Used 500 watt heater

[j-lor]

I just purchased a used 500 watt heater with controller but I tested it in a bucket and temps went up to 100 degrees. Also it keeps beeping. Would it fry a 280g tank with about 15 gals in a sump?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

You're going to have to provide some more details. Did it ever actually turn off? Why is it beeping? I'd expect it to overshoot the set temperature a bit in such a small volume of water, but not that much. I also assume it was completely submerged. If you have the thermostat out of the water it's never going to detect the temperature properly.

 

[j-lor]

Its on and not sure why its beeping. I have it in a bucket of water testing it before I add it to tank. Its under water besides a little bit of the top. Will try again tomorrow and fully cover it with water.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

What model heater is it?

Most people don't like to buy used heaters, they're fairly cheap anyway and can easily wipe out your tank if they fail.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Oh, just noticed you said with controller. Is that a separate controller with temperature probe? And you have that probe in the water?

 

[j-lor]

Forgot model but the heater is connected to controller and prove is in the water. Yea I won't buy used anymore. Probably why he sold it because it was broken. Beeps nonstop but I will try again tomorrow.

 

[exodus1500]

I would expect a 500w heater to heat a bucket up like that, especially with no circulation. By the time the water has heated up to the shut off point, the heater has built up a bunch of heat it still has to dissipate off.

 

[j-lor]

Yea tried again today and it worked. Only thing I did differently was suctioned cuped against the bucket instead of letting it just dangle in the water.

 

[DN328]

If the controller beeped it may have a high temp alert that was set by the person you bought it from.

 

[j-lor]

Ok, that could be it. Only thing I did differently was suctioned cupped the thermometer to the bucket and works fine now.