DIY 11,000 watt 240 V heater

[The TRUST]

Got this email from Ted. Thought I'd share with everyone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I built this 11,000 watt 240 V heater to warm incoming water

This in-line heater will work fine as long as the water pump remains on. Home Depot has a $61.00 water tank timer which can handle up to 40 Amps; my two heaters draw 47 Amps so I need to find something else. Twin 4500 watt heaters draw about 35 Amps together and would work on a 40 Amp timer. I never leave the area when the heater is on; it will remain on until switched off and it is so easy to forget.

Total Cost for the two heater setup about $85.00 plus tax.

The price for #10 wire last year was $48.00 a 250' coil, today it is about $200 for the same thing. Fortunately I have all the wire and breakers needed from the prior setup.

Ted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[rallysman]

Wow! I wonder what the operating cost is lol.

 

[Roy L.]

Wow! I wonder what the operating cost is lol.

Me too

 

[joeytoe]

Wow! I wonder what the operating cost is lol.

ya Im betting its a costly DIY on the back end.

 

[rallysman]

ah, I just read that it's 240V. That should cut down on operating costs. (still not cheap though! lol)

 

[rottbo]

good idea but is there a temperature control on it??? if so what is it??? I have been looking into making a nice inline heater for my bigger pond cuz i am not looking forward to buying enough "aquarium" heaters to keep it heated

 

[JustLooking]

Great idea using the eliments from an electric water heater.
How is this thermastaticly contolled?
If it isnt you could use an aquastat to controll it

 

[Dr Joe]

Watts is watts. No matter if you keep a smaller heater on longer or a mega element for a little while.

Cost is about $2.00/hr for 11,000 watts. ref: http://www.fishyou.com/aquarium-calculator1.php

Since it's in a stream of running water the system won't overheat till the pond temp is raised too.

I used mine in the sump with a timer.

I've got one word for you...Florida.

Dr Joe

.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Cheap way to get the same parts:

Wait for someone to put a hot water heater on the curb. They only make it to the curb when the tank starts leaking. The guts are usually fine. They all have two heating elements and two thermostats.

If it is a gas heater, then that is even better. Gas water heaters are much cheaper to operate.

To put your mega heater on a timer, go to Gnome Depot and get a timer for a water heater. You can also use a pump relay for irrigation systems.

 

[Redtail_Watcher]

Mannn!! that is alot of power, in the thousands of watts??? i don't think i could a ford somthing like that on my electric bill. I have a friend who told me about a heater with what looks like a wire you put in the water to warm a horse troff.(water feeder tank) i was thinking; electric shock?