To create a comfortable microclimate in an apartment or house, sometimes there is not enough central heating. As an alternative method, electric convectors can be used, which are allowed to be installed not only in residential premises, but also in summer houses, pavilions, garages and stalls.
Why do I need a thermostat
You can adjust the convector temperature using a special controller. Central heating radiators and electric convectors have long entered the competition, and in this struggle the latter remain a clear advantage. They can be installed in any convenient place without interfering with movement around the apartment. Modern models can easily fit into any interior. This cannot be said of water or electric radiators, which sometimes look bulky.
Electric convector selection options
Electric heating convectors with a temperature regulator should be selected according to certain parameters, among them it should be highlighted:
- power;
- a kind of heating element;
- a kind of temperature controller;
- installation method;
- design features;
- protective systems;
- additional features.
More about options
Like other electric heaters described in the article differ primarily in power. The more impressive this parameter is, the faster the equipment can warm up the room. If you are considering electric heating convectors with a wall thermostat, it is recommended that you read the reviews about them first. So, for home conditions, you should use equipment whose power varies from 0.3 to 3 kW. For the right choice, you should calculate the parameter individually. For every 10 m 2, 1 kW will be consumed. If the house has gas or water heating, then 0.5 kW is enough for heating the same area.
About choosing a device by power
Experts advise you to choose electric heating convectors with a temperature controller so that their power is about 15% more than what the room area requires. So you can set the intensity of work and save energy. As an example of low-power equipment, it is worth considering a convector of the BALLU BEC / EZER-1000 brand, for which you will have to pay 2500 rubles. The power of this device is 1 kW. This indicates that the device can be installed in a room with a maximum area of 15 m 2 . As additional features, a timer, electronic control, as well as a temperature regulator should be highlighted.
Model selection by location
Electric heating convectors with a temperature controller can be floor, wall, floor and universal. In the first case, we are talking about equipment, the kit of which includes brackets. If you want to choose a floor device, you can use the legs on wheels. The advantages of wall mounted units are that the wires will not get tangled underfoot, while the case will not occupy free space in the room. All that will be necessary is to fix the case to the wall and connect the device to the network. These convectors are better to choose for apartments that do not have much space.
If you prefer the floor version, the unit will be characterized by mobility, but the disadvantage is that the equipment will occupy free space. An example of wall-mounted equipment is the ATLANTIC F117 DESIGN 500W model, which costs 3300 rubles. This wall-mounted unit has a power of 500 W and is intended for a room with an area of 5 m 2 . You can control the modes using the electronic unit. As additional positive features, the presence of a temperature regulator and an economical mode should be highlighted. The device weighs only 3,594 kg, which allows you to install it even on a light partition.
Choice of device by type of heating element
Electric heating convectors with a temperature controller can be equipped with different heating elements, namely:
- monolithic;
- tubular;
- needle-shaped.
The latter option is simpler and cheaper, but its use can be dangerous, because the design heats up and is very fragile. Such products, as practice shows, pretty soon fail, so they do not justify their value.
More reliable are tubular heaters, which have an average cost compared to needle ones. The only drawback is the noise at the beginning of work, because when heated, the tube crackles a little. The remaining option is the most durable and efficient, but also has the highest cost.
As an example of a device with a tubular heater, we can consider a model of the ELECTROLUX ECH / R-1500 E brand, the cost of which is 4700 rubles. The power of the equipment is 1.5 kW, and you can use the device on an area within 15 m 2 . The design requires a timer, and you can control the unit using the electronic unit. The material of the heater is aluminum, and the weight of the device is 4.3 kg. This outdoor equipment has an intelligent control unit, an aerodynamic system, shutters and an overheat protection sensor. Such electric heating convectors with a floor thermostat are universal in terms of installation in the room, since they can be placed not only on the floor, but also on the wall. To implement the latter condition, the manufacturer supplies a wall mount in the kit.
Model selection by type of temperature controller
The temperature regulator is necessary for the device so that the user has the opportunity to control the operation of the heater. With it, you can set the temperature in the room, which will be maintained throughout the entire operation time. If the room gets warmer, the regulator will turn off the device, which will save energy.
Today you can meet convectors with one of two types of temperature regulators. They can be electronic or mechanical. We choose wall-mounted electric heating convectors with a temperature controller, depending on the cost and capabilities. For example, mechanical thermostats are cheaper and have a simple design. You can change the temperature using the step switch. The disadvantage is the short service life and temperature error, which sometimes reaches 3 ° C. The advantage is that such thermostats do not fail with voltage drops.
Electric heating convectors with a temperature regulator, reviews of which often enough are only positive, can also have electronic nodes for temperature adjustment. This functionality allows you to set the temperature at a certain level. Such an addition helps save energy when it makes no sense to spend money on heating. The error in this case is 0.1%, which is a definite plus. The disadvantages are expressed in the high cost of such equipment and the failure of the thermostat during voltage drops.
An example of equipment with an electronic thermostat is the BALLU BEP / EXT-1500 Plaza EXT model, which costs 5,200 rubles. You can install the unit not only on the floor, but also on the wall. He will be able to warm the room, the area of which reaches 20 m 2 .
Reviews of some convectors
Electric convectors with a temperature regulator wall Nobo, according to users, are able to work, precisely maintaining the set temperature. The models of this series have a high class of protection against overheating and overloads in the electrical network. As buyers emphasize, all models are designed so that the maximum panel temperature does not exceed 90 ° C. This eliminates the risk of burns.
No less technologically advanced are French electric heating convectors with a wall thermostat. As an example, consider the model Thermor Evidence 2 Elec 750, whose power is 750 watts. According to customers, this is enough for an area of 10 m 2 .