[dan paton]

was wondering if it was possible to get an immersion heater with a cut out switch fitted to my machine to get constant heat . cant afford an inline heater at the moment . has anyone done a diy job. is it possible. would be interested to know if anyone has done this
                                                            cheers
                                                                   dan

[Neil Williams]

I've done it and it does work.
The cut through the tank has to be precise in order that the element can cut it's own thread through the plastic, near the bottom of the tank but not too close.
Make sure you have a totally waterproof seal before dealing with the electrics.
I then have a timer switch which comes on about 4am so I have a full tank of hot water ready for when I arrive at the first job.
Remember this is sucking about 2.5 kw of electric so you can't share anything else on 'that line.'
I have the temp set at 60 degrees so not to damage the pump but I do run an in-line heater at the property if needed, the in-line heaters really struggle to provide hot water if the source water is cold, so this way I'm getting a near on constant supply of water at the wand of 90 degrees.

[john martin]

 do you mean inside your portable ?  this is the sort of element used ..

http://wcsuk.com/cgi-bin/sh000003.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwcsuk.com%2fcgi-bin%2fss000003.pl%3fSS%3demmersion%26ACTION%3dFind%26page%3dsearch%26PR%3d-1%26TB%3dA&WD=element&PN=2.5KW-Water-Heating-Element-HT1317A.html

Its actually easier to do in a big tank as an 11" or 14" immersion element has the thermostat built in ..

you would have to source a separate thermostat and place it through the talk along side the element then wire them up ...

For simplicity i think i would just mount the element above without thermostat and just keep an eye on it as you work ... add cold water or just plug it out occasionally

hard to give you advice r.e mounting it and sealing it through your porty wall  ...
might be simpler to ask a plumber to do it if you source the element .

[Colin Day]

Out of curiosity, which machine do you have, Dan?

[Neil Williams]

I can't see the pictures on that website but I presume it ie a standard thermostatically controlled domestic immersian heater element.
I think I paid less than £25 for mine from a plumbers merchants.

do you mean inside your portable ?  this is the sort of element used ..

http://wcsuk.com/cgi-bin/sh000003.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwcsuk.com%2fcgi-bin%2fss000003.pl%3fSS%3demmersion%26ACTION%3dFind%26page%3dsearch%26PR%3d-1%26TB%3dA&WD=element&PN=2.5KW-Water-Heating-Element-HT1317A.html

Its actually easier to do in a big tank as an 11" or 14" immersion element has the thermostat built in ..

you would have to source a separate thermostat and place it through the talk along side the element then wire them up ...

For simplicity i think i would just mount the element above without thermostat and just keep an eye on it as you work ... add cold water or just plug it out occasionally

hard to give you advice r.e mounting it and sealing it through your porty wall  ...
might be simpler to ask a plumber to do it if you source the element .

[john martin]

I can't see the pictures on that website but I presume it ie a standard thermostatically controlled domestic immersian heater element.
I think I paid less than £25 for mine from a plumbers merchants.

do you mean inside your portable ?  this is the sort of element used ..

http://wcsuk.com/cgi-bin/sh000003.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwcsuk.com%2fcgi-bin%2fss000003.pl%3fSS%3demmersion%26ACTION%3dFind%26page%3dsearch%26PR%3d-1%26TB%3dA&WD=element&PN=2.5KW-Water-Heating-Element-HT1317A.html

Its actually easier to do in a big tank as an 11" or 14" immersion element has the thermostat built in ..

you would have to source a separate thermostat and place it through the talk along side the element then wire them up ...

For simplicity i think i would just mount the element above without thermostat and just keep an eye on it as you work ... add cold water or just plug it out occasionally

hard to give you advice r.e mounting it and sealing it through your porty wall  ...
might be simpler to ask a plumber to do it if you source the element .

lol  ... pictures are never good on that site , try looking at their wands ! 
I dont know if it has a thermostat built in ... the thermostat is often mounted inside a long copper tube ?   
im really not sure ... perhaps they can advise him , or a local electrical store like you say .

[dan paton]

thanks for all your reply's guys . much appreciated . most answers was along the lines i was going . just wondered if anyone had done it and it worked. hi colin i got a gaomei gmc-3 (chinese machine) . does the job though twin vacs and a 160 psi pump. cheers