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Best position for a heater?

I have a convection panel heater (no fan) that can be used on wheels or wall-mounted. The warm air rises from the top of the heater, not the front, & the front panel gives off radiant heat.

I also use the fan on reverse mode to push the warm air back down.

I'm working out the best position for the heater.

Putting it under a window seems to be popular advice but I've also read that placing it against an internal wall is good, as the internal wall warms up & retains the heat for longer.

Does anyone have any thoughts/advice?

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Comments

JacobZ

Hi @Else,

Putting the heater under a window works well if there’s cold air coming in because warm air rises from the heater and helps stop that chill from sinking into the room. It’s a common spot for a reason, especially in older houses or with single glazing.

Mounting it on an internal wall is better for keeping heat in the room longer. Internal walls don’t lose heat like external ones do, so it can be more efficient, especially if your place is well-insulated and you’re not getting cold drafts from the windows.

Since your heater also gives off radiant heat from the front, make sure it’s facing into the room, not into furniture or a wall. And if you're using a ceiling fan in reverse, that’ll help spread the warmth around no matter where you place the heater.

If the room gets cold near the window, go with that spot. If not, an internal wall will probably be more efficient. Just keep it clear and let the warm air do its thing.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

Else

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/54038#Comment_54038

Thanks Jacob, that's really helpful.

If I wall mount the heater & plug the cord into the wall socket, I'm guessing that the cord shouldn't be behind the heater itself ... but the cord is quite long. What should I do?

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/89243#Comment_89243

Hi @Else,

Yeah, it would be best not to put the cord behind the heater.

You could just bundle the excess cable and tie it off with some Cable Ties , then sit it beside the heater.

It will look neater, and it won't be a trip hazard.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

Else

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/110399#Comment_110399

Thanks Jacob 😊

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/122571#Comment_122571

Hi @Else

Much as I hate to contradict @JacobZ This is a major no no. Coiling up a cable in this way when drawing the amount of power that a heater draws can cause the cable to overheat (due to something caused inductance, buts lets not get too technical). It is for this reason that wind up extension leads have a warning on them not to use unless fully unwound. There are a lot of to and for arguments but the following web page should give you an Idea of the potential dangers''''

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/192923/why-is-it-dangerous-use-a-coiled-extension-cord

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/130449#Comment_130449

Hi @Else

I should have added that the best option is to have an electrician in to shorten the cable.

Else

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/135330#Comment_135330

Thanks R4addZ.

Does how the coil is wound up have any impact -i.e. whether it’s tightly or loosely wound up? I'm guessing the more tightly wound up, the greater the risk but was curious...

And does the risk vary with cord type/thickness? Not that I'm going to experiment! I was just wondering for example, whether a coiled extension cord is a greater risk than a USB cord?

And finally, I'm guessing that cutting the cord may void any warranty but if the cable is shortened, can a longer cord be added if needed at a later date?

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @Else

I actually prefer those style of heaters to be on wheels/feet so they can be moved around as required. As you move around your place why not take the heat source with you is the thought process. 🙂

I did not know about the under window explanation that @JacobZ has mentioned, nodding to myself on new thing learnt for the day.

As to the cable length being too long, it is perfectly safe to coil it. High current devices are generally not within a home so pretty much most things are not on the worry meter. I would use spiral wrap 20mm or D-Line 2.5m Ø10-40mm White Wrap Cable Tidy Organiser to wrap around your coiled cable. I have done this plenty of times.

Dave

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138592#Comment_138592

Hello @Else

Let me tag @R4addZ to make them aware of your questions.

Eric

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140771#Comment_140771

Hi @Else & @Dave-1

If it was safe to coil cables up whilst drawing higher currents (as heaters do) wind up extension leads wouldn't carry warnings not to use them whilst coiled up!

So Inductance, what is it and how can it be dangerous? when two cables are in close proximity with AC voltage passing through them they can "induce" voltages in the adjacent cable by electo magnetic radiation (a great way to see this happening is if you have a power supply for something like a laptop with an led indicator in it, unplug it from the laptop first and then from the power and you will notice that it takes time for the LED to go off. that is because as the voltage goes off from the socket, the collapsing voltage induces a voltage into the coils of the transformer generating a voltage that keeps the led on and then when that voltage begins to collapse it induces a voltage yet again and so on till it has decayed enough for the led to go off and that's why the led takes time to go off.

A transformer is simply coils of wire so by coiling a cable you are creating a simple version of the transformer but you are constantly feeding it with power and the induced voltages can conflict with the input power and the result is generated heat. ultimately you can end up with the situations shown in the link I posted earlier.

Look I may be being simplistic in my explanation but the danger is present, how present I can't say but I would rather say there is danger than not and risk a fire with who knows what consequences. Would you rather play safe or just say what the heck and risk it?

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/54113#Comment_54113

Hi @Dave-1

A 2 bar electic heater can draw between 8 and 10 amps (in a domestic situation, that is quite high current) and you would probably trip the breaker if you had 2 heaters on the same circuit! I carry Public liability insurance to $50 Million and I recommend not doing this, how much do you carry if you are saying it is perfectly safe? I also linked to other sites that showed that it may well not be. Please be careful stating emphatically what is safe and what isn't because it comes down to who would be liable if things went pear shaped, you or Bunnings?

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/89286#Comment_89286

Evening @R4addZ

Just to let you know, I am a sparky. Have been since 1990. Worked in heavy industry, dockyards, technician with Telstra and It. I have seen inductance and consequences with it. Its one cable wrapped a few times, most work places have that in varrying degrees. Yes heaters do draw more current but even so several trurns would not be a concern. I know I will be having a chat to the sparkies at work and Elec engineers tomorrow to see their opinons (always willing to learn new things and change my opinions) but have been down this discussion path at work before 🙂 Yes we are geeks and testing this type of theory out somehow grabs out attentions.

Dave

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/110428#Comment_110428

Hi @Dave-1

Look forward to your feedback, I am only commenting on what I was taught as are you. But I lean to the side of caution as you probably do and find it safer to say no rather than yes! Just a point here is that I have a plug in electric Wok and just cooking the cable gets hot, how do you think it would go if I coiled that cable?

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/122583#Comment_122583

Goodmorning All

We see things differently 🙂 As much as I would enjoy to keep on with the discussion we arnt going to change our opinons 🙂 That is the good side of this forum, there are different views over how to and what should be. The answer that @Else was after is the main point of the thread. I perosnally like the heater to be on wheels, others like the wall or under the window suggestion. All are valid. Just different ways to go about it.

Until next time on a question 🙂

Dave

Else

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/130454#Comment_130454

Hi Dave-1 & R4addZ

Thanks for all your comments...

Reading your different opinions is a great way for me to broaden my knowledge & to work out how I should approach sthg/solve a problem.

On the one hand, it's reassuring to read that something is probably ok (if it mostly is)... On the other, it's also good for me to understand the risks.

Even if they're remote, some are significant in their effect & as I don't have the expertise to judge many electrical scenarios, erring on the side of cautious is probably best with electrical things! I'm really grateful to you both though. I'm learning a lot!

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