Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on November 12, 2017, 05:47:47 pm

Title: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 12, 2017, 05:47:47 pm
So for the first time this year I thought I'd check my immersion heater was working (it is) and also give you the benefit of my experience with it.

ambient temperature 8 degrees celsius all day
temperature inside van 12 degrees celsius all day

Tank size 650L flat Wydale
Filled to approx 400 litre mark
Immersion position - lower left hand side, inline with front to back of van.
Immersion power and length 3KW x 27"

Temperature measured at filler hole directly above element

10 am switch on
Water temp 11 degrees C

11 am
20 degrees C

11.15 to 11.55 switched off as Mrs. Gold wants to use the treadmill running off of the same  electrical spur! This will add about 400w to the load and will probably take the spur to its limit so I switched off.

12.40 pm
25 degrees C

Switched off 1.05 to 1.20 as Mrs Gold (what is wrong with her!) uses the vacuum off of the same spur to clean out the rabbit and guinea-pig cages!

1.20 to 3.30 Power back on

3.30pm
39 degrees C

5.00pm
44 degrees C
Switch off. Disconnect.

So now I want to know the effect of "mixing" the water and drive back and forward on the drive a couple of times to slosh it about.

5.05 pm
38 degrees C.

Next report details to be taken tomorrow am at 6.30 to see what residual heat there is.

edit: reading taken at 10pm. See post further on in thread.

Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Smudger on November 12, 2017, 05:55:28 pm
good work - i would suggest a temp reading 6 hrs after turning off as this will indicate % drop while working  with warm water

Darran
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: dd on November 12, 2017, 05:56:19 pm
For it to be most effective you would need to insulate your tank like Nathan does.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 12, 2017, 06:04:51 pm
1. I  might take a reading at 11pm as suggested. Of course in "real life" the water amount would be reducing and thus lose heat more quickly than 400L.

2. My tank is insulated with 2" insulation and ply. But with a panel gap on the rear about 2/3 size of the tank side to allow heat to radiate into the van and warm up reels and hoses.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: nathankaye on November 12, 2017, 06:47:18 pm
So for the first time this year I thought I'd check my immersion heater was working (it is) and also give you the benefit of my experience with it.

ambient temperature 8 degrees celsius all day
temperature inside van 12 degrees celsius all day

Tank size 650L flat Wydale
Filled to approx 400 litre mark
Immersion position - lower left hand side, inline with front to back of van.
Immersion power and length 3KW x 27"

Temperature measured at filler hole directly above element

10 am switch on
Water temp 11 degrees C

11 am
20 degrees C

11.15 to 11.55 switched off as Mrs. Gold wants to use the treadmill running off of the same  electrical spur! This will add about 400w to the load and will probably take the spur to its limit so I switched off.

12.40 pm
25 degrees C

Switched off 1.05 to 1.20 as Mrs Gold (what is wrong with her!) uses the vacuum off of the same spur to clean out the rabbit and guinea-pig cages!

1.20 to 3.30 Power back on

3.30pm
39 degrees C

5.00pm
44 degrees C
Switch off. Disconnect.

So now I want to know the effect of "mixing" the water and drive back and forward on the drive a couple of times to slosh it about.

5.05 pm
38 degrees C.

Next report details to be taken tomorrow am at 6.30 to see what residual heat there is.

Just as a total side point, for ones who heat only 40 degrees. With this little test is it not worth heating to 50 degrees instead. Allowing for the mixing and heat temp through hose etc to give around 40 at the brush?
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: NWH on November 12, 2017, 07:16:00 pm
Turned diesel heater on at 7am 55 degrees at the brush head at 10 past 😂 😂
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Frankybadboy on November 12, 2017, 07:23:37 pm
why not have a insulated tank fitted ?
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Dry Clean on November 12, 2017, 07:38:53 pm
With a 3kw heater your talking 93mins to increase the temp of 400ltrs by 10 degrees, that's fact, all your showing is how
hard it is to get true reading of the water temperature when using an immersion heater.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: windowswashed on November 12, 2017, 07:52:14 pm
For attention of Granville

Are you using 13amp or 16amp cable to immersion.  If 13 amp it's pushing so close to starting a fire with the electrics especially if using a extension lead that isn't fully unwound. Think the limit is 3120 watts and drawing 3000watt, that lead will get hot and left on too long could burn out. Just don't want anyone burning their electrics out and risking a fire at home
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: KS Cleaning on November 12, 2017, 08:08:07 pm
So for the first time this year I thought I'd check my immersion heater was working (it is) and also give you the benefit of my experience with it.

ambient temperature 8 degrees celsius all day
temperature inside van 12 degrees celsius all day

Tank size 650L flat Wydale
Filled to approx 400 litre mark
Immersion position - lower left hand side, inline with front to back of van.
Immersion power and length 3KW x 27"

Temperature measured at filler hole directly above element

10 am switch on
Water temp 11 degrees C

11 am
20 degrees C

11.15 to 11.55 switched off as Mrs. Gold wants to use the treadmill running off of the same  electrical spur! This will add about 400w to the load and will probably take the spur to its limit so I switched off.

12.40 pm
25 degrees C

Switched off 1.05 to 1.20 as Mrs Gold (what is wrong with her!) uses the vacuum off of the same spur to clean out the rabbit and guinea-pig cages!

1.20 to 3.30 Power back on

3.30pm
39 degrees C

5.00pm
44 degrees C
Switch off. Disconnect.

So now I want to know the effect of "mixing" the water and drive back and forward on the drive a couple of times to slosh it about.

5.05 pm
38 degrees C.

Next report details to be taken tomorrow am at 6.30 to see what residual heat there is.

Just as a total side point, for ones who heat only 40 degrees. With this little test is it not worth heating to 50 degrees instead. Allowing for the mixing and heat temp through hose etc to give around 40 at the brush?
If I heat to 40 degrees in the tank that's effectively what I get at the brush head as I use a backpack.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: mufcglen on November 12, 2017, 08:49:08 pm
Out of interest are these immersion heaters very greedy on the old electric costs?
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: nathankaye on November 12, 2017, 09:24:25 pm
Out of interest are these immersion heaters very greedy on the old electric costs?

I suppose it depends on your tarrif.
After midnight mine goes down to 8p per kwh and only 15p peak.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: JandS on November 12, 2017, 09:42:37 pm
Been using a 3kw heater in carpet cleaning machine for 10 years and never had a problem with electrics.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 12, 2017, 10:28:05 pm
Update and answers.

Readings taken at 10.05pm

Ambient temp.  5 degrees C
In van temp.      7 degrees C

Tank water   35 degrees C - so a drop of 3 degrees in 5 hours.

Answers to questions.

No reason why I cannot go to 50 degrees if I want to. I use mine primarily for frost protection and ease of use, supple hoses etc. Rarely if I know I have a mucky first clean on say a school or large commercial I will heat higher than the "normal" 30/40 I generally use.

Tariff. In general terms reckon on 13p/14p per kw hour and so about 40p+ per hour to run my 3KW heater. So 5 hours of heat = £2 approx. And it is a business expense so knock off 20%.

13/16amp electrics

About three years ago I upgraded to 16 amp cable due to being on the limit with 13 amp along with warm plugs etc. I use the 16 amp sockets like you use on a caravan.

(I presently have a quirky smart meter tariff which gives me free electricity on a Sunday between 9 am and 5 pm so I did this test during those hours and to see if it would be any use for the following Monday morning)

Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Dry Clean on November 12, 2017, 11:09:11 pm
Been using a 3kw heater in carpet cleaning machine for 10 years and never had a problem with electrics.

Do you run it non stop over a long period ? you can get household electric heaters at 3kw to run of the 13amp sockets but they don't take a continuous 3kw draw on the electrics.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 07:06:16 am
Been using a 3kw heater in carpet cleaning machine for 10 years and never had a problem with electrics.

Do you run it non stop over a long period ? you can get household electric heaters at 3kw to run of the 13amp sockets but they don't take a continuous 3kw draw on the electrics.

This is an important point.

Before upgrading to 16 amp sockets I would get very warm plugs/sockets.

I have a timer which I can override. So let's say you put the heat on at 1 am and off at 7.30 am then I put in a half hour break at 3.00 am and 5.30 am. (So that the continual draw doesn't exceed 2 hours.)
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 07:09:07 am
6.55 a.m

Ambient temp 2 degrees C
Van temp (cab-full bulkhead) 3 degrees C (rear- above plywood and insulation of tank) ) 6 degrees
Water in tank 29 degrees C
 
I have a half day commercial and will be home at noon and take readings (volume will be about 200L)
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Slacky on November 13, 2017, 07:31:05 am
Granville can you also measure the temp of water coming out the brush head when you finish please.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 07:32:52 am
Granville can you also measure the temp of water coming out the brush head when you finish please.

Sure.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: JandS on November 13, 2017, 08:33:07 am
No don't leave it on for hours 15 mins max and the thermostat as usually knocked it off at 60c by then.
If it was on all night would upgrade wiring...point taken.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: V_Purcell on November 13, 2017, 01:12:32 pm
You will lose 20f over 25 ft hose on a carpet cleaning machine. Now if the hoses are thinner than  a Goodyear steal breaded hose the heat los will be greater.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 04:51:20 pm
9 am 300L left Water in tank 26 degrees

12.30 pm   200L left Water in tank  24 degrees. At brush head (fired into large jug) 19 degrees
Ambient temp 10 degrees. Van temperature 12 degrees

4.30 pm 100L left Water in tank 22 degrees. At brush head 17 degrees.
Ambient temperature 8 degrees. Van temperature 12 degrees. 

Figures are with only about 5 metres pulled out. I run 50 metres of microbore and 35 metres of green pole hose on my reel .
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Smudger on November 13, 2017, 07:25:04 pm
nice test Mr Gold

do you have 16 amp socket wired into the ring main ?  ( sorry just for my thickness and understanding )

darran
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 07:29:50 pm
Sort of. It's off of the spur that goes to my garage.
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: Smudger on November 13, 2017, 08:23:07 pm
ok - put it another way 16 amp socket wired to the mains - no 13 amp plug between the element and mains electricity

Darran
Title: Re: Some immersion heater facts and figures
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 13, 2017, 09:57:20 pm
ok - put it another way 16 amp socket wired to the mains - no 13 amp plug between the element and mains electricity

Darran

Correct.