trying to stay warm

Cardew

CrabPaste wrote:

You seem to understand how the appliances work, but you've contradicted yourself in the post above.

The only way a Fan Heater can produce heat is by drawing power.

An Oil Filled Radiator continues to produce heat AFTER it's stopped consuming power, because the oil maintains its temperature for some time, therefore, doesn't need to consume power for as long as a fan heater.

Of course when the thermostat kicks in and both appliances are drawing power, if they're the same wattage, they will use the same amount of energy. That applies to any appliance drawing equal power no matter what it is.

Here's a quote from an external website.


Because the oil retains heat without drawing power, it takes longer for the temperature of the room to fall before power is required to reheat the oil. A Fan Heater would have needed to draw power to maintain the same room temperature.

This is where the cost saving is. Not the time the heaters are on, but the time that they're off, but the OFR can still output heat.

No I have not in any way contradicted myself.

For any specific electrical power input(in kWh), the output in heat is exactly the same as the efficiency of them is 100%(or close enough to make no difference)

The point you are missing is that whilst the Oil Filled Radiator will give out heat after the power is switched off, it takes longer to get up to heat so does not heat up the room as quickly as a Fan Heater.

So, for a given amount of power consumed, a fan heater will produce more heat but for a shorter period of time. The oil filled radiator will produce less heat but for a longer period of time. Both produce exactly the same amount of heat. So there is no cost saving in using any of them.

To give an example:

A fan heater will, say, raise the temperature of a room by 3C in 2 minutes but as soon as it is switched off it produces no heat and the room will cool rapidly.

An Oil Filled radiator, using the same amount of power, will, say take 20 minutes to raise the temperature of the same room by 3C but the room will cool down at a slower rate because of the residual heat in the radiator.

To give another more extreme example:

Switch on a 1kW electric fan heater for an hour(and use 1kWh) and it will raise the temperature of a kitchen quickly.

Use the same 1kWh on an electric element to heat a huge vat of water and it will only slowly raise the temperature of the kitchen; but the hot water will continue to release heat for a long while after the power is off.

Both have used the same amount of electricity, the same amount of heat has been produced, and the cost is the same. The only difference is in the time taken to warm up the kitchen, and for it to cool down.

CrabPaste

You wouldn't use an Oil Filled Radiator in a situation where you need instant heat, for short periods of time. That defeats the purpose.

An OFR used in the right curcumstances and situations will use less electricity over longer periods of time, than a Fan Heater which are best used for instant, short term heat.

The point is that you use whichever appliance is best suited to the situation. Then, if you choose the right one, you're going to save money on electricity.

I don't know if you're arguing the toss for the sake of it, but I'm not just making this stuff up.

Cardew

CrabPaste wrote:

You wouldn't use an Oil Filled Radiator in a situation where you need instant heat, for short periods of time. That defeats the purpose.

An OFR used in the right curcumstances and situations will use less electricity over longer periods of time, than a Fan Heater which are best used for instant, short term heat.

The point is that you use whichever appliance is best suited to the situation. Then, if you choose the right one, you're going to save money on electricity.

I don't know if you're arguing the toss for the sake of it, but I'm not just making this stuff up.

I will try just once more and then give up!

Of course you would use "whichever appliance is best suited to the situation" which is exactly what I said in my post above(which you actually quoted) viz:

However the main point to make is there are no cost advantages in running any of those 3 types of heater; but the way they produce heat will be better suited for some applications than others.

CrabPaste

If you go back and read member161067's post you'll see that they were asking about like for like costs/appliances/heat output, which you wrongly described as all heating appliances using the same amount of energy.

All heating appliances don't need to consume power to give out heat!

Now, please don't patronise me by saying "I will try just once more and then give up!" as If I don't know what I am talking about. Do some research if you don't believe me (although you seem argumentative for the sake of it), but don't patronise me.

That's my last word on the subject. I'm sure people who really care about energy costs will research the information I've provided anyway, before leaping straight into buying a product. I'm also sure they'll understand my messages without the need to argue the irrelevant.

Whistling_Gypsy

Cardew wrote:

All electrical heating costs the same to run for a given heat output, so halogen heaters are no cheaper to run than any other form of electrical heating. i.e. a 1kW halogen heater gives the same amount of heat output as a 1kW fan heater or 1kW oil filled rad and all 3 cost the same to run.

They have different characteristics in the way they deliver that heat; Halogen radiates heat toward a person etc.

Sorry Cardew - and cheers for the info - I'd thought this was true for years! At least am using the right heater for me - what about the OP????

Whistling_Gypsy

member 161067 - I've had experience of all three (I know, there are names for ladies like me)
1) Fan Heaters - blowing in the wind. Hot Air - when it's in my direction, it does my hed in (like a car fan) - if I move it, then it's moving around too much to warm me up. (appreciate the principle, but 3/10)
2) Oil Filled rads - on a timer switch (a good while in advance of you actually needing to be warm) these are seem very good value. In a cold house etc - for taking the chill off, rather than actual heating up.
3) Portable gas Heater (with re-usable Gas Bottle) - swiftly warm, but (IMHO and experience quite dangerous)
4) Halogen heater. As previously discussed (with alterations) - similar in running costs - but it provides i) direct heat ii) provides direct heat quickly and iii) stops providing heat when you don't need it.

Now this is obviously not relevant to all people in all situations - just my (not at all scientific ) experience, from which I hope you take neither offence nor rebuke. And for goodness sake, keep warm in your own way so long as you do keep warm - an experience shared..........

skintas_2

im lcuky not using my heating at all. i live in a flat 1 st floor got 7 people below and 7 people above. my flat has flat each side and a communal door. my heating bill is goin down as was £66 a month