Heating a room of 15 sq. m. An overview of the types of electric heaters, recommendations for choosing based on the purpose of the room
The most important characteristic of any thermal heater is power.
It depends on the area for which the heater is designed. For an unheated room with good thermal insulation, about 1 kW per 25-27 m3 is required (for typical apartments - 1 kW per 10 m3 with a standard ceiling height of 2.50 m).
For a dwelling with central heating, it is enough electric heater with a power of 1.0-1.5 kW per room with an area of 20-25 m3.
Majority modern heaters air have built-in thermostats that automatically maintain the set temperature. As a rule, thermostats do not have a degree scale, they work on the principle of more - less. An important characteristic heaters is also their type.
Oil radiator
One of the most popular household heaters. They have a power of 1.0 to 2.5 kW and are used in apartments, offices, and cottages.
Principle of operation:
Inside a sealed metal case filled with mineral oil, there is an electric coil. When heated, it transfers its heat to the oil, and it, in turn, to the metal case, and then to the air. Its outer surface consists of several sections (ribs) - the greater their number, the greater the heat transfer, with equal powers. The heater maintains the set temperature in the room and automatically turns off in case of overheating. As soon as the temperature starts to drop, it turns on.
Advantages:
not heat housing heating (about 60 ° C), due to which oxygen is not “burned” fireproof, silent due to the thermostat and timer some models do not require shutdown high mobility (the presence of wheels makes it easy to move them from room to room)
Flaws:
relatively long heating of the room (however, they retain heat longer), the surface temperature of the radiator (does not allow you to freely touch it), relatively large dimensions
Convector
By performance characteristics look like oil radiator.
They are used in apartments, offices, cottages, houses, and can also be used as the main heating system. Suitable for any premises. All models of Noirot convectors have class II electrical protection, do not require a special connection to the mains and do not need grounding, which allows them to be left on 24 hours a day, they are not afraid of moisture (the possibility of installation in bathrooms and bathrooms) . With strict observance of the operating rules, any possibility of ignition is excluded.
Principle of operation:
The heating of the room using a convector occurs due to the passage of air through the heating elements. The circulation is due to different density cold and warm air: cold air, heating up, rises, and the next batch falls in its place. After which the process is repeated. The heating element has a large area and a low heating temperature. Therefore, the lower the convector is installed, the more efficient its operation. There are floor and wall convectors. Convectors are convenient to use if there is a timer, “switch-on delay” functions
Advantages:
Low body heating temperature (about 60°C), due to which oxygen is not “burned” thanks to the thermostat, they do not require shutdown high mobility (the presence of wheels makes it easy to move them from room to room) Fireproof. Silent. Possibility of mounting on any wall. High efficiency 99%. Rapid heating of the room. Protected from overheating. Possibility of programming, convectors can be combined into a system electric heating. Small dimensions. Smooth, flat body.
Flaws:NO
What is the difference between an electronic thermostat and a mechanical one?
The advantages of an electronic thermostat are obvious.
Firstly, it is the most accurate to date. The set temperature is maintained with an accuracy of 0.1 degrees. Heaters with a mechanical thermostat maintain the temperature with an accuracy of 1 to 3 degrees. Moreover, over time, the accuracy of the mechanical thermostat decreases. The temperature jumps in the room and the well-being of a person depend on the accuracy of the thermostat, because our body detects temperature changes even by 1 degree.
Secondly, The electronic thermostat is absolutely silent.
Thirdly, The electronic thermostat lasts much longer. So if you want the greatest comfort when using the heater, choose a model with an electronic thermostat.
And fourthly the electric thermostat has the advantage of more accurate temperature control. And its reliability is higher if the drops in the network are not more than those allowed by the passport. Network fluctuations often happen in Ukraine, but in the West they don’t know anything about them.
We will also answer some questions about convectors frequently asked by our customers:
ATinterview: Is there a difference in the efficiency of high and low convectors?
Answer: Hardly ever. Thermal efficiency determines the power of the device.
Question: How safe are convectors? Can they be left unattended?
Answer: Absolutely safe and designed specifically for battery life. Each device has an overheating sensor that will turn off the device in case of a fire hazard.
Question: I want to buy a device with a power of 1 kW. To what temperature will it heat my room?
Answer: The goal is set incorrectly. The convector will heat the room to the temperature you need, IF it is chosen correctly. Accordingly, you need to choose the power, based on what you want to get. 1 kW is enough to heat a room with an area of 10-12 sq.m. In this case, you can set ANY temperature within 5 - 30 C. The room is larger - it means that the power of the devices should be greater.
Question: I have a dacha of 50 sq.m. allocated 3 kW. How can I warm it up?
Answer: Taking into account the fact that in any country house there are also electrical appliances (kettle, TV, electric stove, etc.) - the answer is not comforting: "You will be cool." For 50 sq.m. you need 4.5-5 kW of heating power. Otherwise it won't work. Consider additional sources of heating.
Question: Than convectors for 300 UAH. differ from convectors for 1000 UAH.
Answer: As in any household appliances: the main difference is efficiency (for example, Noirot connectors have an efficiency of 99%), differences in the country of production (and this is reliability, build quality and the components themselves), in the warranty period, additional functions (programming, communication). In addition, the price is 1000 UAH. for the convector is far from the limit. There are models of Campa heaters with an exclusive design, costing $1000-$3000.
Question: How to maintain a positive temperature in the house with minimal electricity consumption?
Answer: Almost every electric convector has an anti-freeze mode. When it is turned on, the device will maintain a temperature of 5-7 C, which is enough to prevent freezing at home.
Question:Help me choose a bathroom heater
.
The bathroom is the most "intimate" place in the house, where a person performs sanitary and hygienic procedures, taking an invigorating, contrast shower in the morning and a warm, soothing bath in the evening. Staying one on one with ourselves, we put in order not only our body, but also our thoughts, tuning in to a business mood or, on the contrary, shaking off the load of problems that have accumulated during the day. An important point in the perception of a person is not only the design of the room, but also the microclimate in it. Therefore, the bathroom should be warm and comfortable, but a conventional heater cannot be installed in a room with such high humidity. The optimal solution to this problem is NOIROT electric heaters - highly efficient, compact and safe to use. heating appliances. With them, the design of the bathroom will become even more attractive, and soft and gentle warmth will create a feeling of complete harmony.
All NOIROT heaters have class II electrical protection, do not require a special connection to the mains and do not need grounding, which allows them to be left on 24 hours a day. With strict observance of the operating rules, any possibility of ignition is excluded.
All NOIROT models are splash-proof (IP 24) and can be used even in wet areas.
Answer t: We recommend the following heaters NOIROT: Corelia, Helios CS, Royat 2, CNX-2 Spot E III.
Electronic automation NOIROT withstands voltage drops from 150 V to 242 V, which is most important with frequent "jumps" in voltage. In case of possible interruptions in the power supply, the heaters have an auto-restart function that restores the operation of the device in the previous mode.
Electric heaters (convectors) are used as the main and additional heating country houses, city apartments, glazed balconies, winter gardens, etc., as well as in pavilions, stalls and other places where electric heating is the only possible option.
Question: Why don't you have oil heaters? It's also a convector!
Answer t: Once popular in the CIS, Ukraine oil heaters have a different principle of operation and are not convectors. They have a number of significant drawbacks that electric convectors do not have. Because we strive to offer our customers only the very best, we have had to move away from oil heaters. We advise you to consider this type of device only in the case of an extremely limited budget.
The simplest and most affordable heating device. It is used to quickly warm up small rooms. They have a power of 2.0-2.5 kW. Compared to an oil cooler and a convector, they have small dimensions. Fan heaters can be placed on the floor, on the table, and can also be attached to the wall.
Principle of operation:
In the fan heater, the air is heated by a hot electric coil and is supplied by a fan to the heating zone. The temperature of the open electric coil is about 80°C, and the air at the outlet of the fan heater is always up to 20°C. To improve the uniformity of space heating, the fan rotates in the housing. The housing of the fan heater is usually made of plastic.
Advantages:
They heat the air very quickly and distribute it throughout the room. Shut off in case of a fall. Protected from overheating. Thanks to the thermostat, the set temperature is regulated and does not require shutdown. Compact and aesthetic.
Flaws:
Noise emitted during operation at high speeds. Air pollution due to the combustion of oxygen and dust particles. Clogged dust, burning on a hot spiral, can emit an unpleasant odor
Infrared heater
The most advanced and economical heating devices are infrared heaters. A quartz emitter is more suitable for temporary heating in case you do not need to heat the whole room.
Principle of operation:
An infrared heater, unlike traditional heaters, does not heat the air, but nearby objects. He radiates thermal energy(like the sun), which is absorbed by surrounding surfaces (floor, walls, furniture, etc.) and people. Infrared heaters allow you to create zones with local heating and save energy. They heat objects and do not heat the air. Infrared heaters are designed for suspended ceilings, heating residential and non-residential premises, as well as people in open areas. They are used to heat bathrooms and shower rooms, terraces, balconies, cafes and restaurants.
Advantages: energy saving, silent, when installed above the workplace, infrared ray heating provides comfortable conditions for a working person without heating the entire room.
Recommendations for use:
Avoid hitting a jet of water on a heated coil (fan heaters);
Avoid clogging the machine with dust;
The lower the convector is located, the more efficient its work;
Do not cover the operating device;
Do not use clothes dryers
Do not use the device in wet areas (shower, bathroom, swimming pool);
the appliance must only be in a vertical position (oil cooler);
Do not place the oil cooler near fusible items and at a distance of at least 50 cm from furniture.
Heating with inverter air conditioners
Heating systems based on the use of a heat pump are environmentally friendly, as they work without burning fuel and do not produce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, they are characterized by efficiency: when supplied to the heat pump, for example, 1 kW of electricity, depending on the operating mode and operating conditions, it provides up to 3 - 5 kW of thermal energy. Among the advantages of a heat pump indicate a reduction in capital costs due to the absence of gas communications, an increase in home safety due to the absence of explosive gas, the possibility of simultaneously obtaining heating, hot water supply and air conditioning from one installation. Systems that transfer heat in the opposite direction are often referred to as heat pumps.
Advantages:
Modern air conditioners are able not only to effectively cope with their historically main task - to cool the air in the premises, but also to warm it up. If over the past ten years hundreds of articles have been written on the Internet on the topic “do not turn on the air conditioner in winter”, today the situation is changing. Manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin (Japan) have taught their air conditioners to heat up confidently even at outdoor temperatures down to -25C.
What does this give the buyer? We, as professional sellers of air conditioners, finally began to hear such questions in a conversation with buyers:
"We need to warm up in winter, I want to install an air conditioner, what do you recommend?"Let's look into this issue.
Principle of operation heat pump operation :
The air conditioner works on the principle of a heat pump, which is fundamentally different from the principle of operation of any electric heater. A heat pump is able to "pump" heat from outside to inside. This means that even at sub-zero outside temperatures, it is possible to take heat from the atmospheric air. How it works? Let's imagine this effect: spilling a little cologne or alcohol on your hand. What will we feel? The hand will immediately become cold. What happened? Alcohol evaporates very quickly, taking away heat. But there is also a reverse process. If you force the liquid to condense, it will bring heat with its particles. In nature, this process is almost never found in an explicit, at least somewhat noticeable form without instruments. But experts have recreated this process in the air conditioner. Freon under high pressure was forced to condense in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, which is why it warms up great (up to 60-80 degrees). Then the liquid freon is sent to the outdoor unit, where it must again turn into a gas under conditions of a greatly reduced pressure, that is, evaporate. It is quite difficult to make freon boil in the outdoor unit, collecting heat from atmospheric air, but for modern scientists it turned out to be only a problem of time.
Why do you need an air conditioner in winter and how to use it? What can a potential buyer of a “heating” split system expect today? It is not necessary yet to design an independent heating system country house based on conditioners. Still, it is quite controversial economically, and temperatures in winter can drop below minus twenty. But in a city apartment - it's a completely different matter.
Now for the practical side of things. Electricity consumption. Inverter air conditioners capable of heating today at very low temperatures have a very high EER ratio, showing the ratio of heat generated to electricity consumed. In practice, this is a more familiar efficiency (efficiency factor). So this figure today exceeds 4. This means that by spending only two hundred and fifty watts, we get more than a kilowatt of heat! That's more than four times more economical than any electric heater! It's profitable? Yes!
Flaws: Only one - the high cost of equipment compared to others heating appliances.
WHAT TO CHOOSE? Let's summarize
Oil coolers ideal for heating apartments. Silence, efficiency and safety are very important here. One heater is enough to heat a hall or bedroom. Oil-filled radiators are equipped with wheels and can be easily moved from room to room. For the summer, the oil cooler can simply be taken out to the barn or put in the pantry.
Convectors Low body heating temperature (about 60°C), due to which oxygen is not “burned” thanks to the thermostat, they do not require shutdown high mobility (the presence of wheels makes it easy to move them from room to room) Fireproof. Silent. Possibility of mounting on any wall. High efficiency 99%. Rapid heating of the room. Protected from overheating. Possibility of programming, convectors can be combined into an electric heating system. Small dimensions. Smooth, flat body. No cons, just high price.
fan heaters provide the highest rate of heating the room, but create increased noise at high speeds, and models with an open coil have another drawback: they burn oxygen and pollute the air with combustion products.
infrared quartz emitters are used to heat certain areas of the room. They can warm up your work space.
Air-to-air heat pumps or inverter air conditioners Provide high speed heating of the room. Suitable for heating any room. High efficiency when supplied to the heat pump, for example, 1 kW of electricity, depending on the mode of operation and operating conditions, it provides up to 3 - 5 kW of thermal energy. A heat pump is by far the most economical way to heat your home. It has only one drawback - the high cost of equipment compared to other heating devices.
Electro convector
How many questions on the subject of heaters can be found today on Internet forums! What types of them exist, what is better than how they differ from each other, but will it be effective if only electric heaters are installed in the house? And so on and so forth.
There is not enough time to answer all the questions. Therefore, we will try to understand in general existing types of these devices and conduct their comparative analysis, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages.
First, it should be noted that electric heaters are very convenient, inexpensive, and in some cases the only option for heating a country house. It's no secret that in most suburban settlements there is no gas, and the use of alternative water heating systems requires large start-up capital. They will be used to buy a heating boiler, radiators, pipes and other auxiliary elements. And this is not within the power of all suburban developers.
Therefore, in some cases, the use is the best option, which does not require installation, permits, or complex electrical connection networks. In addition, it is a completely safe heating system. We add here the ease of operation, which most often consists in turning the device on and off. All this together makes electric heaters significant players in the heating equipment market, especially when it comes to country cottages and summer cottages.
Requirements for an electrical heating system
There are only four main requirements:
- Safety;
- Reliability in work;
- Ease of installation and operation;
- Profitability.
All of them must be observed in the device that you have your eye on.
But, choosing a specific model, you must first decide for what purposes this device is purchased by you. Perhaps it is needed as the main type of heating. Or you will use it to quickly warm up the room - while the main view heating system gain full power. Or maybe these devices are necessary to maintain the temperature at the moment when the main one suddenly fails. And there are a lot of such options.
Types of heaters
Panel type heater
Let's consider each type separately, having previously listed them. Allocate:
- Electric convectors.
- Infrared heaters.
- Oil heaters.
- Fan heaters.
Electric convectors
Currently, manufacturers offer three models of this device:
- convection type
- floor
- universal
The principle of operation of this device is based on the convection of air, which enters the heating element through the lower slots of the housing, takes required heat and exits through special shutters on the top of the case.
Safe heating
All models of convectors are equipped with heat release regulators, as well as a sensor that controls the air temperature inside the room. The required temperature is set by the regulator, and the sensor reacts to its change. If the temperature inside the room is higher than the set value, the sensor turns off the electric current. And vice versa - when the temperature drops, the device automatically turns on.
Modern models electric convectors equipped with special options that are responsible for the safe operation of the device. For example, double insulation of current-carrying elements, protection against overheating and moisture.
Some brands have a special tipping sensor. Such devices have a lot of advantages. This includes safety, high efficiency, and ease of installation. They have small overall dimensions, warm rooms well and maintain optimal temperature regime. They can be used both as the main type of heating system, and as an auxiliary one.
The bulk of the models of electric convectors are mounted on the wall, and this is not a problem at all. This requires two holes on which a special bracket is installed. And a convector is already put on it. By the way, such devices can be installed in a single system, controlling and adjusting it using a remote control.
Infrared heaters
Safe installation of infrared heaters
This type of electric heaters is divided into long-wave (heating degree 200-250 C), light spectrum devices (can be heated up to +600 C) and carbon, which are usually placed in open areas.
More often in everyday life, long-wave heaters are used, which are chosen according to the size of the heated room. They must have a certain power, and are usually fixed to the wall. That is, in fact, it is a wall-mounted electric heater.
If we consider the advantages of this device, then it is necessary to note the high speed of the start of heating and the optimal temperature in the zone of radiation. But if you leave this zone, then immediately there is a feeling of cold. And this is a significant disadvantage.
Usually in everyday life, infrared heaters are installed for heating small rooms or necessary areas in large rooms. Many have them on the ceiling. It should be noted that if you enter the zone of its action, then your head begins to heat up quickly, while the rest of the body remains cool.
The uniqueness of this type of heater lies in the fact that infrared waves do not heat the surrounding air. They heat objects in the radiation zone. And the heat already emanating from the objects warms the air and the room itself. So it is impossible to use such heaters as the main heating system of the house.
Oil heaters
oil heater
This type of electric heater is the most popular all over the world. It is simple in design and easy to operate. In addition, it is very easy to install it anywhere. The main thing is the presence of a network connection.
In addition, oil heaters have a high safety record. All models are equipped with sensors that turn off the device if it overheats or tips over.
However, there are also disadvantages:
- First, it is the high temperature of the case. It is very easy to get burned on it, so you need to place the device so that it is inaccessible to children.
- Second, inertia. After switching on and before dialing optimal temperature air in the room passes 15-20 minutes.
- Thirdly, the temperature near the heater is much higher than in other parts of the room. Some manufacturers offer models with a built-in fan, but this significantly increases their cost.
- Fourth, it's a lot of weight. The radiator housing is made of metal, plus the weight of the oil contained in it. Such devices are produced only in the outdoor version.
Thermal fans
Thermal fans
Fan heaters work on the principle of moving hot air throughout the room with the help of a fan built into the device. With their help, the air inside the rooms quickly heats up. Household models are lightweight, have overall dimensions, they are mobile, efficiently heat the space and are very cheap compared to other types.
Their disadvantages include fan noise and low fire safety. In addition, these devices should not be left unattended.
According to the type of heating element, thermal fans are divided into spiral and ceramic. The former reduce the cost of the device, but at the same time the element itself burns oxygen. The latter are much more expensive, but they last a long time and do not burn oxygen. Fan heaters with a power of over 2.0 kilowatts are called heat guns.
So, all types of electric heaters are considered. Which one to choose and for what purpose, it's up to you. Here it is important to note one more point, which concerns the location of the device. If is selected, then you can save some space. If it is outdoor, then you will have to accurately fit it into the interior design of the room. After all, in modern world this is an important factor.
Faced with the repair of the convection mikathermal heater BIMATEK PH300 (appearance in the photo below), I decided to search the Internet for reference information on this, as they say everywhere, the latest achievement in the field of home heaters. I didn’t find anything concrete, but I read a lot of fiction and tales about heaters. I decided to write an article to dispel some misconceptions about electric heaters that have no physical basis.
In our country, the beginning heating season, contrary to common sense and medical indications, begins when the average daily air temperature outside the window drops below 8˚С. During this cold season, indoor temperatures drop below 18˚C. People have to pull on warm clothes, but this still does not save them from the cold and colds. The lucky ones with the system individual heating apartments are not so many, so to create comfortable living conditions, most people are forced to use electric heaters. The issue of space heating is especially acute if the family has small children and the elderly.
There is a huge selection of electric heaters on the market. In order to buy exactly the one that suits your case in the best way, you need to understand what types of electric heaters are, what are their differences, advantages and disadvantages. Then in the store you will only have to decide on the appearance of the heater.
Myths about electric heaters
Electric heaters dry the air
In the operating instructions for electric heaters, they sometimes write that this model of an electric heater does not dry the air, and this is absolutely true. No heaters (including batteries) central heating), which would dry the air, since during operation, the heaters do not absorb water from the air, but only emit heat. But, nevertheless, due to the operation of heaters, the air becomes drier, and there is an explanation for this.
Why is the air getting drier
Everyone knows that air humidity affects the condition of the skin and respiratory tract of a person. When the air humidity is below 40%, the skin dries up, when the humidity is more than 60%, the skin absorbs excess water and becomes waterlogged, when the humidity is high, it is more difficult for a person to breathe. But rarely does anyone know how temperature affects air humidity. I'll try to explain.
Fill one glass cold water, and the other - boiling water. Steam will come out of a glass of boiling water, but no steam will come out of a glass of cold water. This simple experiment shows that as the temperature rises, the amount of water vapor that can form in a room increases. Similarly, if the air saturated with water vapor is cooled, then the “excess” water will condense from the air in the form of droplets.
For this reason, rain, fog and dew occur. As warm, moist air rises into the cold upper atmosphere, it cools and excess water from the air is released as raindrops.
Glasses, when entering from the street into a warm room, also fog up for this reason. The air, in contact with the cold glass lenses of the glasses, is cooled, and the water released from it is deposited on the surface of the glass lenses in the form of small drops.
In order to clearly see what the maximum amount of water can be contained in one cubic meter of air at different temperatures, I will give a table. This humidity is called absolute humidity.
In real conditions, the air is usually not completely saturated with water vapor, but only partially. Therefore, the data from the table is used as a reference point for determining the actual humidity, which is called Relative Humidity. It is reported in the weather forecast, and the value of this humidity is shown by psychrometers (instruments for measuring relative humidity of the air), only the word Relative is omitted.
What is Relative Humidity? Everything is very simple, this is the amount of water that is in the air at a given temperature relative to the maximum possible amount of water, expressed as a percentage.
For example, at an air temperature of 10˚С and a humidity of 50%, the amount of water vapor in one cubic meter of air will be 9.4 / 100 × 50 \u003d 4.7 g. But now you turned on the heater and the air in the room warmed up to 20˚С, and the amount of water in the air has not changed. As a result, the air humidity will not be 50%, as it was before the heater was turned on, but only 27%. Such air is already dry for the comfort of the human body.
Now, I think, it became clear why there is an opinion that any heating device dries the air.
Infrared spiral heater burns oxygen
Such a statement has nothing to do with reality. If the coil of an electric heater burned oxygen, it would quickly burn itself out from intense oxidation. In this case, after an hour or two of operation of the electric heater, there would be nothing left from the spiral, except for ash.
And poor health in people occurs when heated by infrared electric heaters for a completely different reason. The air heated by the hot element of the electric heater rushes upward, thereby providing a new portion of cooled air to the heating element. There is always dust in the air. Getting on a hot heating element along with air, the dust burns out. Combustion products enter the air that a person breathes. As a result, poor health with a headache is guaranteed. Heating the room with an infrared electric heater is especially undesirable if there are people with weak lungs in it.
Therefore, in small rooms, I categorically do not recommend the use of infrared room heaters.
Types of electric heaters
All electric heaters can be divided into four groups:
- infrared
- Convection
- Oily
Infrared electric heaters
Infrared electric heaters used to be very popular. They are simple in design and are a nichrome spiral wound on a ceramic base, or placed in a transparent quartz glass tube. An infrared reflector is installed behind the spiral. To protect a person from accidental contact, a grill is installed in front of the spiral.
Formerly as a heating element in infrared heaters an open nichrome coil served, or a coil placed in a glass tube of quartz glass, as in the photograph. In 2000, the Japanese patented the new kind heating element, which is a carbon fiber heating element placed in a glass quartz tube, from which air is pumped out (in a vacuum). They called him carbon fiber. Such a heating element, according to the manufacturers, has an unlimited service life, which I highly doubt. The disadvantages of carbon fiber heating elements include high cost, impossibility of repair and low mechanical strength, which requires protecting the heater from even minor shocks, not to mention falling. Otherwise, carbon heaters are no different from any other infrared heaters.
A distinctive feature of an infrared electric heater is that it heats not only the air, but also objects located at a small distance from it. It is advisable to use such an electric heater for the rapid heating of a local area in large rooms where a person is located, while it will take a long time and high energy costs to heat the entire volume of air in a large room with a convective or oil-filled electric heater.
The disadvantage of infrared electric heaters, as I wrote above, is the release of a small amount of toxic gases during the combustion of dust on a quartz glass spiral or tube. However, in large rooms and in rooms with drafts, the option of heating a person with an infrared electric heater is the best.
Convection electric heaters
Convection electric heaters appeared a long time ago, and are a heating element located in the housing. The principle of their work is based on air convection. Since warm air is lighter than cold air, it heats up from nichrome coil or heating element, rises, giving way to cold. Classical convection electric heaters are arranged in the same way as infrared heaters, only they do not have a screen reflecting infrared rays.
The photo shows a convection electric heater, which is popularly called the "tram stove". Obviously, electric heaters of this design were first used to heat trams.
Classic convection electric heaters, in which the heaters are heated red-hot, also burn dust and have a bad effect on human health.
More recently, thanks to new technologies, a new generation of convection electric heaters has appeared, in which, instead of the traditional nichrome spiral or heating element, a micathermic heating element is installed. Thanks to the new heating element, it was possible to reduce the surface temperature of the heating element and the heater body to 60°C. This immediately increased the safety of operation, eliminated the combustion of dust and made it possible to significantly reduce the overall dimensions of the electric heaters.
It was possible to achieve insignificant heating of the thermal element due to its large surface. The size of the heating element is only slightly smaller than the size of the electric heater body.
As a result, the amount of heat generated per unit area of the heater decreased, and as a result, the temperature at any point on the surface of the micathermic heating element became below 60°C.
As a rule, micathermic convection electric heaters are equipped with a manual control for setting the value of automatically maintaining the set temperature in the room and several degrees of protection against overheating and falling to the side, which allows them to be left on for a long time without supervision.
Convection mikathermic electric heaters are indispensable for use in children's rooms, since when the heater is touched or knocked over, the possibility of burns or fire is excluded.
Convection electric heaters should be used for long-term space heating.
Oil electric heaters
Another type of room electric heater is oil heaters. They differ from infrared and convection in that the heating element is placed in a sealed housing filled with machine oil, which serves as a coolant from the heating element to the surface of the heater. Appearance oil electric heaters resembles a central heating battery.
Oil heaters began to be produced to improve operational safety. Thanks to the oil, as a mediator of heat transfer from the heating element, it was possible to reduce the temperature of the heater body to a safe value. But oil heaters are safe only when working in a vertical position.
Fan heaters differ from convection heaters in that they have an electric motor with an impeller. The blades of the impeller during its rotation forcibly blow through the electric heating elements, removing the heated air from them in the right direction. Due to the intensive blowing, the heating element does not heat up red-hot and does not burn dust.
The blower allows, with small dimensions of the fan heater, to increase its power up to 3 kW, direct warm air in the right direction and quickly heat the volume of all air in a room up to 30 square meters. The fan heater is irreplaceable for installation of a thermal veil at entrance doors of shops and offices.
The disadvantages of the fan heater include acoustic noise, which is created by the operation of the fan motor, and the spread of dust. And the dust, as you know, consists of skin flakes, pollen from various plants, the remains of insects. Therefore, for people suffering from an allergic reaction to pollen, the use of this type of electric heater is contraindicated.
Electric storage heaters
Storage type electric heaters appeared about 25 years ago, when night and day tariffs for electricity were introduced, and are now widely used in Western Europe.
According to the principle of operation, these room electric heaters do not differ from convection ones. But due to the fact that the heating elements of the storage heater are lined with ceramic or magnesite bricks of high heat capacity, wrapped on the outside with heat-insulating material, the heater, like a thermos, is able to accumulate more heat. At night, when electricity is cheaper, the electric heater accumulates heat, and during the day, with no or little electricity consumption, it heats the room by blowing the room air over the heated stones with the help of a small fan. Accumulative electric heaters with power from 3 to 9 kW are produced.
The programmable microprocessor automatically controls the operation mode of the electric heater, maintaining the set temperature in the room with minimal electricity consumption during the daytime. The greatest economic effect is achieved when heating a room where there are no other methods of heating.
Advantages and disadvantages of electric heaters
Each of the considered types of electric heaters has its own advantages and disadvantages. For the convenience of comparing and choosing an electric heater for heating a particular room, I decided to summarize all the issues discussed above in a table.
Comparison table for choosing the type of electric heater | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type of heater | Advantages | Flaws | Application area |
Convection classic | Low price | ||
infrared spiral | Low price, efficient use of electricity, as heat radiation can be directed in the right direction | High fire hazard, when heating small rooms due to dust combustion, it negatively affects human health | In large or ventilated rooms |
infrared carbon | Efficient use of electricity, since heat radiation can be directed in the right direction, long service life | High price, fragility of the carbon heating element. When heating small rooms due to the combustion of dust, it adversely affects human health | In large or ventilated rooms |
Oil | High operational safety, operation mode controllable, 24/7 operation, beautiful appearance | Large dimensions | Good for heating small spaces |
Convection mikathermic | Complete operational safety, possibility of operating mode control, round-the-clock operation, small dimensions and weight, beautiful appearance | Price | Well suited for heating small rooms, including children's |
Big power, small dimensions | Acoustic noise, dust drift | If necessary, quickly heat the air of a larger room, create an air curtain at the entrance to the room | |
storage type | Complete operational safety, possibility of operating mode control, 24/7 operation | Overall dimensions and weight, price | Economically highly efficient for space heating at a two-tariff cost of electricity |
As can be seen from the table, best solution for heating, depending on the type of room, are a convection mikathermic or fan heater.
What is the power of the electric heater
needed for space heating
It is practically impossible to calculate the necessary heater power for sufficient heating of the room, since everything depends on its volume, tightness of windows and doors, temperature and wind direction outside the window. But from the practice of using electric heaters, it is known that to heat 10 m 2 of a room, a heater with a power of 1000 watts is needed.
When choosing and connecting an electric heater, it must be taken into account that the electrical wiring wires in the apartment must have a corresponding heater power.
How to heat if there is no electric heater?
Any electrical household appliance, be it an incandescent bulb, a computer or a refrigerator, consumes electrical energy during its operation, which is ultimately released in the form of heat. The amount of heat generated by an electrical appliance corresponds to the power it consumes.
For example, a 100W incandescent light bulb will produce as much heat as a 100W heater. By installing five cartridges with light bulbs on the bar, you will get a simple electric heater with a power of 500 watts.
A modern vacuum cleaner or hair dryer consumes one kilowatt of electricity during operation, therefore, each of them can replace a 1 kW fan heater. The vacuum cleaner and hair dryer are not designed to work for a long time, but if you get cold, you can vacuum the room for half an hour or let the hair dryer work, and the room will become much warmer.
Perhaps you have a photoglosser lying around, this is practically an electric heater for a special purpose. It is enough to remove the cloth clamps and mirror plates. By the way, I put such plates behind the central heating radiators with a mirror to the radiator to reduce the heating of the street wall by reflecting the infrared rays falling on the wall from the battery back into the room.
Thus, by transferring the work of electrical appliances to one small room, you can escape from the cold.
A room heater, like any household electrical appliance, can break down and stop working. On the site page Do-it-yourself heater repair electrical diagrams and step-by-step instruction repair of electric heaters in photos on the example of repair of Bimatek PH300 mikathermic convection heater.