Comparison Philips Avent SCF293/00 vs Philips Avent SCF281/02

Basic principle of operation of the device.

— Electric. Devices powered by electric current — from the mains, batteries or car cigarette lighter (see "Power"). This principle is used by all heaters and heater-sterilizers (see "Type"), as well as sterilizers with ultraviolet processing (see "Sterilization"). Also, electric heaters are often used in devices with steam sterilization, but there is an alternative option — heating in a microwave oven (microwave), it is described below.

— For microwave ovens. Sterilizers with a steam principle of processing (see "Sterilization"), working by heating in a microwave oven (microwave oven). In fact, they are containers made of special materials that do not have any electronic filling. Such models are extremely simple, inexpensive and reliable: there is practically nothing to break in them. On the other hand, to use such a sterilizer, you need a microwave oven itself, and metal objects cannot be processed in it. In addition, if the oven is small and the container is large, it's ok to clarify before buying whether it will fit in the microwave at all.

— Chemical. The principle of operation, used exclusively in sterilizers with cold sterilization (see below): water and a special antibacterial concentrate are poured into the device. At the same time, heating is not required for operation, thanks to which th...e device can be made very simple and inexpensive; in addition, it works regardless of the power supply, which is very convenient on the road. The disadvantage of chemical models is the need to regularly buy a special tool.

— Electric / for microwave ovens. A sterilizer that can work both from the mains and in the microwave. The container for dishes in such models is usually made removable — if desired, it can be removed from the main unit and installed in the microwave.

— For microwave ovens / chemical. A variety of sterilizers that allow operation both from a microwave oven (microwave oven) and a chemical method. See above for more details on these methods, and their combination makes the device versatile and allows it to be used for both “hot” (steam) and cold (without heating) sterilization. However metal objects cannot be sterilized in microwaves, but a chemical method can be useful just for them.

– Electrical / chemical. Another type of sterilizer that supports both hot and cold processing methods. In this case, heating, if necessary, is carried out due to its own electric heater; unlike using a microwave, this heating allows you to steam sterilize even metal objects. On the other hand, such devices are more complicated and more expensive than the models described above with the principle of operation "for microwave ovens / chemical".

Sterilizers with this feature consist of a main unit and several removable container modules for sterilized items. Most often, the set comes with a tall container for bottles, and a small one for nipples, pacifiers and other “small things”. The modules can be used both individually and together — in the latter case, they are usually installed one on top of the other, like steamer baskets. The similarity is enhanced by the fact that most of these sterilizers use steam (see "Sterilization"), although cold processing may also be provided in addition to it.

Anyway, the modular design allows you to optimally adjust the device to the specific situation. For example, to sterilize several pacifiers, it is enough to install only one small container — this will not only save electricity, but also have a positive effect on the efficiency of the procedure itself. And the use of two modules at once, in turn, saves time.

The maximum number of items that fit in the device at a time.

Almost all heaters (see "Type") are made "single-charged" — in fact, it is rarely necessary to heat several bottles of milk at once. But sterilizers are often designed for several items at once — this saves time on processing. At the same time, a more capacious appliance, on the one hand, is more convenient with an abundance of dishes, on the other hand, it is heavier, bulkier and more expensive. So when choosing, it is worth considering what is more important — compactness or the ability to work with numerous objects.

Note that in models for bottles and jars (see "Intended use"), capacity is usually indicated for containers with a narrow neck; wide dishes in such a device will fit less. And for universal devices designed for both bottles / jars and nipples / pacifiers, capacity is usually given only for bottles; the number of places for nipples and pacifiers may be less, this should be clarified before buying.

Time taken by the instrument for one standard sterilization cycle.

Ideally, this time should be as short as possible — because the faster the sterilizer works, the more time it saves. At the same time, with electric heating or ultraviolet type of sterilization, high speed requires a more powerful hardware, which, in turn, affects energy consumption, price and dimensions of the device. And in models heated by microwave ovens, the actual time of the programme depends on the power of the stove; at the same time, the characteristics may indicate the time for heating at a power of 1200 W or more, and such power is not provided by all microwave ovens.

— From the network. Powered by a 230 V household network, in other words, a regular outlet. This option is considered optimal for home use: the device can be constantly kept in one place, close to the outlet (in extreme cases, extend the extension cord), and you do not need to worry about the condition of the batteries. In addition, the power of such a power supply is enough even for the most “gluttonous” devices with steam sterilization.

— From batteries. Powered by replaceable batteries of a standard size — for example, "finger" AA or "little" AAA (the specific size should be specified separately in each case). Just note that batteries are usually not included in the kit; however, this configuration has its advantage — it allows you to choose the batteries at your discretion. You can even buy rechargeable batteries and not spend money every time on fresh batteries. In itself, such power, on the one hand, makes the device independent of sockets and allows you to use it even on the road; on the other hand, batteries produce very little power and are not suitable for steam sterilization, or even for use in heaters. As a consequence, this type of power is found exclusively in portable UV sterilizers.

— From a car cigarette lighter 12 V. Power supply from the car's on-board network — through the cigarette lighter socket or a separate auto socket of the same s...ize. The features of the use of such devices are already clear from the name — they are designed for use while traveling.

— From the mains / car cigarette lighter 12 V. Devices that can be connected to both a regular home socket and a 12 V car. Both types of connection are described in detail above, and their combination makes the device very versatile, allowing it to be used both at home and on the road. However such models are much more expensive than “purely” home or automobile models. It should also be borne in mind that when operating from 12 V, the heating or sterilization time may be longer than at home.

Rated power consumed by the device during operation.

This parameter is specified for models that support mains power (see above). At the same time, even the most powerful and high consumption sterilizers and heaters consume only about 1 kW — a normal home outlet provides such power without any problems. Therefore, this indicator is relevant mainly for those who fundamentally care about maximizing energy savings.