[KS Cleaning]

Does anyone have an immersion heater fitted into their IBC tank? I am in the process of changing over from a fully fitted van mount to having a static system in my garage and a delivery unit in my van. Initially I was gonna fit an immersion heater into the delivery unit, but it is a 750 litre upright tank which means I can't reach inside to get the immersion into a suitable position. Now I am thinking of putting the immersion into the IBC tank but there are a few things putting me off, the plastic is quite flimsy on the IBC so would the plastic be able to support the weight of a 27" immersion element? also would a 3kw immersion heat up around 900 litres of water sufficiently?

[Tom White]

My thoughts are that if you can't get the heater in a suitable position in your van's tank, what makes you think you'll get it lower than arm's reach in your IBC?

I'd probably do my best to get the heater element as low down as possible in the van tank; even if it's just as far as my arm reaches inside of it.  I'd hope the convection currents would transfer the heat around the tank.

If your tank lid is in a central position on your van tank - and it's that, that's preventing you from fitting it - I'd cut another lid towards the side, and get at the relevant side of the tank that way.

One of the bonuses of having the heater element in the van tank is that it acts as a radiator and stops all your pole hoses, reels and brush heads from freezing solid.

Hopefully someone who knows better will come along in a bit. 

[Tom White]

3kw immersion heat up around 900 litres of water sufficiently?

Yes, but you might have to leave it on for a good few hours.  I'd probably start with five hours and add or decrease the time depending on how warm the water is when you start work.

It might be worth your while lagging the tank too.

[tonycarr]

cant you just drop the element down through the lid?

tony

[Tom White]

cant you just drop the element down through the lid?

tony

No.  The rear of the heater has to be kept separate from the water.  It's where the electrical cables fit into.  The plastic tank is the divide between the water and the electrics.

[heath verrall]

Get some fencing wire, you know the thick stuff,,make some sort of hook and lower it into the tank,once you have the element in the hole area someone can grab it from the out side and pull it towards the hole.

Then all you do is hold the element and turn it anti clock wise, this will get it through the hole so you can get the nut on, do not forget to put some sealant on the washer before you tighten,it all up.

Do not have the element too close to the bottom of the tank, mine is about six inches off the bottom.(500ltr tank) .
Hope this helps.
CCmids

[Smudger]

Don't you mean the nut? The element is fed through the side of the tank, this is best done with 2 people as one can get their arm right inside holding the nut and the screws it together.

Ibc will take an element,when you cut the hole it goes really flimsy ( and have an oh $h!e moment ) but once the element is it its very solid indeed although I used 14 inch elements

Darran

[heath verrall]

Don't you mean the nut? The element is fed through the side of the tank, this is best done with 2 people as one can get their arm right inside holding the nut and the screws it together.

Ibc will take an element,when you cut the hole it goes really flimsy ( and have an oh $h!e moment ) but once the element is it its very solid indeed although I used 14 inch elements

Darran

Yes Darran your right ,, the nut goes inside first then screw the element from the out side in.
It's been a while since I fitted mine

[Window Lickers]

cant you just drop the element down through the lid?

tony

If you could try that I'd be interested to see.

Could you video it please and upload to Youtube.

Thankyou.


p.s. what colour flowers at the funeral. Burial or cremation?

[heath verrall]

cant you just drop the element down through the lid?

tony

If you could try that I'd be interested to see.

Could you video it please and upload to Youtube.


Thankyou.



p.s. what colour flowers at the funeral. Burial or cremation?

 

[Smudger]

Your be ok if it's pure 

Darran

[Perfect Windows]

also would a 3kw immersion heat up around 900 litres of water sufficiently?

4,200 Joules heats 1 litre of water by 1 degree, so 3,000W will heat 1 litre by 1 degree every 1.4 seconds.

So it'll heat 900 litres by one degree every 1,260 seconds, or roughly 3 degrees an hour.

That assumed perfect insulation, so it'll be less as heat leaks out.

Should be enough, though, I reckon.

Vin

[KS Cleaning]

My thoughts are that if you can't get the heater in a suitable position in your van's tank, what makes you think you'll get it lower than arm's reach in your IBC?

I'd probably do my best to get the heater element as low down as possible in the van tank; even if it's just as far as my arm reaches inside of it.  I'd hope the convection currents would transfer the heat around the tank.

If your tank lid is in a central position on your van tank - and it's that, that's preventing you from fitting it - I'd cut another lid towards the side, and get at the relevant side of the tank that way.

One of the bonuses of having the heater element in the van tank is that it acts as a radiator and stops all your pole hoses, reels and brush heads from freezing solid.

Hopefully someone who knows better will come along in a bit. 

I would rather the immersion was in the van but, the 750 upright van tank is about 5 inches taller than the IBC tank, so I can reach nearer the bottom of the IBC, also I am a bit reluctant to cut a hole in the van tank although I am gonna consider doing this.
Where is Stretch Armstrong when you need him

[KS Cleaning]

Don't you mean the nut? The element is fed through the side of the tank, this is best done with 2 people as one can get their arm right inside holding the nut and the screws it together.

Ibc will take an element,when you cut the hole it goes really flimsy ( and have an oh $h!e moment ) but once the element is it its very solid indeed although I used 14 inch elements

Darran

By nut, do you mean mechanical flange?

[KS Cleaning]

also would a 3kw immersion heat up around 900 litres of water sufficiently?

4,200 Joules heats 1 litre of water by 1 degree, so 3,000W will heat 1 litre by 1 degree every 1.4 seconds.

So it'll heat 900 litres by one degree every 1,260 seconds, or roughly 3 degrees an hour.

That assumed perfect insulation, so it'll be less as heat leaks out.

Should be enough, though, I reckon.

Vin

[Smudger]

Yep, nut, flange, mechanical flange...

The m/f costs around £10 + available at tool station or you can get a flange off ebay for £2.25 ( no octagon on it ) or a threaded nut from a hydraulics part supplier for around £6.00

Make sure you use a fibre washer, some PTFE tape on the thread and for good measure aquarium grade silicone

Darran

[tonycarr]

cant you just drop the element down through the lid?

tony

If you could try that I'd be interested to see.

Could you video it please and upload to Youtube.

Thankyou.


p.s. what colour flowers at the funeral. Burial or cremation?

   i was thinking about the insulated fish tank type

tony

[Tom White]

also I am a bit reluctant to cut a hole in the van tank although I am gonna consider doing this.

It's dead easy - but scary I know - but still very easy:

Adjustable holesaw:


It cuts through the tank perfectly easy; no troubles.

Just measure everything twice or four times - just to be sure - and only cut the once.

Don't do it when you're tired, it's cold and dark, and you've just finished work.

I used a good quality sealant too; one that can be kept immersed in water (they usually can't be).  I can't remember the brand, but it took some hunting out.

[ChumBucket]

A cylindrical hole saw is my choice for the hole. With a mechanical flange you need no sealant either- kind of speaks for itself that bit. Just PTFE all threads, my choice is PTFE paste for the flange threads & tape for the element threads.

[Smudger]

Same here if memory serves you get a 64mm in a standard set which is perfect size hole

Darran