Immersion heater size

[Colin K]

Hello,
Current one has burnt out and wondered what size most people use for a small hot water cylinder. Old one is not marked but guess its 1 or 1.5 kw. If i went for a 1.5 curious if I would stretch my 15a supply.
Ok in itself but add using the hoover,charger etc.

Any advise appreciated, Cheers, Colin.

 

[ctva]

When I replaced my colorifier, I looked at this and was advised to get a 500w element. Reason being that it will be less likely to trip sensitive Martina power supplies. TBH it heats the 30l just fine.

 

[Dull Spark]

I also thought mine had burned out. But... I checked for resistance and got the "right" reading. So, after a quick look I spotted a tiny re-set switch about the size of a match head. (It's worth a check). Good luck.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I have a 22l calorifier with a 1kW immersion and get plenty of hot water in less than an hour. I chose a 1kW immersion for speed but also have a 2kW heater, so I put in a 1-0-2 rotary cam switch to avoid both being on simultaneously and the risk of tripping the breaker if someone decides to boil a kettle as well. The either/or option hasn't been a problem.

 

[michael_w]

My old calorifer had a 1kW immersion heater and my suitcase generator couldn't cope with the immersion and the battery charger at the same time. So when the old calorifier split on a weld I specified the the new one to have a 750W immersion.

Genset can now cope and I don't notice that the water takes much longer to heat up when compared to the old one.

 

[whiteoaks7]

I have a 22l calorifier with a 1kW immersion and get plenty of hot water in less than an hour. I chose a 1kW immersion for speed but also have a 2kW heater, so I put in a 1-0-2 rotary cam switch to avoid both being on simultaneously and the risk of tripping the breaker if someone decides to boil a kettle as well. The either/or option hasn't been a problem.

Please tell me your 1-0-2 switch is rated at 240V a.c. ...

 

[Colin K]

Please tell me your 1-0-2 switch is rated at 240V a.c. ...

Ah I see is that a 1-0-2 switch the type u use between battery banks ? Now I am no expert but I guess 12v ones deal with higher amperages? Of course this means two I/H bosses in the tank.

Thanks for the help chaps. Bought a 1 kw job today. Its a Sure cal so I hope its ok with the engine feed/over heat trip?

Cheers, Col.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Please tell me your 1-0-2 switch is rated at 240V a.c. ...

Certainly - it is.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Ah I see is that a 1-0-2 switch the type u use between battery banks ? ...

No, it is not a 1-2-B-0 switch for switching 12V battery banks, but a 1-2-0 switch rated for (more than) 240v and the relevant amperage. It switches between a permanently mounted 2kW fan heater and the 1kW immersion, to prevent both being used together, when a further load might exceed 16A total.

 

[Colin K]

No, it is not a 1-2-B-0 switch for switching 12V battery banks, but a 1-2-0 switch rated for (more than) 240v and the relevant amperage. It switches between a permanently mounted 2kW fan heater and the 1kW immersion, to prevent both being used together, when a further load might exceed 16A total.

Thats cool.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Thanks - sorry I did not make it clearer that the 2kW was not a second immersion heater, which I now see you had surmised. Having either space or water heating on is not a problem for our use of them, and although both on would leave a few amps spare, I prefer a foolproof system; as you said in the OP, there are other demands.