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Message |
    
Nephalist
Member
Username: Nephi
Post Number: 205
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 71.134.197.30
| | Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 04:00 pm: | 
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I picture the water heater element like the wires on a toaster: the resistance causes them to heat up. If so, are the wires inside the element? Are they insulated? I don't get it. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 10808
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.103.148
| | Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 06:26 pm: |
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From Wikipedia: "Tubular (sealed element): a fine coil of Nickel chrome wire in a insulating binder (MgO, aluminia powder), sealed inside a tube made of stainless steel or brass. These can be a straight rod (as in toaster ovens) or curved to fit in a smaller space (such as in electric stoves, ovens, and coffee makers." |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 3837
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 66.32.140.15
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 01:42 am: |
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Just go to HD or Blowes and look at some replacement elements. Not that you probably want one of those unless they have the low density/twisty kind. |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 1827
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 98.66.33.82
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 01:45 am: |
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They don't . . |
Patrick C.
Advanced Member
Username: Patrickc
Post Number: 926
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 99.170.160.145
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 06:47 pm: |
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Regular high density elements work fine for heating water, as long as you don't let the HLT run dry when they are turned on... |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 3841
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 66.32.244.206
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 01:27 am: |
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Sounds like you speak from experiance? Need a kill switch on the HLT valve it seems.
Did that once with a water heater that was drained. Need a kill switch in the HLT valve it seems. |
Joe Rovito
Intermediate Member
Username: Joez8
Post Number: 258
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 203.69.98.158
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 10:47 pm: |
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I buy Low Density 4500 & 5500 Watt elements in store @ HD.
1/2" NPT float switches available at Digikey, $20 for high temp plastic, $70 for S.S. - but can only switch a few hundred mA - so you can use them to interrupt the drive current to your Triac, but not switch the high voltage directly.
I am switching my HLT elements to Low Density because the High Density ones are noisy when they're on - though nothing compared to a propane jet. |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 1830
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 98.66.33.82
| | Posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009 - 02:47 am: |
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Yeah, I guess they do sell the "Low Density" folded elements, but they do not sell the "Ultra Low Density" twisty folded elements. |
Joe Rovito
Intermediate Member
Username: Joez8
Post Number: 260
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 98.247.121.86
| | Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 - 02:52 am: |
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dhacker:
Do you have a pic or link of the ULDs ? I wonder how much lower density they are?
I've had zero scorching with high gravity (1.100) wort with the HD LD 4500s.
I recall someone (BP?) doing a flux calculation / comparison of various elements a few years back - units were watts per sq. inch surface area - that made it easy to compare. |
Steve Haun
Intermediate Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 344
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 67.209.87.85
| | Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 - 03:36 am: |
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I bought mine here.
Bottom of the page.
http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=water+heater+element |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 1836
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 98.66.33.82
| | Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 - 12:07 pm: |
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Joe,
Yeah, Steve's link gives a pic at the bottom of the ULDs. 50w/sq.in is the rating for both the 4500w and 5500w elements. Most folded LD elements are 75w/ sq. in, though I see one in there that is 50. I guess a person just needs to check the specs to see what they end up with. |
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