[Nick_Thompson]

How about a 1kw aquarium heater; just drop it in the tank.

Nick

It might take the chill off but if 3KW takes four hours to heat 400ltrs I can't see this having much of an impact.

I drop two of them in one of my 500 litre tanks and even on cold days the temperature is up to 30ºC in the morning (after 8 hs approximately).

If, of couse, you are heating the water every night consecutively, then, as has already been mentioned, the heat retentive quality of these plastic tanks is such that a considerable amount of the heat from the previous night will still be present reducing the heating time required.

Nick

[Nick_Thompson]

How about a 1kw aquarium heater; just drop it in the tank.

Nick

Hi Nick, do you have a link for that heater?

Cheers

Sorry Dave but I can't remember where I found them. I've had them for quite some time now.

[hasti]

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/heating/a/heatersizeguide.htm

[KS Cleaning]

How about a 1kw aquarium heater; just drop it in the tank.

Nick

It might take the chill off but if 3KW takes four hours to heat 400ltrs I can't see this having much of an impact.

I drop two of them in one of my 500 litre tanks and even on cold days the temperature is up to 30ºC in the morning (after 8 hs approximately).

If, of couse, you are heating the water every night consecutively, then, as has already been mentioned, the heat retentive quality of these plastic tanks is such that a considerable amount of the heat from the previous night will still be present reducing the heating time required.

Nick

But don't you use the water that has been heated up overnight during the working day then you refill the tank with cold water out the tap so there won't be any heat retention at all.

[Perfect Windows]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360844400777?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


This can be used with a 13 amp socket as its 2kw .

While 2kW will get 650L up by 1 deg every 20 minutes, an immersion is made for long term use whereas that's intended to be used for a few minutes.  It's also possibly not safe for long term immersion in water; I think they are designed to hang over the edge of a cup.

Vin

[Nick_Thompson]

But don't you use the water that has been heated up overnight during the working day then you refill the tank with cold water out the tap so there won't be any heat retention at all.
[/quote]

Yes, sorry KS, I should have made that more clear.

I was referring to the times when, for what ever reason, the water doesn't get used; adverse weather restricting water usage or perhaps the times when you've heated the water the night before just for its anti frost protection, on those occasions a one 1kw aquarium heater will do the job.

Nick

[robert mitchell]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360844400777?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


This can be used with a 13 amp socket as its 2kw .

While 2kW will get 650L up by 1 deg every 20 minutes, an immersion is made for long term use whereas that's intended to be used for a few minutes.  It's also possibly not safe for long term immersion in water; I think they are designed to hang over the edge of a cup.

Vin

somebody on here (think it may be smudger) has been using one of these to heat 1000 litre ibc for around 3 years , he sent me the link.

Its too powerful for a cup , its designed more for cooking potatoes etc in a pot when your at a campsite with electric hookup .

[robert mitchell]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=189743.0


link to smudgers posts

[Perfect Windows]

somebody on here (think it may be smudger) has been using one of these to heat 1000 litre ibc for around 3 years , he sent me the link.

Its too powerful for a cup , its designed more for cooking potatoes etc in a pot when your at a campsite with electric hookup .

I get it; in which case that might well work.  It's certainly less breakable than the glass aquarium heaters though I'm not certain I'd like to leave it unwatched overnight.

Vin

[robert mitchell]

I have ordered one but delivery can take upto a month from hong kong , once up and running i will report back how well it works .

nothing to lose for a tenner!

[KS Cleaning]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

[Spruce]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

No it wouldn't. Fully insulated electrical equipment doesn't need an earth. It it was an element fitted to a metal urn for example, then yes, it will need an earth.

It would have melted as there was a resistance at the plug point. That resistance would cause a hot spot. As the hot spot gets hotter, the resistance increases until something gives. It could have been a lose connection on the plug, on a poor connection on the extension cable's socket.

Using the correct size cable on the cable drum is important. Even more so is to always fully unwind the cable from the cable drum and lay it out as straight as possible. This will prevent the coiled cable generating a magnetic field when high current is used. The magnetic field will also cause heat, then resistance and could/will melt the whole cable. Seen it often on building sites overseas in the power tool industry.

Laying your cable out will also help to keep the cable cooler under load.

[KS Cleaning]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

No it wouldn't. Fully insulated electrical equipment doesn't need an earth. It it was an element fitted to a metal urn for example, then yes, it will need an earth.

It would have melted as there was a resistance at the plug point. That resistance would cause a hot spot. As the hot spot gets hotter, the resistance increases until something gives. It could have been a lose connection on the plug, on a poor connection on the extension cable's socket.

Using the correct size cable on the cable drum is important. Even more so is to always fully unwind the cable from the cable drum and lay it out as straight as possible. This will prevent the coiled cable generating a magnetic field when high current is used. The magnetic field will also cause heat, then resistance and could/will melt the whole cable. Seen it often on building sites overseas in the power tool industry.

Laying your cable out will also help to keep the cable cooler under load.

Thanks for the informative reply Spruce

[robert mitchell]

Hi Spruce , I'm using this cable and I'm using only the length required to reach from outside socket into the shed ( about 3 metres).

good choice of cable in your opinion?

[Spruce]

Hi Robert

Unfortunately, supplying power to an outside shed comes under Part P of the electrical regulations.

http://www.mybuilder.com/questions/v/6159/getting-power-to-a-shed

It doesn't matter whether the cable length is 3 meters or 23 meters; the regulations still apply. Sorry.

If it was to your van from the wall socket, then you could get away with a length of 2.5mm cable. You would be covered by doing the same as the 'boys' with portable hot tubs outside are. If they are 'plug and play' units then they can plug into any 13amp household socket with existing/or additional RCD protection.

The moment something becomes fixed then it all changes. It is no longer a temporary situation. (The larger Hot Tubs need a 32 amp electrical circuit and this is all specialised electrians domain.)

[ChumBucket]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

Drawing a constant 2Kw for hours on end is the problem. It's not like a kettle where it's just a short burst of high consumption.

I've stated it on numerous threads now, please don't take silly risks with your lives & homes, it's only a few quid more to do the whole thing correctly. All the 16amp quality parts for a full 3KW immersion set up are approx £100, then a couple of hours for a professional sparky to install to the main consumer unit & fit external 16amp socket.

[robert mitchell]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

Drawing a constant 2Kw for hours on end is the problem. It's not like a kettle where it's just a short burst of high consumption.

I've stated it on numerous threads now, please don't take silly risks with your lives & homes, it's only a few quid more to do the whole thing correctly. All the 16amp quality parts for a full 3KW immersion set up are approx £100, then a couple of hours for a professional sparky to install to the main consumer unit & fit external 16amp socket.

Thats not viable in my house , fusebox at the front shed at the back , would mean running cables through the house .

[robert mitchell]

i will use the cable to make an extension lead then and just hang it on a hook !

not going to inform building control etc and pay £200 !!

[ChumBucket]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

Drawing a constant 2Kw for hours on end is the problem. It's not like a kettle where it's just a short burst of high consumption.

I've stated it on numerous threads now, please don't take silly risks with your lives & homes, it's only a few quid more to do the whole thing correctly. All the 16amp quality parts for a full 3KW immersion set up are approx £100, then a couple of hours for a professional sparky to install to the main consumer unit & fit external 16amp socket.

Thats not viable in my house , fusebox at the front shed at the back , would mean running cables through the house .

It could be done with external cable depends if you want/need it enough for the extra expense. We have a log cabin up the back & that has mains into it via 25m of armoured cable.

[KS Cleaning]

I put 2 of these portable immersion 2kw heaters in my 650 upright tank overnight, I put them on separate ext reels but still managed to melt a plug the other week, when I was replacing the plug I noticed there was no earth wire in the cable, could this be a problem?

Drawing a constant 2Kw for hours on end is the problem. It's not like a kettle where it's just a short burst of high consumption.

I've stated it on numerous threads now, please don't take silly risks with your lives & homes, it's only a few quid more to do the whole thing correctly. All the 16amp quality parts for a full 3KW immersion set up are approx £100, then a couple of hours for a professional sparky to install to the main consumer unit & fit external 16amp socket.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is what I plan to do when I get my new van in March. Could you put up links for the 16amp parts please Also for an upright tank is there a way of getting the immersion fitted near the bottom of the tank or do you just get the local orang-utan to fit it