How many watts should I get for...

[FrankZ]

Interesting... I use between a 52% and 58% depending on which flours I use. Are you sure you aren't confusing the soft start with struggling? Even partially kneaded when I stop and restart it picks up just fine, other than the soft start.

Generally when I am making general purpose bread I do about 8 cups of flour, I haven't pushed up to the limit of the machine (listed at 14 cups) as that would be more than I can handle at one time. The oven is only so big.

 

[roadfix]

It's not a terrible strain as if the unit is about to shut itself off or anything like that. I never go beyond speed 2 with the spiral hook.
I generally use 800g of all purpose flour and 500g of water so it's not a big batch but you can definitely hear the motor undulating. Perhaps that's normal for the mixer to do that.

 

[FrankZ]

KA suggests speed 2 for dough (and says they won't honor warranty if you use any other).

My 8 cups is 960g of flour and I use between 600g and 650g of water.

One of these days I am gonna up to 12 cups (1440g) just to see how it does.

 

[roadfix]

My 8 cups is 960g of flour and I use between 600g and 650g of water.

Your hydration level is almost similar to mine. I use anywhere from 60 to 65 percent.

 

[FrankZ]

Errm.. I was in error in the previous post. 62-68% not 52-58%. Sorry about that.