The device and principle of operation of the heating convector
Structurally, an electric convector consists of a metal case (most often aluminum), a closed-type heating element, a thermostat, sensors, one of which measures the outside temperature, and the second is responsible for turning off the device when it overheats.
Due to the high thermal conductivity of metal parts Efficiency the device itself increases greatly, which allows you to quickly heat the room.
There are three main types of heating element:
- needle;
- tubular;
- monolithic.
The principle of operation is understood by any student who attended physics lessons. Air enters the convector through the openings at the bottom of the housing, touching Heating element, it heats up and rushes upward, thereby creating circulation and continuous movement of cold air masses through the heating element.
How to arrange convectors in a room: installation options for various types
The manufacturer offers electric heating convectors with a thermostat for floor, wall or built-in (stationary) location. Each type of accommodation has its own nuances of operation. Floor standing units raise more dust, just like floor standing units. Wall-mounted ones require correct height positioning. If you place them high, you will not be able to achieve normal heating of the room. The opposite situation is low convectors. Again there is the problem of rising dust.
Of the positive qualities of floor-standing or built-in equipment, we note the rapid and uniform heating of the room, despite the lower power of the heating elements compared to wall-mounted devices.
This is what a built-in convector heater looks like in the interior of a room.
Key differences between a convector and a radiator
The main difference between these two heating devices is that the radiator increases the temperature in the room by heating its own body. The convector, on the other hand, circulates, passes air through itself and heats it up, which allows you to quickly heat up the room.
Other distinguishing features include the fact that Efficiency convector is much higher, in most cases it approaches 100%.
The wall-mounted convector is very convenient to install, it takes up minimal space. Average convector service life is 20 years.
The only advantage of a radiator is its price, which is slightly lower than a convector, but sometimes quality is much more important than money.
Convector or standard oil heater?
Take a look at the comparison chart in this overview article >>>
Varieties of wall-mounted electric convectors
All wall models can be roughly divided into several main types:
- high;
- low;
- with advanced functionality;
- with a classic design;
- decorative.
Tall convectors can be considered standard. As for the low type, they are designed to be mounted under windows with a low sill or under panoramic windows.
As for the varieties with a classic design and decorative, then everything is clear. For creative people or simply for those who want to be unique, you can find and purchase a convector in the store, which will differ from the usual one with its simple and boring metal body.
As for the extended functionality, this type is suitable for those who need freedom of choice.It is for them that convectors with a programming function have been created.
Infrared wall heaters
Infrared devices are a panel with a heat exchanger inside. Such heaters are heated with infrared radiation, of which the area of such devices should be larger than, for example, a quartz heater, which is unlikely to be able to warm anything.
The infrared also produces long-wavelength radiation that is pleasant to humans. But the convection of such devices will be comparable to a conventional convector, because they do not have sections, but they do not need this, since their main heating method is infrared radiation, which they do just fine.
Pros:
- Pleasant warmth
- Acceptable price
- Simple assembly
Minuses:
- Not suitable for main heating
- Bad convection
- Noticeable electricity consumption
The main advantages and disadvantages of electric convectors
One of its main advantages is the fastening method. It is convenient and optimal to mount the heater on the wall, which will not only save space, but also heat the room faster.
In addition, buying a convector of any type, you can immediately put it into operation. You do not have to participate or pay for the creation of grandiose projects of heating systems.
And the most important plus is the speed of heating the room. Any other heating devices will not cope with this task so quickly.
Among the disadvantages, the following should be considered:
- the device must be located near an electrical network (outlet);
- high consumption of electrical energy.
Where are electric radiators used?
Currently, more and more owners of suburban buildings are turning their eyes to wall-mounted electric heating radiators. Several reasons contribute to this high demand:
- Lack of gas supply
- Expensive gas wiring to the site
- High cost of connecting an electric boiler
- Difficulty installing water heating systems
The common advantage of all electric batteries is their simplicity:
- Easy to mount yourself
- Easy connection to the mains, no costly work
- No separate rooms (boiler rooms) required
- No problem with freezing the system
- No complicated and expensive repairs, a broken device can be easily replaced with a new one
Below we will try to show you the advantages of each heater option.
Types of thermostats used in heating devices based on the principle of convection
One of the main elements of any electric convector is a built-in thermostat that allows you to set the required temperature in the room. Thermostat control can be:
- electronic;
- mechanical.
If the thermal regulator is mechanical, the adjustment is made by turning the step switch. Its main advantage is its low cost. Among the disadvantages are:
- the inability to set the exact temperature;
- increased consumption of electrical energy.
An electronic thermostat in this matter is much more practical. With its help, you can easily set the required temperature, this device is practically silent, it is energy efficient. Convectors with this type of thermostat are more expensive, but hardly anyone will dispute their advantages.
Selection of the optimal equipment power
The choice of the power of the convector is made according to a very simple formula: to heat 1 m2 space needs to be spent 100 watts of power. The resulting power must be increased by one and a half to two times with a ceiling height above 2.5 meters... If the convector is used as an additional source of heating, then the power is reduced 1.5 times.
Device power, kW | Room area, m2 |
1000 | 10 |
1200 | 12 |
1500 | 15 |
2000 | 20 |
2500 | 25 |
The economic feasibility of purchasing a convector powered by electricity
- for heating a country house, where there is no possibility of using gas networks;
- in apartments as the main or additional type of heating;
- trade pavilions and tentswhere there is no other way to warm up in the cold season.
As practice shows, heating one square meter when using an electric convector is about 7-10 dollars in year. With the ability to adjust the temperature, you can save up to 40-80% electric energy, depending on the degree of exploitation of the living space.
How to choose the best convector
Moving on to the choice, you should focus on the type of room. The same convector model will not be equally effective for a child's room, bathroom and country house.
The second step in choosing a good electric convector will be to calculate the power relative to the area of the room. This is important if the device is too weak, the room will not be heated properly, or energy consumption will increase.
If there is a need to heat a bathroom or kitchen, the convector must be protected from moisture and splashes. For a bedroom or a children's room, a convector heater with the lowest noise level is needed, users often write reviews on the Internet that this or that model causes discomfort at night. The living room is usually the largest. Here, the noise level rarely becomes a priority characteristic; appearance, option and the presence of an air ionizer will be much more important.
When an electric convector is the main source of heat in a country house, among other characteristics, it must be equipped with an anti-freeze option. It is also worth taking a closer look at gas-fueled models, they do not depend on the availability of electricity.
A brief overview of the models that are in high demand
Timberk TEC.E0 M 1500
Built-in heating elements belong to the series HEATING ENERGI BALANS - a revolutionary system with almost instant heating to peak power. Built-in overheating protection provided PROLIFE SAFETY SYSTEM, significantly increasing the service life and safety of the equipment.
The brand belongs to a Swedish company that entered the equipment market around 15 years ago, thanks to the innovative developments of Scandinavian specialists. Currently, the company is an international holding with representative offices in European countries, the Asian region and in Russia.
The model was developed by the Israeli branch and is assembled in China. The convector has a built-in mechanical thermostat with step power control. Provided 2 ranges heating: 650 and 850 Wt... The operation programming mode is provided.
The design provides a special sensor COMFORT, which controls the optimal indoor temperature.
The water resistance of the equipment belongs to the class IP24, respectively, the electrical appliance is reliably protected from splashes, can be installed in rooms with high humidity levels. Stands are included in the package, so the heater is equally suitable for wall and floor mounting.
Dimensions: 580/330/540 for width, depth and height, respectively, product weight: 5 kg.
Nobo Viking NFC 2N - NFC 4N
The modernized generation of the previous models of this class, which have gained popularity among users.
The brand belongs to a Norwegian company with a century history. The company began its activity with the production of ironmongery, gradually adjusting to the needs of the market, has become one of the leading European suppliers of heating equipment.
The equipment is used for heating rooms with an area 10-28 m2, ideal for residential and commercial properties.
Models are considered universal: suitable for floor and wall mounting, are available in a waterproof and dustproof housing that meets the international class IP24: splash and wet protection. Thanks to this feature, the products can be installed in bathrooms.
The products are distinguished by their silent operation, they automatically maintain the set temperature. The scope of delivery does not include a thermostat: the element is purchased separately. Any removable class thermostat is suitable for installation NCU... Dimensions:
- Width - 1,025 mm.
- Height - 200 mm.
- Depth - 50 mm.
The mass of products does not exceed 4 Kg, built-in overheating protection is provided.
Ballu BEC / EZER-1500
The temperature regime is set by the heating element of the class DOUBLE G FORSE: patented next generation technology. Uniform heating of the inner space is provided by the convection circuit THERMORESIST COMPACT and enlarged air intake series IINTAKE.
The brand belongs to a Chinese company, the equipment is assembled in Russia. As a result, the products attract the attention of buyers with an affordable price and high build quality, while being adapted to work in difficult climatic conditions.
Model rated power 1,500 watts, the equipment is designed for heating rooms with an area up to 20 m2... Heating elements evenly warm up the interior space, creating a comfortable and cozy atmosphere.
The product is ideal for installation in apartments, country houses, office premises. The design of the model was developed by Italian specialists, so the product fits harmoniously into any interior interior.
The design provides built-in overheating protection, an ultra-precise thermostat with an electronic control system. The product is manufactured in a moisture-proof case, so it can be used in rooms with high humidity levels. Dimensions: 595*400*100, structural weight - 4 Kg.
Polaris PCH 1001
The product is manufactured in a waterproof case, so it is ideal for rooms with high humidity levels: bathrooms, toilets, kitchens.
Leading Russian company founded in 1992, by a group of enthusiastic students of the Moscow Aviation Institute. The trademark belongs to an international manufacturing corporation TEXTON CORPORATION LLC, registered in the state of Delaware.
Currently, the company's representative offices POLARIS are available in Israel, China, Italy, the range of products produced includes more than 700 items... However, the priority direction of the enterprise's development remains climatic systems and heating equipment.
Polaris PCH 1001 Is a convector with a capacity of 1,000 wattsdesigned for heating premises with an area up to 15 m2... The model is equipped with a mechanical control system, suitable for wall mounting and floor installation. The case is metal, which completely excludes accidental mechanical damage.
The built-in heating element is made of aluminum alloy, has an X-shape, which ensures uniform heating of the air flow. The design has a built-in thermostat, but there is no automatic shutdown sensor. The model works in one mode.
Dimensions: 460 * 400 * 86mm, weight - 4 Kg.
Electrolux EFH / W-1020
A bright representative of the brand. Compact but powerful wall-mounted convector designed for heating rooms with an area up to 27 m2.
The birthplace of the brand is Sweden, the history of the manufacturing company includes over 100 years... The company initially specialized in the development of household appliances and electronics. From about the middle 70-80s... last century, the manufacturer launches a new product line designed to maintain a comfortable and healthy atmosphere in living quarters.
Currently, it is the largest international concern known in 150 world countries
Temperature control is maintained by a ceramic heating element: devices of this class are recognized as the most durable and safest on the market.
The model is equipped with an electronic control system, for ease of use, a remote control is provided DU, the switch is supplemented with an LED indicator. The design includes a built-in thermostat, there is an automatic shutdown timer. The product is intended for wall mounting.
The convector heats up the interior in just 10 minutes, the room temperature is displayed on the LCD.
Built-in overheating and short circuit protection is provided for safe operation. An interesting solution is the built-in air ionizer.
Dimensions: 654*251*146, weight - 4.2 kg.
Noirot Spot E-5 1500
Designed for work in residential and office premises. The design is based on a heater RX SILENCE PLUScreated using patented technology.
The products are manufactured by a French company with an interesting history. The founder of the company is Jacques Noirot, the inventor of the world's first electric heater. Thanks to the work of the company, post-war France was able to survive the solid fuel shortage without losses.
Today, the range of products manufactured includes more than 40 items, the brand is known in 100 world countries.
The heater provides uniform heating of the interior space, does not burn oxygen, and maintains optimal humidity.
The product has a multi-level protection system, thanks to the function AUTO RESTART well tolerates power surges, can function autonomously. The products are manufactured in a moisture-proof casing, so they can be installed in rooms with high humidity without additional grounding.
Electronic control is responsible for turning on / off the equipment, sets the desired temperature regime, protects the equipment from freezing in the winter.
Dimensions: 440*580*50, weight - 5.5KG.
Stiebel Eltron CNS 150 S
Wall-mounted convector with mechanical control system. Efficiency equipment is 98%, which is the best indicator on the equipment market. High efficiency is achieved due to the tubular heating element made of aluminum alloy.
The brand belongs to a German company that is leading history since 1924... Initial specialization: production of boilers and low-power home heaters. AT 1991 year, the first ventilation system with heat recovery was launched into series production.
Currently, the company's products are known all over the world, the manufacturer is constantly expanding the range, introducing new technologies and patented developments in home heating systems.
The design provides an electronic thermostat with stepwise temperature control in the range + 5 / + 30 degrees.
For safe operation, a relay is provided that automatically turns off the device in case of overheating. The body of the model is protected from moisture and dust, so the model is ideal for bathrooms and rooms with high levels of humidity.
Dimensions: 620 * 140 * 500mm, weight: 6 Kg.
Principle of operation
Electric convectors for heating in many positions are more profitable than other appliances that consume current. Their advantages include ease of installation, as well as ease of use.
Devices are mounted in the lower area of the room. The maximum height from the floor should be no more than 15-17 cm. Measurements are usually taken from the top level of the plinth. Heating convectors draw in cool air through their intake grill. Passing into the cavity of the convector for heating the house, the air is heated by the radiator installed inside.The temperature rise process takes place almost instantly.
Read with this article: Heating radiator connection diagrams
Further, the gas penetrates past the upper louvers and is removed from the cavity into the room. Warm masses, thanks to the laws of physics, rise to the upper part of the room and gradually cool down. Sinking down, they are captured by the flow that passes through the convector grate again for heating a private house. Thus, a closed process is formed. The fan does not participate in this chain. The fence is carried out naturally. This design solution makes the equipment as quiet as possible.
The system is equipped with high-precision modern thermostats with excellent electronic filling. They allow you to maintain maximum temperature accuracy, up to 0.10C. The system does not interfere with the installation of any additional auxiliary modules, which make it possible to increase the efficiency of work.
One of these devices is a programmer. Indoors, it is fixed on the wall and is a control unit, thanks to which all electric convectors for heating a private house are combined into a controlled network. They are able to work in the following modes:
- maintain a well-defined temperature in the right rooms;
- issue a different temperature regime for each zone;
- work according to a given schedule.
The frequency at which the programmers are operated does not interfere with other devices such as radio or wireless internet.
Heater device
To decide which convector to choose for your home, you should know its internal structure. The basic heating device for it is a tubular electric heater, which consists of the following elements:
- base - outer steel tube;
- heating element - nichrome spiral thread;
- insulation - backfill made of quartz sand or ceramics.
An additional effect can be obtained from the ribs located outside the tube, which increase the heating surface. The larger this area of the heat exchanger, the more efficiently the heating of a country house with electricity will be.
There is also a thermostat inside, which is responsible for the timely shutdown of the power supply. In this way, it reduces the risk of overheating of the device. There are two popular types of thermostat:
- mechanical - easily tolerates problems with voltage drops, is inexpensive, withstands an interval of 0.5-1.0 ° C;
- electronic - has no characteristic clicks during on / off, the accuracy is up to 0.3 ° C, has several modes of operation.
VIDEO: Electronic and mechanical thermostats in convectors
Advantages over other devices
To figure out which convector to buy, you need to determine the selection criteria. Most models of heaters have the following positive qualities:
- for installation, it is not required to coordinate the installation project with any organizations, it is enough to buy it and hang it on the wall yourself;
- ease of installation does not require the intervention of third-party specialists, all work is easily performed independently;
- complex preventive maintenance is not provided, the devices can effectively work up to 25 years;
- affordable cost, choosing an electric boiler or convectors, they often prefer the second option due to the lower cost;
- noiselessness is achieved due to the absence of fans;
- such heaters keep oxygen in the room without burning it out;
- high efficiency, up to 95%, is achieved with minimal losses during the conversion of electrical energy into heat;
- reduced inertia provides the start of heating immediately after the device is connected to the network, often the exit to the operating mode is reduced to 30 s, since there are no intermediate stages of heating the heat carriers in the form of water or oil.
However, electricity costs remain quite high. It takes about 100 watts to heat 1 m2 of area. This parameter is relevant for room heights up to 2.7 m. If the ceilings are higher, then for every 10-15 cm the power will need to be increased by about 10%. It is possible to increase the efficiency of operation by installing under each window of the convector. To do this, select devices of the appropriate overall parameters.
VIDEO: Floor heating water convector
What are convectors
In order to find out which convector is better to buy, you will need to decide on the installation scheme. Manufacturers offer two types of home heaters:
- suspension;
- floor.
Suspended
Such models, unlike floor ones, do not require a base or platform where the device will be installed. To fix them to the wall, special brackets and fasteners are used. But it must be borne in mind that there are certain restrictions on the installation of mounted models:
the height limit is not an air conditioner, which is installed under the ceiling, and not a radiator, the place of which is above the baseboard. The maximum distance to which the wall-mounted convector can be removed from the floor does not exceed 100 cm, otherwise there will be no sense from it. Although today models have already appeared on the market, where the output of warm air through the lower holes is provided, due to which sufficient circulation of thermal masses is ensured.
However, nothing prevents the use of a hinged structure under the windowsill, by analogy with conventional radiators. It is in such places that it is most advisable to mount heat sources, since windows in any room are the largest and, as a rule, the least protected heat-dissipating surface. When cold air gets inside, it mixes with warm air masses from the heater, as a result of which they manage to warm up even before they move further around the room.
The convector, as well as the radiator installed under the windows, create an air thermal wall that prevents the penetration of cold air from outside.
Floor standing
The principle of operation of such a device is identical to the suspended one and is based on convection, when cold air pushes up warm, having a lower density. That is, in order for the heating process to begin, it is necessary to put into operation a heat source (not only water, but also gas and electricity can act as a heat carrier), which, in contact with cold masses, will warm them up and push them out.
To increase the mobility of heating, it is the floor structure that is in demand. It is based on special feet that are designed for a secure fit. These devices have a built-in overturn sensor inside. With its help, the automation will instantly turn off the power supply when the unit falls. This design solution increases the level of safe operation of heaters.
Read with this article: Types of heating radiators and their performance
Fixed-wall models do not include a rollover sensor, so it is not recommended to convert them for mobile use.
We will briefly review the most popular models today, which combine such basic qualities presented by the buyer as economy, reliability, and the ability to withstand active operation.
Additional features that 80% of buyers are interested in
- Anti-frost function... If you activate this function, the heater will automatically start heating the room at a temperature below 5 degrees;
- There are additional functions: "economy", "comfort";
- One of the most useful additional functions of the convector can be considered air ionization;
- Roll-over sensor. An important feature that helps protect young children and pets. In the event of a fall, the device automatically turns off;
- Automatic memorization of parameters, which were set at startup;
- Modern convectors make it possible to program the operating parameters, so you have the opportunity hourly temperature change.
Safety of operation of household electrical appliances
- minimum distance from socket - 0.8 meters;
- it is forbidden to cover the convector with anything;
- if the device is installed in a room with high humidity, it is necessary to purchase a special model with protection.
Ideally, the convector should have a tubular or monolithic Heating element, electronic thermostat and equipped with an overheating function. An optional but pleasant bonus can be the presence of a remote control. And one more thing: do not overpay for models, rely not on the brand of the device, but on its functionality.
Coziness and warmth to your home!