Re: Ceramic heating element efficiency

[Peter VanDerWal <peterv@peoplepc.com>]

The heating elements convert electricity into heat at nearly 100%. 
 Transfering that heat to the air is somewhat less.

As in all things the more changes/stages you go through the lower your 
efficiency, the hot water system will require more energy imput for the 
same amount of heated air.

Ceramic: electricity->hot element->heat air

Water: electricity->hot element->heat water->move water->heat 
exchanger->heat air

Victor Tikhonov wrote:

>Can one estimate how efficient ceramic heaters are in terms of
>converting electric watts into Joules (sorry, BTUs)?
>
>I want to know if I get, say 100V 5A ceramic heater(s) in the place 
>of former heater core and blow an air through it, will I get 
>more/equal/less heat than if I get 100V 5A water heater, immerse it 
>in a small water tank circulating hot water through the stock core, 
>and blow equal amount of air through that core?
>
>I'm talking about battery energy wastefulness of each alternative,
>not simplicity or the cost of components. Any other technical
>(not practical or economical at this point) cons/pros of each method?
>
>Any info/data, anybody?
>Just saying that you install one and it's working fine is not exactly 
>"data" and won't help to compare.
>
>Thank you all,
>
>Victor
>
>
>John Wayland wrote:
>
>>Hello to All,
>>
>>Victor Tikhonov wrote:
>>
>>>List,
>>>
>>>Can someone please point me to the source of the ceramic heating
>>>elements (or consumer products elements are pulled from) people use
>>>for EV heaters?
>>>
>>The best ones for use in EV heaters that I've found, come from Randy Holmquist at Canadian
>>EV. Cheaper versions of them are in those inexpensive, usually square-shaped heaters you
>>can get at hardware stores and as I said in my earlier post, at Home Depot for about $10.
>>
>>>Is it common thing you buy in K-mart or home depot
>>>or is it special item/special store?
>>>
>>Yes, they are very common and are usually badged with something about it being a ceramic
>>heater. The element itself is about 4 X 5 inches and has a fine mesh look to it. much like
>>a miniature car radiator. One will give 'OK' heat that will do fine, but two of these
>>puppies can really crank out some serious heat, very close to the effect of a modern
>>warmed liquid car heater. I used twin elements in Red Beastie's heater, and it was pretty
>>much like the factory heater that came with the truck, only of course, it was instant-on
>>:-)
>>
>>See Ya......John Wayland
>>
>
>
>