Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Evan on August 08, 2021, 11:26:50 am
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Hi Guys, I want to fit a immersion heater ready for the winter..and do’s and dont’s and tips would be much appreciated…??
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could use the search button, its all been spoken before
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Don't.
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Don't.
Worst advice of the century award goes to……… ⬆️
As above, search immersion heater and loads of info will come up.
Immersion will save you money, make you money, and is pretty hassle free. Go for it, and make sure your electrics are set up properly.
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Don't.
As in 'Don't' listen to Chris Turner.
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If using 3kw make sure you have adequate electrics. Although you can get away with 13 amp plugs and sockets it is far better to have properly fitted 16 amp power cable plugs and sockets.
Alternatively get a 2kw element made up.
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Use a mechanical flange like this;
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111634635156?hash=item19fdf15994:g:IoQAAOSwTZ1XmMVz (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111634635156?hash=item19fdf15994:g:IoQAAOSwTZ1XmMVz)
You obviously want to fit it as low down as possible, but still need to be able to reach inside to tighten the back nut. Do a test run in a piece of scrap plastic, use a slightly undersized holesaw to cut the hole in an entirely flat area, not near the edges, and file it a little to make it a tight fit, hoover the tank out inside to get rid of the sawdust. I use a small amount of silicone sealer on the fittings, although i'm not sure its essential.
I have this 2kw element fitted.
https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/immersion-heater-2kw-240v-hc-042 (https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/immersion-heater-2kw-240v-hc-042)
dont expect boiling hot water unless you only have a very small tank. my 650 will get to about 35 overnight, and thats enough to stay warm all day and keep everything working nicely.
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I would echo all of the above, but also buy a thick flex that can handle the job not standard domestic cable.
I have 2 kw fitted on my 750 litre tank and leave it on overnight for cold, cold mornings and new jobs
I don't use mine a great deal, but it's handy to have for the rare occasions I need it
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Look on Youtube, there's a couple of good videos that run you through the whole process and explain everything you'll need
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Is that a modification for the insurance I think it might be what about if it catches 🔥
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A tank of pure water on fire ? - yeah right oh ;D
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No not a tank on fire 🔥 the other items that may surround the cable etc,you are heating water unsupervised overnight that is not designed for purpose insurance company won’t get cold hands all winter long they’ll be rubbing em together 🤣🤣 wouldn’t have a leg 🦵 to stand on Darren.
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You have an accident and you’ve changed the wheels you could have problems you run a DIY emersion setup from your home into the back of your vehicle and you set the van on fire 🔥 unless you lie about what’s happened the insurance would be void.
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A tank of pure water on fire ? - yeah right oh ;D
He does come up with some nonsense doesn't he? ;D
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
Or do a risk assessment and decide for myself.
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Yeah do a risk assessment and judge for yourself I’m sure A. Plan or another leading insurance company will take your work for it when you put a claim in.
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Yeah do a risk assessment and judge for yourself I’m sure A. Plan or another leading insurance company will take your work for it when you put a claim in.
I guess you mean word. And what will I put a claim in for?
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
Or do a risk assessment and decide for myself.
He is right though it’s a modification and if not declared would void the insurance if it caught fire , Ime in the Fireservice and we do investigate fires in vehicles if it looks at all suspicious and a full FI report is done the insurance company can and very often do request a copy and then will not pay out , we get this all the time with boy racers modifying there cars and not declaring them just by adding alloy wheels and not telling them will result in no pay out . If you fit an immersion heater into a tank in a van you should have a qualified electrician check it and issue a certificate stating it’s fit for purpose and safe , without this again the insurance are going to use it as a loop hole not to pay out especially if it looks like that was the cause of the fire . On a side point years ago I was looking at putting an Emerson element in my van I spoke to a friend who is a qualified electrician and he said he wouldn’t fit it and advised against it stating they aren’t designed to be fitted in vehicles and plastic tanks . I think if ones want warm water it’s a very cheap and easy fit just make sure it’s 100% fitted right with the correct cable and socket in the house and preferably no bigger than 2 kw .
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
Or do a risk assessment and decide for myself.
He is right though it’s a modification and if not declared would void the insurance if it caught fire , Ime in the Fireservice and we do investigate fires in vehicles if it looks at all suspicious and a full FI report is done the insurance company can and very often do request a copy and then will not pay out , we get this all the time with boy racers modifying there cars and not declaring them just by adding alloy wheels and not telling them will result in no pay out . If you fit an immersion heater into a tank in a van you should have a qualified electrician check it and issue a certificate stating it’s fit for purpose and safe , without this again the insurance are going to use it as a loop hole not to pay out especially if it looks like that was the cause of the fire . On a side point years ago I was looking at putting an Emerson element in my van I spoke to a friend who is a qualified electrician and he said he wouldn’t fit it and advised against it stating they aren’t designed to be fitted in vehicles and plastic tanks . I think if ones want warm water it’s a very cheap and easy fit just make sure it’s 100% fitted right with the correct cable and socket in the house and preferably no bigger than 2 kw .
Spot on. I've fitted four immersions to four tanks - well five if you count the one I turned on with no water in and it went "ping". I know what I am doing. (except when I forget to put water in the tank! ;D)
Let's take it a step further. You put an electric reel in your van - the electrics go bang and start a fire - what's the difference? What's the likelihood? Or your leisure battery (which isn't specifically designed for window cleaning application and nor is an aftermarket relay charging from your alternator) going bang?
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
Or do a risk assessment and decide for myself.
He is right though it’s a modification and if not declared would void the insurance if it caught fire , Ime in the Fireservice and we do investigate fires in vehicles if it looks at all suspicious and a full FI report is done the insurance company can and very often do request a copy and then will not pay out , we get this all the time with boy racers modifying there cars and not declaring them just by adding alloy wheels and not telling them will result in no pay out . If you fit an immersion heater into a tank in a van you should have a qualified electrician check it and issue a certificate stating it’s fit for purpose and safe , without this again the insurance are going to use it as a loop hole not to pay out especially if it looks like that was the cause of the fire . On a side point years ago I was looking at putting an Emerson element in my van I spoke to a friend who is a qualified electrician and he said he wouldn’t fit it and advised against it stating they aren’t designed to be fitted in vehicles and plastic tanks . I think if ones want warm water it’s a very cheap and easy fit just make sure it’s 100% fitted right with the correct cable and socket in the house and preferably no bigger than 2 kw .
Spot on. I've fitted four immersions to four tanks - well five if you count the one I turned on with no water in and it went "ping". I know what I am doing. (except when I forget to put water in the tank! ;D)
Let's take it a step further. You put an electric reel in your van - the electrics go bang and start a fire - what's the difference? What's the likelihood? Or your leisure battery (which isn't specifically designed for window cleaning application and nor is an aftermarket relay charging from your alternator) going bang?
There is a big difference between an electric reel taking 8 amps out of a battery to an Emerson heater taking 2-3 kw from the mains . Our vans , systems , reels wabasto heaters are all declared with the insurance company , they are also wired up correctly through a fuse board with the correct amp fuses fitted by a qualified electrician with supporting documentation that the insurance company have got copies of so should the worst happen Ime confidant there won’t be a problem 😂😂hopefully 😂😂😂
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
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and Don't, forget you had this same convo with a plumber, garage mechanic, some old git you collared while walking past your van..
all of them experts in their field
Darran
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You could always give the old insurance company a ring and see what they say about you plugging that in overnight lol.
Or do a risk assessment and decide for myself.
He is right though it’s a modification and if not declared would void the insurance if it caught fire , Ime in the Fireservice and we do investigate fires in vehicles if it looks at all suspicious and a full FI report is done the insurance company can and very often do request a copy and then will not pay out , we get this all the time with boy racers modifying there cars and not declaring them just by adding alloy wheels and not telling them will result in no pay out . If you fit an immersion heater into a tank in a van you should have a qualified electrician check it and issue a certificate stating it’s fit for purpose and safe , without this again the insurance are going to use it as a loop hole not to pay out especially if it looks like that was the cause of the fire . On a side point years ago I was looking at putting an Emerson element in my van I spoke to a friend who is a qualified electrician and he said he wouldn’t fit it and advised against it stating they aren’t designed to be fitted in vehicles and plastic tanks . I think if ones want warm water it’s a very cheap and easy fit just make sure it’s 100% fitted right with the correct cable and socket in the house and preferably no bigger than 2 kw .
Spot on. I've fitted four immersions to four tanks - well five if you count the one I turned on with no water in and it went "ping". I know what I am doing. (except when I forget to put water in the tank! ;D)
Let's take it a step further. You put an electric reel in your van - the electrics go bang and start a fire - what's the difference? What's the likelihood? Or your leisure battery (which isn't specifically designed for window cleaning application and nor is an aftermarket relay charging from your alternator) going bang?
There is a big difference between an electric reel taking 8 amps out of a battery to an Emerson heater taking 2-3 kw from the mains . Our vans , systems , reels wabasto heaters are all declared with the insurance company , they are also wired up correctly through a fuse board with the correct amp fuses fitted by a qualified electrician with supporting documentation that the insurance company have got copies of so should the worst happen Ime confidant there won’t be a problem 😂😂hopefully 😂😂😂
Immersion not Emerson.
A fire is a fire. Whether caused by 8 amps and 12 volts or 2000w and 240 volts. (Also 8 amps)
Have you declared your pumps on board and the power they draw? If so then great. The only thing I have declared is the DIY frame I have and the 650L tank. Because that might shift in an accident.
If I set fire to my van on the drive (by putting an oil filled radiator in the back in winter, by putting a fan heater in it on thermostat setting, putting a paraffin greenhouse heater in the back then that's my lookout. )
I put in a claim for a six month old car when an employee put what he thought was an extinguished barbecue near the front bumper in his garage. He came down on the morning and found the car burnt out completely. Insurance paid up as sweet as a nut.
I assess the risk of a burnt out van - from a faulty battery - wrongly wired pumps - an immersion in the back as phenomenally low. If it happens I'll take the hit. Ten years and five tanks later I have had no problem.
Because the job was done correctly.
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
What exactly did you ask them in "this conversation", Nigel?
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Do you know if I remember rightly the engineers at Chernobyl knew what they were doing as well believe it or not 🤣🤣🤣
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
What exactly did you ask them in "this conversation", Nigel?
If that’s not a leading question into another long debate about insurance lol,call them yourself and see what they tell you it’ll be the same as long as you don’t girl thingyfoot round what you are telling them you will be doing.
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and Don't, forget you had this same convo with a plumber, garage mechanic, some old git you collared while walking past your van..
all of them experts in their field
Darran
🤣🤣🤣
I've never know anyone else have such an array of expert advisors at hand for every subject known to mankind!!
Think he's on the spice again!!😬😁
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
What exactly did you ask them in "this conversation", Nigel?
If that’s not a leading question into another long debate about insurance lol,call them yourself and see what they tell you it’ll be the same as long as you don’t girl thingyfoot round what you are telling them you will be doing.
Thought so. No conversation.
::)roll
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Yeah I must wrong 😑 just give the old insurance a call m8 they’ll sort you out make sure you tell em though you will be trailing a cable outside into the van during the winter with 240v going straight into a Boss in the middle of a tank full of water next to electrics,they may even give you a discount.
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Yeah I must wrong 😑 just give the old insurance a call m8 they’ll sort you out make sure you tell em though you will be trailing a cable outside into the van during the winter with 240v going straight into a Boss in the middle of a tank full of water next to electrics,they may even give you a discount.
Thought so. No conversation, so you want me to phone my insurer about something I am not bothered about being insured for?
I get it Nigel. You don't think an immersion is a good idea. But don't lie that you have had a conversation with an insurer about it.
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No I wouldn’t lie didn’t anyone tell you pull over on the way to work flick a switch hot water in 5 minutes not 8 hrs.
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
There's the lie.
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I know I’m right had this conversation with insurance myself.
There's the lie.
Nigel has usually “had a conversation” with an expert in what ever field he’s talking about.
I don’t understand why people still humour him to be honest, I’ve never known someone to get found out so many times but still stick around…he’s got balls, I’ll give him that!
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⚽️ 🏀 🏈
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Don't.
As in 'Don't' listen to Chris Turner.
Just don't fit one, waste of time and not needed. Couldn't be bothered with an explanation so "don"t" seemed proportionate. Please do listen to Chris Turner who has an element fitted but who DON'T use it ( yes grammar police I know that DON'T make sense but again, seems proportionate :-* )
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Don't.
As in 'Don't' listen to Chris Turner.
Just don't fit one, waste of time and not needed. Couldn't be bothered with an explanation so "don"t" seemed proportionate. Please do listen to Chris Turner who has an element fitted but who DON'T use it ( yes grammar police I know that DON'T make sense but again, seems proportionate :-* )
Like I said in another thread Chris, the immersion didn't serve the purpose you initially thought it would. It's not really a hot water solution but more a 'get me through winter comfortably and prevent my system from freezing' exercise. It serves that purpose perfectly and expands the window of opportunity to work in subzero temps to the same as a diesel hot water system. But, it's NOT a comparable hot water solution to diesel.
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Don't.
As in 'Don't' listen to Chris Turner.
Just don't fit one, waste of time and not needed. Couldn't be bothered with an explanation so "don"t" seemed proportionate. Please do listen to Chris Turner who has an element fitted but who DON'T use it ( yes grammar police I know that DON'T make sense but again, seems proportionate :-* )
As you couldn't be bothered to give an explanation I recommend others read Winproclean's explanation.
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This may give you warm winter but that’s a hell of a long time to have to be plugged into the mains for.
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This may give you warm winter but that’s a hell of a long time to have to be plugged into the mains for.
What is?
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I think its about the same amount of time you need to plug your batteries in for recharging Nigel ;D
Darran
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This may give you warm winter but that’s a hell of a long time to have to be plugged into the mains for.
That's down to people using 2kw elements to avoid having to install a 16amp line- which, ironically is a relatively simple and inexpensive thing to do. 3kw heats up faster and the 16amp line can handle it with ease (this is what your domestic immersion and electric cookers run from). Personally, I wouldn't even run a 2kw element from 13amp plug. It's too heavy a load, constantly for too long IMO. Either do it properly or not at all is the best advice I can give anyone.
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I think its about the same amount of time you need to plug your batteries in for recharging Nigel ;D
Darran
Ha ha ha ha all the best Nigel