A heater for a cast-iron heating radiator or for an aluminum radiator is a heating tungsten spiral contained in a ceramic insulator placed in a sealed metal case.
general information
TEN is an abbreviation that stands for tubular electric heater. Electric heating elements for heating radiators have several properties:
- The first common property for all devices of this type is that their heating element is made of stainless steel. This approach provides such advantages as the longest possible life of all possible, and also prevents the contact of a live spiral with a coolant.
- One small element, which is also common for all heating elements, is the nut, with the help of which the heater is installed in the heater. The material for its manufacture is always brass. The thread for this element is pipe, left or right, and the size is 1 or 1 1/4 inches.
TEN in an aluminum heating radiator has a thread of 25 mm. For installation in the cast-iron section, the thread is increased to 32 mm.
How to evaluate the effectiveness of the device?
Naturally, when choosing this device, you need to buy one that can effectively cope with the task of heating the entire apartment. To do this, you can evaluate the effectiveness of its work. This is pretty easy to do.
In fact, it is very simple to do: 1 kW of electricity for electric. The heater for the heating radiator will be converted into 1 kW of heat power, which will go to the heating of the room. In order to fully calculate, you can use this formula. For example, the calculated thermal power of the device will be equal to 100 W / m 2 . This output power can provide heating elements with a temperature controller. For cast-iron heating radiators with an indicator of 2500 W, these two devices together are able to heat an area of 25 m 2 . Let's say the average power that will be consumed by the system is 1.5 kW. And this means that 1.5 kW / h x 24 h = 36 kW * h will be spent per day. If you translate this data into money, then at average current tariffs in the Russian Federation it will cost about 36 x 3.8 = 166.8 rubles.
The principle of operation of the heating element
Heating elements for aluminum heating radiators with a thermostat or for cast-iron are considered the most effective devices. This invention will help the owners to control the temperature in the room, and will also protect the heating element from its possible overheating.
In such systems where this device is installed, water or oil can be used as a coolant. However, if you consider that the installation of the heating element will be carried out directly in the heating battery, then usually water is selected. The principle of operation of these devices is relatively simple.
After the spiral is connected to the network and mounted inside the battery, it begins to heat up, giving its thermal energy to the coolant. If the element has a regulator, then there will be the possibility of choosing the set temperature. When the temperature in the system reaches the set level, the electric circuit will be open, which will lead to the shutdown of the heater. Naturally, when the water in the system begins to fall below a predetermined level, the device will automatically turn on and heat it. Such work will lead to significant savings in electricity and will be able to keep the whole house warm.
Device mounting
Installing a heater in a heating radiator is a fairly simple procedure, which proceeds according to the following plan.
Any of the plugs on the heating radiator is turned away, and instead the heating element is screwed on. It is important that the joint is tight so that water does not leak out of the system. To do this, you can use a rubber gasket. Here it is worth adding that it is best to fasten the heating devices instead of the bottom plug. Such a recommendation has a logical rationale. The fact is that with this method of installation, heated water will rise up, but cold water will fall down. This scheme provides maximum efficiency of the device. The installation procedure must be carried out in each room on one of the radiators. It is also important to note that the installation must take place before the heating season begins.
Device application
There are several rules that will increase the life of the heater for a heating radiator:
- The first rule concerns installation. When mounting the structure, do not over tighten the nuts or fasteners of the device itself. The metal is very brittle and is quite capable of bursting from excessive force.
- The device must only be turned on when water is already in the battery. Otherwise, when the heated heating element comes into contact with cold water, a thermal explosion will occur, which will damage not only the device itself, but also, most likely, the radiator.
- During operation of this appliance, scale will accumulate on its surface, which must be periodically cleaned. The cleaning schedule is approximately every three months. It is very important to monitor the thickness of the scale layer, since if it exceeds 2 mm, then the heat transfer will decrease and the unit will fail.
The choice of heating elements
If there is a need to purchase a heater for heating radiators, you must be guided by the diameter of home radiators. Another important selection parameter is the power of the product. When selecting a product, they are usually guided by the following rules:
- Power is 20 W / m 3 . This is enough to install a heater for heating radiators only in new buildings in which the insulation is quite high.
- Power is 30 W / m 3 . This indicator is enough for installation in those apartments that are equipped with plastic windows, and the floor and walls have additional thermal insulation.
- Power is 40-50 W / m 3 . Such a power of the heating element allows it to be used in old houses, in which either there is no or very poor thermal insulation.
The installation of a heating element for heating radiators is the most optimal option for creating the desired temperature conditions in the room. If you compare such devices with something else, you can cite an oil heater as an example, but the heater has still more advantages. This device is able to warm up each room in the apartment faster and more evenly than a heater.
Use of aggregates
There are several situations in which the installation of a heater for a heating radiator is considered the most appropriate measure.
- Very often, such devices are used in heating systems without connecting to the main. However, for the efficient operation of this type of unit, it must have the ability to control power.
- Sometimes this device may be part of an electric boiler. It is also worth noting that if the purchase of a factory heating element is too expensive, then you can do it yourself. In this case, as a heating element, it is best to use a heater, which is mounted in the heating boiler itself. The difference between such devices is that their power is much higher, and by themselves they are designed to work under a voltage of 380 V.
Types of heating elements
Currently, two types of these units can be found on the market. They can be single or double. It is important to note that the choice of the type of heating element depends on the size of the radiator on which it will be mounted. Models of units can be from 0.3 kW to 6 kW. In addition, some manufacturers of these devices add features such as:
- Antifreeze. The presence of this mode allows you to set the heater in a mode of operation that will allow you to maintain a certain temperature so that the pipes do not freeze. In this mode of operation, electricity consumption is minimal.
- Turbo heating. This property allows you to force a rise in temperature in a particular room. In addition, the temperature regulator in this type of device is equipped with a function that will allow you to change the intensity of heating of the coolant.
TEN and operating heating
You can use this device as an additional device for heating water. If the unit will be used in this way, then it is necessary to take into account such a factor as the hydraulic pressure of water, which will change with the passage of the radiator. Due to the fact that the diameter for the passage of water in such places is smaller, it is recommended to install a pump with more power.
It is worth noting that if you connect a heating radiator to the system, then the subsequent installation of the heater will no longer be possible. To carry out the installation of this device, you will have to completely change the connection diagram to the top or install a heating device in the upper part, which is not recommended by specialists.
Most often, installation is carried out in old cast-iron radiators. However, before proceeding with this step, it is necessary to determine the thread direction of the nozzle, and also compare the diameter. If all parameters are suitable, then further everything, in principle, is simple:
- the coolant is drained, since the installation of the device in the radiator in the presence of water in it is prohibited;
- the angle of the battery is checked, since even with the slightest deviation, air jams will most likely form;
- installation of the heating element in the pipe;
- installation of a temperature control unit, if any.
If we talk about this device in general, then it justifies itself perfectly in systems that have problems with heat supply.