Today, infrared heaters are very popular. They differ in the installation method, operation features and price. However, their principle of operation is similar. These are quite economical electrical appliances used for heating various rooms.
To reduce energy consumption and to be able to control the heating temperature in the room, various temperature controllers are used. On sale are many models of such equipment. How to connect the thermostat to an infrared heater will be discussed in detail in the article.
Varieties of infrared heaters
Today, infrared heaters are in high demand. This is an effective equipment that can quickly heat a room to the required temperature. The principle of their work is simple. The rays emitted by the heater are similar to the heat from the sun. They heat objects indoors. At the same time, the air remains cool.
Many buyers of such devices have the question: why do we need a heating control unit, is it possible to connect an infrared heater without a thermostat? Theoretically presented equipment can work without a regulator. However, when it is included in the circuit, it is possible to create optimal microclimate conditions in the room.
Infrared heaters can be mounted on walls, ceiling or mounted under the floor covering (infrared film). Each of the presented varieties has its own characteristics. However, the general principle is similar.
Why do I need a thermostat?
Many private property owners have heard the claim that infrared heaters are highly energy efficient. This allows you to reduce the cost of paying for electricity and at the same time create comfortable indoor conditions.
However, this statement will not always be true. Most often, when arranging a system of infrared heaters, the master makes a power reserve, which allows for high-quality heating even in very severe frosts. However, when it gets warmer outside, some of the electricity is wasted. In this case, the heater permanently operates at full power, consuming, for example, 2 kW of electricity per hour declared by the manufacturer.
To be able to adjust the temperature in the room, special devices are used. The products of Terneo, Devi, Ballu are in great demand. How to connect an infrared heater to a temperature regulator, is described by the manufacturer's instructions. When installing this device, you can save up to 30% of energy resources.
Mechanical thermostats
To understand how to properly connect the infrared heater to the thermostat, you need to understand the principle of the device and the operation of the equipment presented. All temperature controllers can be divided into mechanical and electronic. The first option has an on and off button, a wheel for adjusting the room temperature and a light indicator.
When the room temperature rises to a level set by the user, the mechanism will disconnect the circuit. Electricity will cease to flow to the heater. For a while he is in the off state. As soon as the room temperature drops by 1 º, the thermostat will turn on the infrared heater again.
Electronic temperature controller
Electronic appliances are more sophisticated equipment. They have a display on which all the necessary information is displayed. Such devices can be programmable and non-programmable.
In the first case, the user can set the time ranges in which heating in the room will be relevant. When all homeworkers go about their business during the day, the thermostat maintains minimal heating in the room.
Mounting Features
To understand the features of mounting the control device, we can consider, for example, how to connect the Balu thermostat to an infrared heater. Almost all mechanical varieties have the same installation principle.
The presented temperature controller is designed for a maximum load of 16 A (3.5 kW). This means that it is possible to connect one or several heaters to it, which in total have a rated power consumption of up to 3.5 kW (or better even less). There is a sensor in the thermostat housing. It measures the level of heating in the room.
In order for the device to fulfill the functions assigned to it in full, it is necessary to comply with all the manufacturer's recommendations for installation. The temperature regulator must be installed at a distance of 1.5 m from the floor. In this case, a layer of insulation material must be placed under it. It is forbidden to cover the device with curtains, furniture and other objects that impede the flow of air to the regulator.
Wiring diagram
Considering how to connect an infrared heater through a thermostat, it should be said that it can work from an outlet. To do this, these objects are connected in series. The temperature regulator is most often installed near a power outlet. A wire will leave from it, which must withstand the total load of the line heaters.
It should be noted that when operating the outlet, it is necessary to carefully calculate the total power consumed by the infrared device. If it reaches 2 kW, other devices cannot be plugged into an outlet. In this case, it is better to maintain a separate line for connecting the thermostat from the central distribution panel.
If infrared heaters have a total rated power of up to 1.5 kW, a device for controlling heating is installed from the outlet. It has 4 terminals on the back. Two of them are designed to connect wires from the network (“phase” and “zero”), and the other two are for heater wires.
Remote sensor model
The recommendations listed above will help you understand how to connect a ceiling infrared heater to a thermostat . This principle also applies to almost all appliances that are installed on walls or ceilings. However, with an infrared heater, which is located in the floor, the situation is different.
In this case, a special heating film is placed under the laminate or linoleum. This system is called "warm floor". It is more effective than wall or ceiling heaters. To control its heating, most often used thermostats with a remote sensor.
In this case, another wire will depart from the device. A small temperature sensor will be installed at its end. It must be mounted directly next to the film in the floor. For rooms with medium and small area, infrared floor heating can be connected from the outlet. Its power rarely exceeds 1.5 kW.
Thermostat diagram with remote sensor
When studying how to connect a temperature controller to an infrared heater , it is necessary to take into account several nuances when installing a model with an external sensor. On the reverse side of such a device there will already be not 4, but 6 terminals. In this case, the installation of the thermostat can be performed at a level not lower than 0.5 m from the floor.
Under the design of the thermostat, you do not need to lay insulation material. Temperature will be measured directly in the floor area. As in the previous version of devices without an external sensor, 2 terminals are designed to connect the "phase" and "zero" from the mains.
Two more terminals are intended for summing wires from an infrared heat-insulated floor. Two additional terminals are needed for connecting the sensor wires. In this case, the polarity can not be respected. If you connect the remaining wires, you will need to connect each wire to the corresponding socket.
Some nuances
Considering the technology of how to connect the thermostat to an infrared heater , you should pay attention to a few more nuances. If desired, models of control devices with a remote sensor can also be installed in rooms with wall or ceiling heating appliances. In this case, you can take the measuring device to a suitable place in the room. In this case, the thermostat can be hidden behind the curtains. In this case, temperature control will be carried out more correctly, more precisely than when installing a device with a sensor integrated in the housing.
It should also be noted that both overhead and mortise models of temperature regulators are on sale. For those who do not want to drill a hole for a socket, it is recommended to purchase the first type of device. True, such thermostats look more massive. They rise above the surface of the wall.
Mortise thermostats are known for greater aesthetics. In the case of installing the device near a power outlet, you will need to turn off the power to the line and drill another hole the size of a socket over it.
Having considered how to connect the thermostat to the infrared heater, you can independently perform this work.