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Thread ID: 118987	2011-06-30 00:08:00	Power rating of oil fin heaters - another scam?	BBCmicro (15761)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1213378	2011-06-30 00:08:00	Just measured one of those small Goldair heaters rated at 1 kW - got only 420 W. Duty cycle with thermostat on full = 4 minutes on, 6 minutes off. Air temp = 15°. Peak power 1004 W at 239 V Sigh. Another scam. Like the rating of heat pumps, the bandwidth of Wifi adapters, the lifespan of compact fluorescents,	BBCmicro (15761)
1213379	2011-06-30 00:39:00	Errr... So you got 1004W? Seems right in that case..	Cato (6936)
1213380	2011-06-30 01:40:00	Errr... So you got 1004W? Seems right in that case.. Yes. That must be the loophole they are relying on - peak power. Unfortunately people buy heaters for their heating ability. Soon they will be bringing out 1-fin heaters the size of a paperback and rated at 2 kW. With a duty cycle of 5 seconds on, 100 seconds off. And a cut-out backing up the thermostat	BBCmicro (15761)
1213381	2011-06-30 08:14:00	Duty cycle with thermostat on full = 4 minutes on, 6 minutes off. Air temp = 15°. Peak power 1004 W at 239 V It's not Goldair's fault that your room is already so warm that it is only on 40 % of the time. (though I must admit that 15 degrees is not exactly what I would call warm) Take the heater outside and I am sure it will run at 1004 watts for 100% of the time.	decibel (11645)
1213382	2011-06-30 08:34:00	You really need to put a thermocouple in the vicinity of the thermostat to see at what temperatures it switches on and off. It may be possible to "adjust" the thermostat so that at max setting it is on for longer by it switching off at a higher temperature, eg, say 20C. Edit: I was assuming the thermostat was sensing air temperature, it may of course be sensing oil temperature.	Terry Porritt (14)
1213383	2011-06-30 11:00:00	Errr... So you got 1004W? Seems right in that case.. I agree, it is indeed consuming 1000 watts which is true to label. Turn the thermostat up full and it will pump out 1000 watts 24/7 so long as the temperature remains low enough. Maybe your room is too big or is draughty? Seems you were expecting to save your power but use it too, or vice versa, it is a 'chicken and egg' argument. Cheers Billy 8-{) :rolleyes:	Billy T (70)
1213384	2011-06-30 11:19:00	I've always had the thermostat is on full, and that's how I did my measurments. The thermostat basically senses oil temperature. 15° air temp is not hot - the heater should be working at full rated power in such conditions The only way to get 1 kW would be to direct a strong fan at it. I now realise why some heaters have a fan in them. I used to think it was to distribute the heat into the room - a rather useless requirement. I now think it is to get the full rating of the heater. The production cost of a heater basically depends on its size and weight. If the manufacturer can cut down on these (by installing a back-up cut-out) why not do it? The power rating stays the same and that's what influences buyers	BBCmicro (15761)
1213385	2011-06-30 20:55:00	It sounds as though the thermostat is faulty, Goldair is made in China now :) If it is still within warranty, then I'd exchange it. As Billy says, it should more or less stay on almost all the time if turned up to max. unless the room is very hot.	Terry Porritt (14)
1213386	2011-06-30 23:29:00	I've just measured another one (Goldair, 9-fin, 1kW), The same as previously except more slots in the cowling: Power when light says on: 890 W (3.75A @ 237 V) Average power in 16° air: 570 W (roughly 7min on, 4min off, averaged) (thermostat on full) Just to clarify: these heaters have no controls except the thermostat. The thermostat forces the heater off at the bottom of its range but does not force the heater on at the top	BBCmicro (15761)
1213387	2011-06-30 23:36:00	You are only using ordinary air - try with the golden stuff to get the rated performance.	R2x1 (4628)
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