[Stoots]

I want to put an immersion heater in my tank, but its fully baffled, common sense is telling me they will melt even under water as immersions get seriously hot...

or do i have no common sense ?

Nathan ? yours is baffled is it not ?

I could put some sort of cage around it internally to stop the balls touching it i guess.

[alank]

Stainless steel mesh cage should sort it
I'm fitting an immersion into a new 350ltr upright tank this weekend the last one was a layflat with baffle balls in so in hoping with the new tank being upright and fitted right up to bulkhead things should be more stable. If I need the baffle balls back in I will make a mesh cage to keep them away from the element a will post how it works out

[nathankaye]

I want to put an immersion heater in my tank, but its fully baffled, common sense is telling me they will melt even under water as immersions get seriously hot...

or do i have no common sense ?

Nathan ? yours is baffled is it not ?

I could put some sort of cage around it internally to stop the balls touching it i guess.

My tank is a 500ltr upright wydale tank from purefreedom.     The only internal baffle is the central divide.   My immersion is 27 inches long and so it clearly reaches this divide in the tank, but there is about 5 - 7 inch  gap from this divide to the base of the tank.  My immersion slides across in this section and there is probably a two inch gap from the element to the central divide.
As you know I run my heater till the water gets into the 60's and low 70's.   Nothing has melted or comes close to melting and the tank is insulated as well.
Yes the element stays hot, but I never run my water low enough for the baffle balls (that I have added) to touch the element, as those plastic balls are only very thin.   I would imagine that if I used perhaps a 300ltr tank then the balls could touch the elements and then there would be a strong chance of them sticking/melting to it and causing problems.

[Stoots]

ok cheers nathan, was just checking as i wondered how yours was baffled but didnt melt 

my tank is flat ish with no built in baffles but is filled with proper baffle balls that fill the entire tank right down to the bottom

yes i think a mesh cage made out of chicken wire should do it cheers alan

I have a spare immersion as i bought a 27 inch one which was way too big for my old tank so never fitted it.

[dazmond]

no need for the baffle balls in the first place...ive got the same tank as nathans and its fine as it is....ive had it years.....

[nathankaye]

no need for the baffle balls in the first place...ive got the same tank as nathans and its fine as it is....ive had it years.....

I've taken a lot of balls out as I need to replace them with proper baffle balls and you certainly notice it when you stop at junctions or traffic lights. The van just gently rocks.  So I'm putting them back n

[G & M]

Best place to buy immersion heater.  Also if using wall plug what is highest wattage immersion that can be safely used?

[Stoots]

no need for the baffle balls in the first place...ive got the same tank as nathans and its fine as it is....ive had it years.....

There is in mine, its a 700 l tank mounted near the back doors and doesn't have a built in baffle.
Its not what I'd call flat but its not upright either it about 6ft long...

There would a lot of slosh without baffle balls

[Stoots]

Best place to buy immersion heater.  Also if using wall plug what is highest wattage immersion that can be safely used?

2kw.

I use a 3kw but I won't leave it switched on overnight unattended.

In fact the a good point i
might just order a 2kw this time.

[alank]

I have a 3kw and electrician wired the outside sockets straight to to consumer board own breaker etc 16amp I think better safe than sorry 

[G & M]

Thanks guys.

[G & M]

Do you use timer switches to control the length of time the immersion heater is on and if so which ones would work with a
3000 watt