oil filled radiator - separate timer switch

bhavana_2

Hello,

I recently purchased a 2.5kw oil filled radiator (delonghi vento) for our living room. I noticed in the instruction booklet you are advised not to use a separate timer with this.

I did not understand the reason for this as most plug timers should be able take the load from an appliance of this wattage.

Is it just a scare tactic to encourage us to purchase the more expensive rad with integrated timer or is it genuinely dangerous to use a separate timer switch.

many thanks

HappyMJ

You need to use a timer switch that is rated for a 13A resistive load (the timer might also say something like a 2A inductive load but a heater is resistive so ignore the inductive figure). Not all timers can do that so they are just protecting themselves.

chris1973

I've had issues with some cheap far Eastern manufactured plastic 4 gang adaptors which tend to get very hot when running close to their maximum 13A ratings to the point where over a period the plastic began to discolour and the pins in the sockets became loose, my advice when intending to run high current loads in things like timers is to buy 'Branded' quality accessories.

A 2.5KW appliance draws a little over 10 Amps, so it really shouldn't be much of an issue in a 13A socket / timer even at its full demand. I suspect in a world of 'blame - claim' culture they are just covering their !!!!!!, as any appliance not designed for 24/7 use is technically a fire-risk when left running / plugged in unattended.

I also have a heater with a built in timer, whose instructions also expressly warn about leaving it plugged in when unattended, which perhaps proves my point. Although it somewhat defeats the object of using the timer, if asleep / out when its due to switch on!.

Cardew

From a power handling aspect there can be no issue - many a 3kW immersion heater, that isn't hard wired, uses a plug in timer socket.

If they were not inherently safe, why are they on sale?

I suspect the reason is that they make a Vento with a timer:

http://www.delonghi.com/hk_en/products/v550920t/

The handbook probably covers both types(you did say it stated separate timer). Some people might not appreciate that the timer mechanism on the radiator is not clockwork!! thus when on a separate timer .........

bhavana_2

thank you for your (quick) replies -

I have just dug out the instruction manual again. It says the following:

CAUTION: In order to avoid a hazard due the inadvertant resetting of the thermal cut out, this appliance must not be supplied through an external switching device, such as a timer, or connected to a circuit that is regularly switched on and off by the utility.

sorry for being thick but Im not sure what delonghi mean with this warning.

I have checked my timer (bought from argos not branded). It's max load is 3120w.

Can anyone recommend a quality timer switch.

Many thanks again

HappyMJ

If it gets too hot the thermal cut out will switch it off. This could happen if someone threw a piece of clothing over it. If your timer switches off then when it comes back on again the heater will overheat again without anyone resolving the reason why the thermal cut out tripped. It could be dangerous.... Your timer from Argos is fine. That's a 13A timer switch @ 240V.

Cardew

So any user of this type of heater must ensure there are no power cuts in the area, or house power supplies don't ever trip out!!!