Dave Willis, Johnny 2kw immersion?

« **on:** January 03, 2017, 10:49:57 am »

Hi chaps,putting my 2kw immersion in today, how long do you run yours for?

Thanks Dave

« **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2017, 12:06:33 pm »

It depends on the temperature of the water in the tank, so in the winter when the water is really cold, it needs about 10 hours for mine to get warm. (About 35-40 degrees).

Whereas in the summer or if my tank is still a bit warmer from the previous day's water then 6-8 hours gives the same temp.

It's a bit of trial and error.

Does your immersion have a thermostat? You can play around with that and set that right for your tank, and you'll achieve the right temperature.

« **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2017, 02:33:34 pm »

What is an approximate figure to run it each night compared to gas on demand?

« **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2017, 04:11:34 pm »

Find out what you pay per kilowatt for your electric then multiply the hours. So if you've got two kw on for ten hours that's 20 kw hours.

Something like 12p per KWH so ten hours would be £2.40 around £12 per week which is a bit less than I spent on gas. I used to get through a bottle of gas about once a fortnight and pay something like £27 a time.

« **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2017, 04:22:14 pm »

Quote from: Jonny 87 on January 03, 2017, 12:06:33 pm

It depends on the temperature of the water in the tank, so in the winter when the water is really cold, it needs about 10 hours for mine to get warm. (About 35-40 degrees).

Whereas in the summer or if my tank is still a bit warmer from the previous day's water then 6-8 hours gives the same temp.

It's a bit of trial and error.

Does your immersion have a thermostat? You can play around with that and set that right for your tank, and you'll achieve the right temperature.

I left mine on most nights over the Christmas period. The tank was well over 40 degrees this morning, bit hotter than I normally run.

« **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2017, 05:34:05 pm »

Will a two KWH immersion work off an ordinary socket?

« **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2017, 05:49:48 pm »

Quote from: Jonny 87 on January 03, 2017, 12:06:33 pm

It depends on the temperature of the water in the tank, so in the winter when the water is really cold, it needs about 10 hours for mine to get warm. (About 35-40 degrees).

Whereas in the summer or if my tank is still a bit warmer from the previous day's water then 6-8 hours gives the same temp.

It's a bit of trial and error.

Does your immersion have a thermostat? You can play around with that and set that right for your tank, and you'll achieve the right temperature.

Thanks Jonny,

Yes it has a thermostat, I've set it to max for now. I am using a timer so I've set it to come on from 10 til 2am then 4 til 7. Just a bit of trial and error really. I've got 500 litres in the tank so it's not full..

Just would be nice to have warmish water and not frozen pumps! I'll still take reels out for now until I've got the settings right.

« **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2017, 07:34:25 pm »

Quote from: DaveG on January 03, 2017, 05:49:48 pm

Quote from: Jonny 87 on January 03, 2017, 12:06:33 pm
It depends on the temperature of the water in the tank, so in the winter when the water is really cold, it needs about 10 hours for mine to get warm. (About 35-40 degrees).

Whereas in the summer or if my tank is still a bit warmer from the previous day's water then 6-8 hours gives the same temp.

It's a bit of trial and error.

Does your immersion have a thermostat? You can play around with that and set that right for your tank, and you'll achieve the right temperature.

Thanks Jonny,

Yes it has a thermostat, I've set it to max for now. I am using a timer so I've set it to come on from 10 til 2am then 4 til 7. Just a bit of trial and error really. I've got 500 litres in the tank so it's not full..

Just would be nice to have warmish water and not frozen pumps! I'll still take reels out for now until I've got the settings right.

That should work out nicely with a 500 litre tank.

Should definitely keep the van from
Freezing up atleast.

« **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2017, 08:42:23 pm »

Quote from: Dave Willis on January 03, 2017, 04:11:34 pm

Find out what you pay per kilowatt for your electric then multiply the hours. So if you've got two kw on for ten hours that's 20 kw hours.

Something like 12p per KWH so ten hours would be £2.40 around £12 per week which is a bit less than I spent on gas. I used to get through a bottle of gas about once a fortnight and pay something like £27 a time.

Thanks Dave,
I think i prefer this approach rather than risking my insurance being invalid with a gas bottle in the van, plus a lot safer as well.

« **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2017, 09:31:00 pm »

Well, that's the reason I've done it. This time of year I'd be using at least 1kw of electricity per hour anyway just to keep the van frost free. You don't get the high temperatures of a boiler but there's very little to go wrong. My tank has an insulated jacket and stays warm the whole day.

« **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2017, 02:36:02 pm »

Quote from: Jonny 87 on January 03, 2017, 07:34:25 pm

Quote from: DaveG on January 03, 2017, 05:49:48 pm
Quote from: Jonny 87 on January 03, 2017, 12:06:33 pm
It depends on the temperature of the water in the tank, so in the winter when the water is really cold, it needs about 10 hours for mine to get warm. (About 35-40 degrees).

Whereas in the summer or if my tank is still a bit warmer from the previous day's water then 6-8 hours gives the same temp.

It's a bit of trial and error.

Does your immersion have a thermostat? You can play around with that and set that right for your tank, and you'll achieve the right temperature.

Thanks Jonny,

Yes it has a thermostat, I've set it to max for now. I am using a timer so I've set it to come on from 10 til 2am then 4 til 7. Just a bit of trial and error really. I've got 500 litres in the tank so it's not full..

Just would be nice to have warmish water and not frozen pumps! I'll still take reels out for now until I've got the settings right.

That should work out nicely with a 500 litre tank.

Should definitely keep the van from
Freezing up atleast.

Just under 30 degrees this morning, which was nice and nice to have soft hoses again

« **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2017, 05:25:02 pm »

Quote from: G & M on January 03, 2017, 05:34:05 pm

Will a two KWH immersion work off an ordinary socket?

Yeah, it should be OK. Mine runs from normal mains, but I've got one of those cut out switches fitted ( can't remember proper name for it!), so if anything strange happens it trips. I used to have the 3kw immersion element but it used to get scarily hot on the plug

, so changed over to a 2kw.
Don't forget to use some decent cable for it though

« **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2017, 06:10:56 pm »

Thanks Rigby

« **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2017, 06:58:28 pm »

I've used 16 amp cable etc, just to be safe

« **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2017, 10:07:07 pm »

Ok, immersion sounds good.
Two questions
Which is the best unit to buy? And how is it mounted in the top of the tank?
Think I will give it a go.
Thanks.

« **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2017, 05:58:21 am »

I got mine from here http://www.heatrodshop.com/

You have to drill a hole low down in your tank

« **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2017, 11:47:51 am »

Thanks Dave. Am going ahead with that.
Ģuessing an 11inch would be about right for a small tank.

« **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2017, 12:45:49 pm »

Quote from: combat1 on January 05, 2017, 11:47:51 am

Thanks Dave. Am going ahead with that.
Ģuessing an 11inch would be about right for a small tank.

I would go for a longer one, just make sure it's not too long and it doesn't hit a baffle.

« **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2017, 01:48:11 pm »

Ok. Thanks. Much appreciate your advice.

« **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2017, 05:57:31 pm »

Hi Dave.
14 inch 2kw heaters are really rare. Spent ages looking.
Dont know where the guys are getting them.
Did the heat rod shop make you one up as a special?
Thanks.
Chris

« **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:39:56 pm »

I've got a brand new one in my garage somewhere, might be a twelve incher - I'd have to measure it.

« **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:51:00 pm »

Good job I didn't fit it, the wattage is a bit high. That one came from another supplier too even though it's Heatrod

« **Reply #22 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:59:30 pm »

Yes I ballsed up today.
Bought a 14 inch from screwfix.
They dont put the kw in the brochure.
Lucky I looked! 3kw. Too high.
Tiok it back and got a refund.

« **Reply #23 on:** January 10, 2017, 06:59:03 am »

Quote from: combat1 on January 09, 2017, 05:57:31 pm

Hi Dave.
14 inch 2kw heaters are really rare. Spent ages looking.
Dont know where the guys are getting them.
Did the heat rod shop make you one up as a special?
Thanks.
Chris

Yes, they do 14" and 17."

« **Reply #24 on:** January 10, 2017, 06:05:13 pm »

Cheers Dave.
Rang them today after trying to find it on their website.
The lady started asking about boss sizes and then told me to look on the website!
I emailed them but have not heard anything.
Try again tomorrow.

« **Reply #25 on:** January 10, 2017, 10:47:57 pm »

I use a 3KW.

« **Reply #26 on:** January 11, 2017, 06:13:28 am »

Quote from: combat1 on January 10, 2017, 06:05:13 pm

Cheers Dave.
Rang them today after trying to find it on their website.
The lady started asking about boss sizes and then told me to look on the website!
I emailed them but have not heard anything.
Try again tomorrow.

Ask to speak to Phil Roberts, he really knows his stuff. Mine is a 2 1/4" boss to match this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Heating/d230/Central+Heating+Accessories/sd2708/Mechanical+Flange/p38614 which you have to make a hole for.

2kw immersions are a special order and are not on their website, they take around 10 days to make and deliver.

« **Reply #27 on:** January 11, 2017, 08:05:52 am »

Oh Dave,
Thanks so much for your help.
Thats all I need and i'm really grateful.
I owe you big time.
Hope u go to this years window cleaning show. Will treat you.
Thanks mate.

« **Reply #28 on:** January 11, 2017, 09:22:09 am »

All done, cheers Dave.
Chris.

« **Reply #29 on:** January 12, 2017, 02:14:49 pm »

You can also get 2kw immersion from here http://www.onestopbioshop.co.uk/shop/2kw-immersion-heater/.
I went with the 3Kw from toolstaion got my sparkie to upgrade the electrics . Installed it into a broadex water tank.

« **Reply #30 on:** January 12, 2017, 03:58:16 pm »

Don't use them - they are useless!!!

Had to contact my credit card company and get my money returned.

Blimey! how did you screw into your tank for those brackets

« **Reply #31 on:** January 12, 2017, 08:54:49 pm »

Which ones are useless Dave?

« **Reply #32 on:** January 12, 2017, 09:08:55 pm »

Bioshop

« **Reply #33 on:** January 13, 2017, 11:00:21 am »

Quote from: Dave Willis on January 12, 2017, 03:58:16 pm

Don't use them - they are useless!!!

Had to contact my credit card company and get my money returned.

Blimey! how did you screw into your tank for those brackets

Good job i never ordered mine from there but its good to get the feedback ,
The brackets come as standard on a brodex system well fitted haha .
The tank is about 10mm thick so plenty to screw into and i found that out after i drilled the hole for the immersion i couldn't get the mechanical flange on as the thread did not come through the tank . I got it sorted eventually