Infrared Heating Panels

fishybusiness

Sorry to disagree yet again!

Why do you disagree? Very confusing.

The Amazon link, I remember my grandparents using those, are they a predominantly radiant heater, with bars and reflectors?

The IR panels generally asked about here are not strictly radiant heaters, and have no reflectors, and I think are a different animal.

Just want to make the distinction between the two.

long_pockets

I think I'm going to buy a couple of these Radiant Panels fit them in my office and give them a go, I use a 2KW electric convection heater to heat at present which keeps me warm, it's a bit stuffy sometimes as the office is 3mtrx4mtr, I have it on a thermostat set at 21c. If I calculate the area technically I only need 1440w of convection heating but like to be warm fast!

Allegedly I only need 600w of radiant heat to do the same job in this space, I already know what should happen is that they will be on longer and during the day I will use the same amount of energy. This is definitely true if the room is sealed is 100% insulated and the door is never opened.

Has anyone ever tried these heaters?

fishybusiness

Your convection heater will warm you up more quickly.

IR panels take about 10 minutes to get going.

Has anyone ever tried these heaters?

Yes, I have two.

Don't understand why you would go IR panel route.

Payback for investment negates any alleged financial savings, and you have said your current heater does a good job.

long_pockets

Yes, I have two.

Don't understand why you would go IR panel route.


There are an awful lot of dodgy claims about energy savings and health benefits, my reason is quite simple:

I just want to know what their like, I'm not interested in the short/mid wave but I am interested in the long/far wave type, particularly the comfort level and air quality claims.

long_pockets

long_pockets wrote: »

Yes, I have two.

Don't understand why you would go IR panel route.


Sorry just getting the hang of this forum meant to put the quote in properly

fishybusiness

Can't vouch for the air quality claims, perhaps a simple way to ensure good air quality is to vacuum regularly, but that's another story.

What are they like?

Very little radiant heat, infact you can touch the panels when running and not get burnt. Surface temp dependent on brand, 65 to 90 ish Celcius, no mass so very little stored thermal energy.

Low levels of convected heat.

Heat wise, feels very much like sunshine, not instant, takes 10 minutes or so to get going. Maybe not all like that, mine are.

I'd say you will get a feeling of real heat up to 2m away, obviously dependent on panel size (mine are 600w) and then it starts to diminish. In a 4m wide room, you'll feel the effects all the way through the room, if you want sunshine feelings, you will need to be closer.

long_pockets

Going to install in the suspended ceiling standard 2.4mtr high, I do get twitchy about paper and the convection heater fires and suchlike.

Also going to put more in than recommended just like the convection heater.

How much did yours cost?

missionary_2

Apologies for a belated late contribution to the thread, but I just had to add a little fact to its content. (Sorry but I have had a large order of snake oil to fulfil to be despatched to the northern Home Counties first.)

Yes I sell low energy products majoring on infra-red heating. I am no gel haired sharp suited salesman but a 66 year old of somewhat crumpled appearance but also possess a technical degree and a lot of experience.

Much of that which has been written for and against infra-red is approximately correct. But we recognise that some people don't 'get it'. That is until they stay in a home for half a day and see and feel how it works, and at the same time peruse the owner's lowering electricity bills.

Infra-red heats the body and soul but not the air; yet space does warm-up, though via radiated heat from soft furnishings and human (and pet's) bodies amongst other things. Therefore the heating is not busy warming thin air to produce a warm layer from 6ft off the floor and up to the ceiling, its going straight to the occupants. As has been written, its like the heat from sunshine, you get a warm feeling inside, and for this reason many customers are of the senior generation. They feel the benefit in their joints and bones, with the added bonus that asthmatic and chest conditions are not aggravated by dust circulating in the constant convection current produced by common heating systems that heat the air.

Yes, in the home there is no instant heat effect when a panel is turned on, and for that reason infra-red heating is generally left running constantly at a thermostatically controlled temperature. Either centrally controlled or via individual panel controls. The advent of home wifi controllers and the marvellous new generation smart phone operated controllers can make it even more effective, and run at an even lower cost. But in the average home a constant consumption of 2kw for a whole infra-red system is common.

So who buys infra-red ?

1/ As observed, the older generation when replacing a worn-out gas to rad system or storage heaters. Or who want some of the health benefits of infra-red.

2/ Homes with PV solar where owners are usually very keen on low cost electrical systems – especially if there is free electricity all day, even if they have to pay for a limited supply from the mains when it is dark. (But practical storage capacitors are on the way!)

3/ Businesses where wall space for radiators is limited. Just look around your local corner supermarket or convenience store. There is no wall space on which to hang radiators, and anyway, they don't want heat near the chiller cabinet areas. So look overhead where there are invariably 50cm square tiles in a suspended ceiling. One tile in 15 maybe will be an infra-red panel, but it will more-or-less look the same as the tiles, and be controlled by a central thermostat.

There are more infra-red heaters out there than you might imagine.

Thank you, and I trust that I have not broken any of Martin's commercial rules.

M

Cardew

So what do you think about this?




Without regurgitating the points made on the previous 7 pages; the whole way these heaters are marketed is that they produce more heat for the same energy consumption.

Prices of over £1,000 each for heaters are commonplace. If you want to try out IR heating get a £30 example and try it out.

P.S. When heating is required(i.e. winter) most PV panels produce little during the day and obviously nothing at night. If you want to take advantage of 'free' energy you are far better diverting it to heat a hot water tank.

missionary_2

Cardew you will understand that I have to be careful not to break forum rules on commercialism. But take a look at the Energy Saving Trust website, you should find it informative.

M