On Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:22:52 -0500, Arny Krueger wrote:

I have a 1500 watt electric pot that heats 1.7 L of water in about 3
minutes. Less water, down to about a liter (what it takes to cover the
coils) heats significantly quicker.

Cover the coils? How last centaury. B-)

Most electric kettles this side of the pond have a flat plate element
in the bottom, minimum quantity about half a mug full. We also have
"rapid boil" kettles rated at just under 3kW. Similar 1.7l (3.5 US
liquid pints, 3 UK pints) capacity though.

Just plugs into the ring, along with the microwave, toaster(*),
washing machine, tumble dryer etc, none of those have circuits of
their own. B-)
How ever it is becoming more common to have the kitchen (and thus all
those appliances) on it's own ring, then two others for "up stairs"
and "down stairs".

(*) As in bread, not sure what a "toaster oven" is.

--
Cheers
Dave.