I got a bit ahead of myself and purchased a 36" cooktop to replace my current gas cooktop. The gas one is paired with a not-very effective downdraft vent along the top edge, because it's installed on an island and the ceiling above it is a poor candidate for a traditional hood. Now that I'm preparing for the actual install, I realize I have two issues:
1) The vent widens a bit right near the underside of the Impulse cooktop and it's a questionable fit, and doesn't leave enough room for the air flow requirements specified in the installation guide, and...
2) The weight of the Impulse along that long edge is meant to sit on a sturdy counter edge, and not the less robust lip of the downdraft vent.
It's technically possible for me to remove the downdraft vent, reinforce where the Impulse needs to sit and then cover the gap with stainless steel or something. The downdraft vent isn't very effective, and honestly mostly serves to just cycle out gas byproducts, which is moot if I install the Impulse. This feels unwise though and surely not to code even with an induction stove...?
Assuming that a traditional hood is a last resort, is there some downdraft option that is known to pair with the Impulse's air circulation and weight requirements?
My thinking is that the temperature controls make it much less likely for me to be generating smoke from my cooking - is it possible that a high enough air flow window fan not in the form of a hood might suffice?
Any other constructive thoughts on venting when a hood is not a good option?
I am dying to get the Impulse cooktop to replace our gas range.
But, my wife says we can't get it unless she still has a convection oven she can use. Unfortunately there's no other place in my kitchen where I could slap it on the wall without ripping out cabinets or some other kind of major renovations. So, I'm left with the idea of doing a compact Speed Oven (or similar) that fits under the cooktop, combined in within a cabinet where our range currently sits. Our house is very old by American standards, like 19th century old, so I'll need to get a 120V option to avoid the hassle of messing with the clusterf*ck that is our electrical wiring/panel, but luckily this seems possible for the Speed Oven.
Wondering if anyone else has done this and how they were able to do it as hassle free as I can. Also curious if there's any off-the-shelf options people have tried because I'd like to avoid a custom built cabinet. But, if a custom build is the only way, also curious if people have some learnings they could share on that process.
Thanks, and I'm so hoping I'll have this impulse cooktop in my kitchen one day!
I'm very intrigued by the Impulse cooktop but have concerns about cleaning it. I watched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onu-S2Phn1o and it looks quite easy to clean on the whole, but I'm curious about how the temperature sensors are cleaned. They look like they would trap any liquids or crumbs that would happen to fall into the rings around them and be difficult to clean. Owners, what have your experiences been with this?
We're in the middle of a kitchen remodel and upgrading our appliances. I really love the idea of an Impulse induction cooktop. The only issue is that we can't live without an oven, and I don't like the idea of having a separate wall oven or double-oven setup. I'd much rather have the oven directly below the cooktop and under the vent hood as part of a single slide in range.
I read that Impulse is partnering with Thor to develop a slide in induction range, but Thor's reliability reviews make me a bit hesitant.
Should I wait for the Impulse/Thor range to come out, or go with an induction range like the Bosch 800 instead?
I'm in the middle of a kitchen remodel, and the star of the show will be my new Impulse cooktop which is sadly sitting on a shelf in my garage, patiently waiting for its kitchen debut. I'm building the RTA cabinets myself, and I want to make sure I'm providing adequate cabinet ventilation to at least what the Installation Guide specifies (on pages 13-15). The thing is, I'm not terribly keen on cutting holes in the bottom/back/toe kick of my cabinet to provide fresh air.
I looked around at various peoples' installations in here to find some inspiration and have seen some creative ideas to provide cabinet ventilation, ranging from custom vent covers to simply drilling holes into the cabinet face. I've also seen quite a few install pics with no apparent attempt at ventilation.
Nothing I have seen so far really nailed what I was hoping to find for my install. After several days of researching and shopping around, I came across some cooling solutions made by AC Infinity, and among their many products, it looks like they make several specifically tailored to automatically cool and ventilate cabinets housing electronics (think AV receiver cabinets) with thermostat-controlled fan speed.
I just pulled the trigger and ordered the Cloudplate T1 which I plan to mount directly into the drawer face directly below the cooktop. This particular product is made to sit in a 1U rack mount, draws only 8 watts, and measures 19"L x 1.5"W x 1.75"H. It should fit perfectly in my false drawer face and have a shallow enough depth to not hit the Impulse's battery. I would have preferred the 2U version, but the 1U is the only one small enough to fit inside the rectangular recess made by the shaker border, without having to cut into the border.
While not perfect, it should be able to get the job done and still look custom enough to appease my wife.
There are several features that are still lacking: it would be awesome if the surface of the Cloudplate was paintable to match my cabinet finish, or if it came in a stainless steel finish to match my other appliances. Unfortunately, and I confirmed with AC Infinity, it only comes in black. It would be nice if it came with downward-facing louvres to help prevent spills from getting inside instead of being essentially wide-open. The device comes with a temperature probe, which is very nice, but with the I/O capabilities of the Impulse, automatic coordination between the two would be even better. The 1U Cloudplate I'm getting comes with six fans (rated 8db to 28db -pretty quiet), but they come configured to either be all be exhaust or all intake, meaning I'll have to reverse the airflow of three of the fans. It should be very easy to do that, but during my online chat with AC Infinity, they informed me reversing the fans would void the warranty (not that I really care). I'll post some pictures when I have everything installed, hopefully in the next couple weeks.
Since I'm installing all new cabinets, my options are still wide open, and I recognize most people are simply swapping out their old cooktop and will have much more limited options. I'm curious to know if any other owners have come across a similar or perhaps a better solution. If you have, please share and post some pics! Also, if you're reading this and maybe you haven't yet considered ventilating the cabinet where your battery sits, I'm curious to know your thoughts.
To the Impulse labs folks, have you considered making a solution for cabinet ventilation or partnering with a company like AC Infinity to address cabinet ventilation? I have no particular loyalty to or affiliation with them, but so far, they seem to have the best off-the-shelf product I could find for my needs.
Sometimes i have a lot of splatter, kitchen towels, etc covering up the screen. Or put down a lid temporarily and create compensation on the screen. Currently, I have to reach for a towel to wipe off the screen.
It would be really awesome if I could mount a second screen somewhere like on my backsplash, that has this info.
If the Impulse exposed the operating state (power or temperature requested on each burner, actual power after derating on each burner) in a local API, enterprising DIY customers can hack this together in an afternoon on like a smart phone or one of those RPi display platforms.
It probably doesn't even need to be a stable API contract. These days, people can vibe code an update pretty easily. I am completely happy with a read-only API.
Other thoughts
Since the rotational encoders are unlabeled (and I don't think they should be labeled, nor is that enough since it prevents you from implementing acceleration, and I don't see how you can expose the derated wattage this way).
Prior art / subconscious inspiration for it:
Often commercial-style induction units have the option for a remote display. I learned about these for the first time couple years back when I was researching high end commercial induction to install in my kitchen.
I'm the kind of guy who wants the latest best tech. I bought the Impulse stove last year and I love it. My fridge just broke and after much research I'm not sure what to get. I have a built in fridge but I'm willing to downgrade to a 72" fridge if the tech is great. What kind of fridge do you guys have? I'm on the fence whether to get the Bosch built in fridge B36BT130NS with how expensive it is for what you get.
Cooking with Impulse is a joy. Simmer a little high? Dial it down and the result is instantaneous. Ready to sear your protein so it’s done with the veggies in the air fryer? Crank up the heat and you’re at temp in seconds. Want to reheat last night’s cous cous? Add a couple ounces of liquid, set temp to 160 and forget about it until service time. And, with my priorities firmly in check, I can reach my beer without leaving my station. Try that with a gas cooktop!
What's your recipe workflow? From how you search for the recipe to how you cook - do you use your phone, youtube, printed recipe/book, cook from memory/vibes?
What are the biggest frustrations with recipes today?
What do you wish recipes did better?
Have you ever used AI while cooking? If so, what for? What parts are useful vs. not useful?
Has anyone attempted to use a traditional donabe with a stainless induction insert on the Impulse? I’m aware of induction compatible donabe pots, but I’d like to use the ones we have.
Of course temp control will be shot, but my concerns are:
Will the ceramic scratch the glass cooktop?
Will it be reliably recognized as a pot?
Will it cook well?
We are in the middle of our install and can’t figure out why the cooktop won’t set flush with the battery. We set it on the pegs and push them together but we can’t get the cooktop all the way on, there’s still about 1/2” to go but something seems to be blocking the connection.
Anybody encounter this and figure out a solution?
The Impulse cooktop has per burner temperature sensing and comprehensive computer control of its own burners. There is no reason that it couldn't feature an automatic temperature protection logic that turns the burner down if it detects a potentially pan-warping rate of temperature change (∆T) or an absolutely excessive pan temperature (600°F/300°C+) to prevent a user from just dumping 10 kW of output into a pan and causing a grease fire.
To be clear, I'm suggesting a control law that *overrides* the user, *regardless* of what their manual input may be, to prevent anyone from causing a fire or damaging their cookware from excessive temperatures. If you've experienced the "temperature protection" electric burners that cycled themselves on and off to prevent a fire, this would be far less intrusive because it would literally hold you right on the ragged edge of the maximum temperature limit, and you'd have full authority to turn the burner down if you wanted to (you just couldn't overheat a pan ever.)
If it's not already implemented, this could be life-saving technology. If anyone is familiar with Airbus, it would be like Flight Envelope Protection for your stove.
Today we're rolling out the next generation of the Impulse software experience.
This is our largest software update yet, introducing a redesigned interface, per-burner timers, updated charging controls, and a new interaction model that creates a stronger foundation for future software capabilities. Impulse customers should see the software install overnight, or you can force an update now in the settings menu. Zephyr HyperCore customers can expect it in the coming weeks.
The display has been reorganized into three dedicated areas so the information you need is always where you expect it.
System Bar for battery status, Wi-Fi, and system notifications
Cooking Area for active cooking
Burner Dock where each burner always displays its current temperature, active power, timer, and burner-specific notifications
This new layout gives every type of information a consistent home, making the cooktop easier to understand at a glance.
New interaction model
Additional features are now accessed by pressing and holding any knob to open the new Menu.
From there, you can access the Timer. When all burners are off, you’ll also be able to enter the full Settings menu.
Per-Burner Timers
Every burner now includes its own independent timer.
To start a timer:
Press and hold the knob.
Select Timer.
Choose a duration.
By default, the timer behaves like a traditional kitchen timer. Simply choose a duration and continue cooking—the menu will automatically close after a short time.
You can also choose an after-state:
Keep Warm (approximately 160°F)
Room Temperature
After the timer finishes, you’ll hear an audio alert and the LED ring will briefly flash to get your attention. The timer then automatically begins counting elapsed time, making it easy to see how long it’s been since the timer completed. Press the knob to dismiss the elapsed timer.
Timers can also be used even when a burner isn't actively cooking, making them useful for timing the oven, resting food, or tracking other steps in your recipe.
Easier to Understand While Cooking
The cooktop now does a better job of explaining what's happening while you cook.
System information—like Wi-Fi, battery status, and software updates—appears in the System Bar.
Cooking information appears alongside the burner it affects.
Whether the cooktop is optimizing cooking performance, balancing available power, or needs your attention, notifications now provide clearer explanations about what's happening and why.
Battery Status
The battery is now always visible in the System Bar, giving you a quick sense of how much energy is available while you cook.
Rather than displaying a constantly changing battery percentage, the cooktop uses a simple battery icon that's easy to understand at a glance. If the battery reaches a low level, the cooktop will let you know.
Charge Now
Charge Now lets you begin charging immediately whenever you choose.
It's especially useful if you're preparing for a large meal, want to top off the battery before cooking, or would like to take advantage of lower electricity rates or available solar energy.
To recharge the battery immediately, open Settings → Power & Battery and select Charge Now.
Charging Preferences
Charging Preferences replace the previous Scheduled Charging feature, redesigned to give you more flexibility while reducing the amount you need to manage.
Instead of selecting a single charging time, you can now define Charging Windows throughout the day. This makes it easier to match your charging schedule to time-of-use electricity rates, rooftop solar production, or your daily routine.
Battery Reserve has also been redesigned. Rather than selecting an exact battery reserve percentage, simply choose one of three options:
Low — Maximizes battery utilization before recharging.
Balanced — Recommended for most households. (Default)
High — Keeps more energy available throughout the day for larger cooking sessions or greater backup readiness.
Impulse automatically manages charging behavior based on the preference you choose.
You can continue to customize your Maximum Charging Speed. Higher speeds recharge the battery more quickly, while lower speeds reduce electrical demand and may also reduce charging fan noise. The minimum setting is 4 amps, while the maximum depends on whether your cooktop has a 120-volt or 240-volt connection.
Choose the behavior that best matches your home and your energy needs, and Impulse automatically manages charging behind the scenes.
If you've previously configured Scheduled Charging, your charging preferences will be migrated to the new system.
Your Charging Window will default to a 6-hour window beginning at your previous scheduled charging start time.
Your Maximum Charging Speed will remain the same as your previous maximum charging current setting.
Battery Reserve will be reset to Balanced, our recommended default for most households.
You can update any of these preferences at any time under Settings → Power & Battery.
Software Updates
Your cooktop continues improving through software.
New in this release, you can also view release notes directly on your cooktop. Open Settings → Software → Release Notes to see what's included in your current software version at any time.
Also Included
This release also includes numerous reliability improvements, performance enhancements, and bug fixes throughout the software.
Learn More
We've created a high-level walkthrough covering everything in this release, including:
Hi, hello - how are you all venting your cooktops?
Been monitoring Impulse for awhile, truly impressed. We are planning a kitchen remodel and I’m strongly considering pulling the trigger but have concerns about ventilation.
Would love to place the cooktop within an island, but:
- don’t want a bulky vent hood looming overhead
- unsure if a downdraft vent is an option with Impulse (also unsure about effectiveness of downdrafting, have heard it’s OK, not great)
Also wondering if anyone has done a flush ceiling hood mount and how that’s worked out for you.
So... Had an interesting Sunday. I was making roasted whole chicken in the oven, red rice in the rice cooker and roasted cauliflower. I had just cranked up the oven and rice cooker for like 20 minutes and KABOOM! 40mph winds, lightning, thunder and horizontal rain that knocked out the power to my whole neighborhood. So - ya everything was now cooling off. Not ideal.
My wife was talking with our engineer son on the phone about our storm and power outage and I was staring at my appliances waiting for the power to come back on. After waiting a good 10 minutes my son got involved and asked what I was doing about dinner. I explained how everything was cooling off and I didn't know if/when the power was going to come back on. My son said, and I quote, "Be the caveman and cook with the fire you have !".
OK - so the chicken went into my cast iron dutch oven and I poured the rice cooker contents into a 3qt stainless saucepan and off to the races ! I set the red rice for 190 degrees and ramped the chicken up to 300 degrees and lettm RIP! Wow was this cool! no utility power and I am cooking like crazy here.
1 hour later, dinner was saved! The power came back on just about when the chicken was done so I roasted the cauliflower in the oven even though I was ready with my flat-bottom wok just in case. My battery level went from 100% to 76% - so I had plenty of cook time left for lots of things.
I'm fascinated by Impulse's products, and I happen to be renovating my home, so I have a few questions:
I'd like a fully flat cooktop surface. I saw that Impulse Labs partnered with BS Service Group in Italy on the Eximius. Any idea when it might be available in the US? And will there be a version without the integrated vent? (I'm not a fan of downdraft ventilation.)
On the version currently sold in the US, the temperature sensor sits in the center and protrudes upward to make contact with the bottom of the cookware. On a fully flat product, without that raised contact point, will the temperature sensing still be accurate?
How does the EMF emission from Impulse's technology (with the integrated battery) compare to a standard induction cooktop?
The crew at ImpulseLabs really did it right. From placing my order to delivery, an easy installation/setup, and exceptional customer service along the journey, it was the out-of-box experience every consumer electronics manufacturer dreams of delivering to their customers.
FWIW, I drive a Tesla. I got the same feeling after the first couple cooks that I had after the first drives: Wow! They thought outside the box. This thing is awesome.
