induction heating. Against this background, the Hi Light burners were unfairly invisible. What is this in the eyes of the average user? A way to provide instant cooking, which is worth the high price. However, not all consumers see significant changes in the principles of operation of such plates. Another thing is induction panels, which remain cold during the cooking process, but in this case there are also significant drawbacks, since only dishes with magnetized material can be used. In turn, Hi Light technology does not impose strict restrictions, but at the same time provides equally high power and almost instantaneous heating.