Ceramic Heaters

There are two types of ceramic heaters, radiant heaters and convection heaters. They both use heating elements to generate heat, but the difference is in the way the heat is distributed. Convection heaters make use of a room’s natural air currents to distribute the heat around the area. It is usually used for larger spaces. For smaller rooms, radiant heaters direct the heat in a particular direction without using the natural air currents in the room.

Ceramic heating elements can be used in both types of heaters. Ceramic elements save energy which means that the amount of power that needs to be used to heat a room comfortably is reduced, so the energy costs are also lower. Ceramic heating elements are also safer because they have a greatly reduced fire risk compared to other kinds of heating elements.

The fire and burn hazard is less because there are only a few metal coils connected to a ceramic plate. The plate absorbs the heat from the coils and distributes it across the plate. The ceramic plate then distributes the heat to the air. Coil heaters are a greater fire risk because the electric current passes through the many metal coils which make up the element. The coils become very red and hot and can easily burn anything they happen to touch.

Ceramic heaters have the advantage that they don’t get as burning hot as coil heaters and the heat is released quickly. They also cool down much faster than coil heaters once they are turned off.

Another advantage for ceramic heaters is the time they take to heat up. They can heat a space much more quickly than other types of heaters and still use much less energy. The time can be reduced even more by adding more ceramic plates to the heater. In this case, each coil has less ceramic to heat up, making the process even faster. Even with this quick heating time, the plastic casings remain cool.

Many models of ceramic heaters have internal fans that distribute the heat throughout the room. These fans do not stop when the heater is turned off, but they continue to run to cool the heating element quicker. Thermostats are also attached, so the element will not overheat. Another feature connected to ceramic heaters is a tilt detection feature. This will automatically turn off the heater if it tips over or falls off a table.

Ceramic heater thermostats turn off and on the heater according to the temperature in the room. Some have timing components that will run the heater at the scheduled times without anyone needing to touch the heater when it is hot in order to adjusting it. Most heaters have an LCD timer that the owner needs to set. The timer should be set according to the instructions in the user’s manual. It will have a menu with the different timing options. The times are set for turning on and off so the heater doesn’t turn on in the middle of the night.

Ceramic heater cubes are small ceramic heaters in the shape of a cube. They are very small and very useful for small rooms, cars and RVs. The cube shape is very attractive and doesn’t dominate the aesthetics of a room. Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) is the concept that make a ceramic heater get hot. The cube heater uses ceramic blocks in different shapes and sizes that regulate the amount of heat produced by the heater. The geometry of the cube supports the most efficient use of PTC resistance in a small space. The cube gives the most heating potential in the smallest sized heater.

Some consumers don’t like the different features on different models of ceramic cube heaters, but still like the heating concept. Sometimes the fans are too noisy. This is because the heater needs a high power fan to move the heat away from the heater as quickly as possible. The sound of the fan may vary depending on the design of the heater.

The cube heater doesn’t really need a thermostat, but some models have one to allow for lower temperatures. This sometimes results in inconsistent heat. These inconveniences are usually much less in a high quality heater. Ceramic heater cubes also use much less electricity for maximum efficiency in small places. They are perfect for a small bathroom.

Ceramic heating elements are also used for infrared heaters. The infrared radiator uses resistance heating wire that is fully embedded in ceramic material. The energy is transferred to the ceramic material. Being fully embedded in the ceramic prevents the infrared heating wire from overheating and protects it for a longer lifespan. This type of heater is called an Elsteinheater after the company that invented it and owns the patent.

Ceramic band heaters often have a chrome and nickel resistance wire that is first stretched and then passed through ceramic cores that form a heating mat that is very flexible. This is fitted into a stainless steel housing that has ceramic fiber insulation. This insulation reduces power consumption by up to 20 to 30 percent. Ceramic band heaters come in a wide range of diameters. They are used for plastic processing machinery, injection molding, blow molding, extruders and other applications.

Some safety precautions for using ceramic heaters include looking for the UL mark, which is the mark of United Laboratories an independent testing lab. The heater should be kept at least three feet from any combustible material. It is not advisable to leave the heater on in an empty room, when retiring for the night or to use an extension cord. It should be plugged in to a direct outlet. Always be cautious with children and pets around a heater. It is also not a good idea to use a heater to dry clothing.

A ceramic heater is a good choice for extra heating requirements in a home that are not covered by central heating. Many people with central heating in their homes turn it off and use several ceramic heaters. The warm fusion ceramic heater fan is a good choice for this because it has three temperatures, has a firm base so it will not tip over easily which makes it safer around children and pets. It has three settings, but people often only need to use the lowest setting. This greatly reduces their winter heating bills. They are easy to move from room to room or take traveling in a camper or trailer. Ceramic heaters are safe, energy efficient and deliver heat fast.