Need Technical Assistance Please

[MermaidMel]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212517

 

[Underwurlde]

See your orignal thread...

Andy

 

[MermaidMel]

Thanks for replying, it's what I'd done.

Even so, I don't get this...

Heater with original plug heats to 81
Without heater water gets to 72
With heater wired into cable tidy gets to 74-76

WTF?!

 

[Underwurlde]

Is the heater at 45 degree angle thus: / (this is important for heaters with internal thermostats).
Positioned in the middle (height wise) of the tank?
Is it postitioned near the outlet of the filter, i.e. in an area of the tank with good circulation.

 

[MermaidMel]

Is the heater at 45 degree angle thus: / (this is important for heaters with internal thermostats).
Positioned in the middle (height wise) of the tank?
Is it postitioned near the outlet of the filter, i.e. in an area of the tank with good circulation.

it's a junior heater so it's a flat 7.5w undergravel heater, therefore the positioning is that same regardless

 

[Underwurlde]

Ah I see. LOL.

In that case, God know why the descrepency....

Andy

 

[merry78]

in the cable tidy, is the cord coiled/folded/kinked? this can increase resistance, and may therefore reduce power going to the heater. I think this may affect it (not sure though....).

 

[rowdyburns21]

Right so its an undergravel heater?
Im thinking it may work on the same principle as christmas tree lights, i.e when the bulb brakes nothing further along the chain can work, you may have blew something in the heater or it may just be faulty so it will not be functioning near full capacity, does that make sense?

 

[MermaidMel]

Right so its an undergravel heater?
Im thinking it may work on the same principle as christmas tree lights, i.e when the bulb brakes nothing further along the chain can work, you may have blew something in the heater or it may just be faulty so it will not be functioning near full capacity, does that make sense?

Yeah maybe when I cut the cable to put it in the tidy thing?
Saying that, why would the water with the heater in be 76 but the empty tank next to it be just under 72 that doesn't have a heater in it lol
The plot thickens

 

[Underwurlde]

n the cable tidy, is the cord coiled/folded/kinked? this can increase resistance, and may therefore reduce power going to the heater.

Coiling a wire will increase its inductance and as a result increase the impedance for alternating currents (i.e. mains), but in order to see any effect you're talking coiling up 100m or so of cable (think extension cables) - even in this scenario the effect is minimal and could mean that an uncoiled extension cable gets warm if the load is heavy (such as a bar fire)... Kinking or folding, certainly no effect what so ever, this is not akin to a hose pipe!

Im thinking it may work on the same principle as christmas tree lights

UG heaters comprise of an enitre heating element that is shielded, so not like christmas tree lights then.

I think you'd have to wait quite some time for 7.5W heater to get that amount of water up to the original 81.... How many litres is your tank? Leave it on over-night & see what temp it is at in the morning.

BTW, how are you measuring tempertuare?

Andy

 

[MermaidMel]

n the cable tidy, is the cord coiled/folded/kinked? this can increase resistance, and may therefore reduce power going to the heater.

Coiling a wire will increase its inductance and as a result increase the impedance for alternating currents (i.e. mains), but in order to see any effect you're talking coiling up 100m or so of cable (think extension cables) - even in this scenario the effect is minimal and could mean that an uncoiled extension cable gets warm if the load is heavy (such as a bar fire)... Kinking or folding, certainly no effect what so ever, this is not akin to a hose pipe!

Im thinking it may work on the same principle as christmas tree lights

UG heaters comprise of an enitre heating element that is shielded, so not like christmas tree lights then.

I think you'd have to wait quite some time for 7.5W heater to get that amount of water up to the original 81.... How many litres is your tank? Leave it on over-night & see what temp it is at in the morning.

BTW, how are you measuring tempertuare?

Andy

It's for my betta's tank, it's not big! Anyway, I took it out the cable tidy and put a plug back on it and it works fine - I know the cable tidy works because the pump was working, just maybe something to do with volts or watts that it didn't like? whatever, it works, I'm happy now and thanks for all your help

 

[Underwurlde]

OK.

But something in what you are saying does not make any sense. I am not suggesting you are wrong, but alarm bells are ringing in my mind with regards your cable tidy: If indeed voltage is being lost somewhere then that something will be using energy and be either moving, glowing or getting hot. Another possiblitiy is that there is a loose wire in there somewhere. With that in mind can you do me a favour? Promise me you'll get that cable tidy thing looked at by an electrican? Something does not seem right AT ALL!!!!

Andy (BEng. Hons. Electrical & Electrionics Engineer).

 

[MermaidMel]

OK.

But something in what you are saying does not make any sense. I am not suggesting you are wrong, but alarm bells are ringing in my mind with regards your cable tidy: If indeed voltage is being lost somewhere then that something will be using energy and be either moving, glowing or getting hot. Another possiblitiy is that there is a loose wire in there somewhere. With that in mind can you do me a favour? Promise me you'll get that cable tidy thing looked at by an electrican? Something does not seem right AT ALL!!!!

Andy (BEng. Hons. Electrical & Electrionics Engineer).

Shall I post it to ya?