Quote:
Originally Posted by Astro
The element has a thermal switch mounted to the side of it. This cuts the power when the element reaches about 180C and turns it back on when the temperature drops below 140C.
Not sure if i should run the element at its equilibrium temperature of 205C or let the thermal switch cycle the element on and off.
Not sure which is best for long term reliability. Is running the element at 205C going to shorten its life or is the thermal switch going to fail as it is now switching 156v DC rather than 240v AC?
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We're having -8 degC today and I'm tinkering with heater too so here's my .02:
- I didn't found any DC voltage rating of these small snap-switch thermostats so it's better to use em for controlling proper rated relay/contactor. After all you do need one for manual on-off control (hint: there're HV DC relays inside Prius battery boxes, I got two of ~100A and one 10A for less than $50)
- an element ripped from 230V 1500W heater connected to my 180V battery pack can reach ~1000W and it's only at a given fan speed; I guess it's "trapped" somewhere in transition region of resistance coefficient - see graph - so I'm awaiting package from U.S. witch cheap
110V ceramic space heater; 1000W doesn't feel like enough even in my small cabin
- here's nice YouTube find, you may skip to 4:28 for interesting part: