Theoretical Heater Question

[Fella]

Ok, so lets say, my friend, he just gets a 120 litre tank

Lets say he fills it with water, turns the heater on, doesn't realise how cold the water is, and hears a loud bang as the heater blows up.

Seeing as he has a 60 litre and 70 litre pair of heaters sitting around, could he use these 2 heaters to heat the single tank?

My friend also right now would be wondering if anything bad will have just come out of the heater as it blew up in the water?

He thanks you a lot in advance, as he's really kicking himself that he's done this.

 

[kris-b-]

OK Tell your friend to watch out for glass inside the tank and be careful of the electrics! Make sure he doesn't get electrocuted when trying to remove the heaters or anything!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

so this friend of yours is really you well, heating a tank with 2 weaker heaters is better than heating with one powerful heater, it just costs more to use 2 weaker heaters. if a bigger heater breaks, itll make the temperature of the water rise quickly or make it drop. if you have 2 smaller heaters, and one fails, that one heater will take a long time to overheat the water or if it just stops working, the other heater will continue to heat the water.

 

[Fella]

Yeah, I'm such a buffoon.

I'm going to use the heater from the 60litre and the 70 litre to heat a 120 litre. Surely this will work? It's only till I go and buy a new one tomorrow mind you.

 

[kris-b-]

I think it should be ok Just keep an eye on the temp and be careful with the glass and electrics!

 

[Fella]

I've removed the old one, disconnected it from the wall and sworn at it a few times. Time to warm up the water then....

 

[clunkster]

how new was the heater? was it submerged? as i dont think it should have just gone bang

 

[Fella]

how new was the heater? was it submerged? as i dont think it should have just gone bang

It was submerged and it was a used heater. There was a weird almost grindy noise, then a bit of a bang. I was buying a new heater in the future anyway, so it's not quite a disaster.

 

[Torrean]

Why bother buying a new heater, as was said earlier two small heaters are better than one big one. They heat the water more eavenly and when one breaks it isn't a disaster.

 

[Fella]

The number of plug sockets used is sadly an issue

 

[Torrean]

Get a surge protector. It will help protect your equipment from thunderstorms as well as provide more outlets. Just don't forget the drip loops. Make sure it's high quality though. Some don't actually protect your equipment they just add outlets.

 

[Fella]

Get a surge protector. It will help protect your equipment from thunderstorms as well as provide more outlets. Just don't forget the drip loops. Make sure it's high quality though. Some don't actually protect your equipment they just add outlets.

Yeah, the maths makes it bad though

3 x filters
4 x lights
4 x heaters

There are only 3 sockets in this room. It also has a kettle, a tv, a digital receiver, an external aerial which needs a socket for boosting, and a laptop.

Plugs are at a premium!

 

[Torrean]

Well I'm no electrician so use your best judgement on this one.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

you cant rely on a surge protector to protect your equipment from lightning. lightning is far too powerful

 

[ccg]

Don't feel to bad. I have broken a heater 10minutes after It came out of the box... never even had a chance to get it into the water! It was a nice jager heater too, what a sad day that was.