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RE: large wattage heaters
Hi Lonny,
Unlike household thermostats heaters heaters run all of their power through
the contacts, with the exception of those using a triac circuit, or some
using electronic thermostats. For normal heaters using a bimetallic strip
the more current you run through the contacts the more likely they are to
weld. Most manufacturers use one strip and one contact for all of their
heaters regardless of how much current they draw through them. Most
manufacturers do not over rate their components.
I have used a very reputable brand for 30 years. At 100 watts some of them
are 30 years old. So I purchased the 250 watt model. In 6 Months it welded
the contacts and cooked the fish. I cleaned the contacts and reassembled the
heater I then put it back in service and surprise a few months later it did
the same thing. I took it apart and found that it used the exact same
contacts at the 25 watt model which was 30 years its senior and never gave
me any problem. By the way my 100 watt models are on the same circuit as a
fridge, no problem.
So when I recommend lower wattage, especially for lower price point heaters
to reduce current through the thermostat. I am not saying that a high
wattage heater will not work if it is designed properly, just that in many
cases the higher wattage heaters are nothing more than the old lower wattage
heaters now being pushed past or to the very limit of the original design
limitations.
Best regards,
~RJ~
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-killietalk at aka_org [mailto:owner-killietalk at aka_org]On
Behalf Of DoverKillies at aol_com
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 8:48 PM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: Re: large wattage heaters
I don't agree with the two heater approach. Heaters have sensors in them
that
cause them to go off and on. How does having two heaters keep one of them
from jamming? If you are really concerned about heaters jamming, by ones
that
have a printed circuit board instead of the metal contacts. Also, be sure
that your heater isn't on the same cicuit as your tv, air conditioner and
refridgerature. When these appliances come on, they pull a surge of
electricity. This surge, can pull the metal contacts on a heater together,
and cause them to weld together.
The wattage of a heater basically has to do with the time it take to
re-capture heat loss. A 100 watt heater will recove temperature loss faster
than a 50 watt. BUT in smaller tanks, the heat loss happens quicker, and
that
is why you don't need as high a wattage heater. The larger tanks take longer
for the heat loss to be noticed, and the higher wattage heaters bring back
the temperature faster. It is just like electric hot water heaters. the
larger the gallonage the higher wattage coil.
Visa-therm heaters are good heaters, as are basically any made in Germany.
Lonny
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