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Thread ID: 88983 2008-04-16 10:14:00 How efficient is an electric heater? george12 (7) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
659562 2008-04-16 11:22:00 OK I'm giving up here.... I had a nice argument all planned out in my head, and then as I reached the end of it it turned around and told me that George was right!

Traitor of an argument - I call friendly fire :badpc: .

Does this mean we're both right, or both wrong? Can a nice mod change my vote?
Erayd (23)
659563 2008-04-16 12:17:00 More than 2KW of heat would be put into the room, the losses in the cord and power outlet would add to the heater's output, plus a percentage of the losses in the internal wiring within the wall.
In the summer, it would be heaps more, because it is made from thermally generated power which leaves the power station quite hot, whereas in the winter the power would likely come mostly come from hydro electric power, and some of that hydro power from the South Island will be pretty chilly.
R2x1 (4628)
659564 2008-04-16 12:23:00 I think gas heater is much electricity efficient.

I remember when i was at high school.During winter we would use approximately $800 electricity bill per month

My grandfather needed heating as he couldn't bare the cold.
Ninjabear (2948)
659565 2008-04-16 14:31:00 never having thought about it, i'd assume that seeing as electrical inefficiency in a device without moving parts is always ultimately heat, having a device to make nothing but heat would be reasonably close to 100% efficient at doing so

so for every 2KW power used by the device, i'd expect 2KJ/s of heat energy to be released... close enough to 100% for me

and whoever talked about a circut having to return, we're talking about the device on it's own, where a voltage drop from 230V to 0V at approximately 4.5A means 2KW of power is being used
motorbyclist (188)
659566 2008-04-16 21:52:00 I'd personally go for exactly 100%.

After all - any "other" energy that the heater puts out will ultimately be converted to heat when it "hits" something. Minuscule amounts, yes, but still heat energy. The stray emissions that aren't the desired infrared (EMI, visible, whatever) are still essentially the same stuff (photons) and will heat up things in the same way.
MushHead (10626)
659567 2008-04-16 23:36:00 Another point to ponder: "If a 2KW electric heater is switched on in the middle of a forest, does a Greenie have an apoplectic fit?" johcar (6283)
659568 2008-04-16 23:45:00 I would think near enough so the difference (if any) is not measurable.
Part of that 2000 Watts is converted to light is it not?
Sweep (90)
659569 2008-04-16 23:53:00 Another point to ponder: "If a 2KW electric heater is switched on in the middle of a forest, does a Greenie have an apoplectic fit?"

It all depends on the length of the extension lead...........:illogical
Terry Porritt (14)
659570 2008-04-17 01:04:00 Although the heater is almost 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat, you should also consider the generating station that produced the electricity in the first place.

Some of them can be very inefficient.
You forgot the 33% or so from transmission.
mikebartnz (21)
659571 2008-04-17 01:07:00 I think gas heater is much electricity efficient.

I remember when i was at high school.During winter we would use approximately $800 electricity bill per month

My grandfather needed heating as he couldn't bare the cold.
The free standing gas heaters can pump out a litre of water an hour on full blast so can counteract the heat benefit when turned off.
mikebartnz (21)
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