[Dazzler3370]

After nearly my first year on the windows I've decided I would like some warmer water to work with through the colder months mainly down to the pole hose stiffening up and just making life a bit easier. My thoughts are that a thermostat would be a cost saving option.

I've got an upright 500Ltr tank with a elongated baffle running down the middle of the tank. Would it be safe enough to fit a thermostat at the bottom of the tank between the bottom of the baffle and the bottom of the tank as long as the prongs don't touch the plastic. Or do I need a minimum clearance from the plastic, as it might melt....??

Cheers Dazzler

[Smudger]

Yes you'll be fine if the element is NOT in direct contact with the centre baffle, try to give as much clear space around the heater as you can as it will heat the water better.
Elements come in different lengths so an 11 inch wouldn't reach the centre baffle

Darran

[Spruce]

A thermostat only monitors temperature and can switch on a device (heater) if the temperature drops below what its set on. It usually switches off a degree or 2 above that setting.

Do you mean a water heating element? (Darran got there first). If you do then this has been discussed on here many times. A search will help you. Mark Munro also has a video on youtube about it.

[ChumBucket]

This is my 500ltr tank.

[ChumBucket]

I assume by thermostat you mean immersion element?

[Dazzler3370]

Cheers gents 

[Spruce]

This is my 500ltr tank.

That looks pretty neat or as the Americans say, awesome!

Dazzlers needs to be aware that this draws a heavy current load so he should make sure his electrics and extension lead can cope with it.
According to the Maths a 3000 watt element will draw a full 13+ amps so should really be on a dedicated circuit with a proper couplers to suit.

He also needs to consider the cost of electricity. Running a current like this for 3 or 4 hours will quickly add up on the electric bill.

[firefly123]

£1.20 pence to heat water to 45 degrees you can use heat proof cable and an extension lead that has a cut out all so put immersion on timer for 4 hours

[david mark]

Artic 16 amp cable direct to 16 amp dedicated rcd or via 16 amp timer to rcd tool station do all the parts

[ChumBucket]

Artic 16 amp cable direct to 16 amp dedicated rcd or via 16 amp timer to rcd tool station do all the parts

Bang on!!

Please, Please don't attempt to run a 3KW immersion element via normal 13 amp plugs/cable/sockets as you risk burning your house down- trust me, I very nearly did just that!!

All the 16 amp gear is readily available at very little cost. I have an external 16 amp socket on the wall outside where I back my van up to. This socket is wired to the main consumer unit inside on it's own, dedicated 16 amp breaker via a 16 amp timer. I simply then just use a 16 amp extension cable to run from this outside socket into the van- as my immersion element cable has a 16 amp plug on the end of it. Set the timer then indoors & that's it.

[duncan h]

Your all nuts. They are for immersion heaters not plastic water tanks lmao. Your not having a bath. It just needs airing not boiling. Are you that soft you need hot water lol

[ChumBucket]

Your all nuts. They are for immersion heaters not plastic water tanks lmao. Your not having a bath. It just needs airing not boiling. Are you that soft you need hot water lol

You mean they are for domestic copper water cylinders? As the immersion element is what would fit to these. As for plastic water tanks- this is what the brass "mechanical flange" is utilised for- to make a solid, brass to brass connection situ as per domestic tank. As for hot water- the user has total control of exactly how hot the water will get- from "just aired" to hot. This is controlled via two methods- the built-in thermostat on the element itself or by the user controlling/defining the length of time the element is actually active for- via the timer facility. The benefits are huge as along with benefits of having hot/warm water the tank also acts as a van heater- keeping all your van & equipment frost free & toastie! So, who's LMAO now?

[duncan h]

Your all nuts. They are for immersion heaters not plastic water tanks lmao. Your not having a bath. It just needs airing not boiling. Are you that soft you need hot water lol

You mean they are for domestic copper water cylinders? As the immersion element is what would fit to these. As for plastic water tanks- this is what the brass "mechanical flange" is utilised for- to make a solid, brass to brass connection situ as per domestic tank. As for hot water- the user has total control of exactly how hot the water will get- from "just aired" to hot. This is controlled via two methods- the built-in thermostat on the element itself or by the user controlling/defining the length of time the element is actually active for- via the timer facility. The benefits are huge as along with benefits of having hot/warm water the tank also acts as a van heater- keeping all your van & equipment frost free & toastie! So, who's LMAO now?

Me when your van sets fire  don't want your electric bill either

[ChumBucket]

Your all nuts. They are for immersion heaters not plastic water tanks lmao. Your not having a bath. It just needs airing not boiling. Are you that soft you need hot water lol

You mean they are for domestic copper water cylinders? As the immersion element is what would fit to these. As for plastic water tanks- this is what the brass "mechanical flange" is utilised for- to make a solid, brass to brass connection situ as per domestic tank. As for hot water- the user has total control of exactly how hot the water will get- from "just aired" to hot. This is controlled via two methods- the built-in thermostat on the element itself or by the user controlling/defining the length of time the element is actually active for- via the timer facility. The benefits are huge as along with benefits of having hot/warm water the tank also acts as a van heater- keeping all your van & equipment frost free & toastie! So, who's LMAO now?

Me when your van sets fire  don't want your electric bill either

That's the beauty of this, after one use the whole thing has paid for itself & using the correct grade equipment (16 amp) into a dedicated breaker within the consumer unit- there is no risk of fire over & above any other household electrical item you could wish to name. If it cost you £80 in electricity over the whole winter, it's a very small price to pay to have no frozen equipment, not to have to bring it all in at night, be ready to work first thing in the morning & have lovely, warm, supple hoses all day. Add to that, none of the issues of hot water boilers either- if you can counter that with any negatives then you really need to reassess your whole way of thinking!!

[Smudger]

Always use artic flex cable it's designed for the job.

Water heating element is designed to re, well heat water 


Do you use hot water Duncan ??

Darran

[richard groves]

out of interest
how long approximately does the water in a 500 L tank stay warm for when the day temp is no more than 2 or 3 degrees ?
does anybody insulate their tank to improve its working hours ?

[ChumBucket]

out of interest
how long approximately does the water in a 500 L tank stay warm for when the day temp is no more than 2 or 3 degrees ?
does anybody insulate their tank to improve its working hours ?

All day & no I don't insulate the tank by particular reason of it also acting as a van heater.

[duncan h]

out of interest
how long approximately does the water in a 500 L tank stay warm for when the day temp is no more than 2 or 3 degrees ?
does anybody insulate their tank to improve its working hours ?

All day & no I don't insulate the tank by particular reason of it also acting as a van heater.

I am amazed. I run a hot bath and its cold in 5 mins. That sin a warm house. Yes its open to the elements, but those elements are warm. A van will be in very cold temps. I would have thought it would be only aired after 2 hours

[richard groves]

out of interest
how long approximately does the water in a 500 L tank stay warm for when the day temp is no more than 2 or 3 degrees ?
does anybody insulate their tank to improve its working hours ?

All day & no I don't insulate the tank by particular reason of it also acting as a van heater.

Thanks that's good to know 
I use cold water, cannot heat my van overnight or fit an immersion due to being street parked and living in a flat. and I never liked the idea of a gas heater. Luckily I live on south coast so its not really such an issue, just drain pump and hoses of a night. When I move to a house I may consider the immersion route 

[ChumBucket]

out of interest
how long approximately does the water in a 500 L tank stay warm for when the day temp is no more than 2 or 3 degrees ?
does anybody insulate their tank to improve its working hours ?

All day & no I don't insulate the tank by particular reason of it also acting as a van heater.

I am amazed. I run a hot bath and its cold in 5 mins. That sin a warm house. Yes its open to the elements, but those elements are warm. A van will be in very cold temps. I would have thought it would be only aired after 2 hours

So was I to be honest. Wydale plastic tanks are quite thick, approx 1/4" if I recall. At the end of the day the water is still amazingly very warm.