Heaters and Energy Bar8 ?

[MAXreefer]

I have 1 x 300 and 1 x 500 Watt heater. Under normal operation they go on/off several times an hour.
Would you best plug them into the solid or relay controlled state outlets or it doesn't matter which ones?

Thanks for input
Michael

 

[Orcrone]

I have 1 x 300 and 1 x 500 Watt heater. Under normal operation they go on/off several times an hour.
Would you best plug them into the solid or relay controlled state outlets or it doesn't matter which ones?

Thanks for input
Michael

I'd go with solid state. They're made for 1000s of cycles. Heaters are not low powered which sometimes gives the triac outputs some trouble and they not high enough power to require a relay output.

 

[aquamanic]

I don't think it really matters but given the choice, use the TRIAC as suggested and save the mechanical relay outlets in case you need them for something small or huge. However, I would question why they're cycling so often. Can you post your heater code?

 

[swearint]

Looks like oversized heaters relative to the size of the tank. I use 400W on a 120g system and they cycle about 20 minutes out of every 30 and use a pretty tight control band.

Todd

 

[MAXreefer]

I don't think it really matters but given the choice, use the TRIAC as suggested and save the mechanical relay outlets in case you need them for something small or huge. However, I would question why they're cycling so often. Can you post your heater code?

I use the 500W as my primary and the 300W as a backup in case the first one fails or can't keep up.

500W: ON 78.5 and OFF 79
300W: ON 77 and OFF 78.5

Wrong?

Michael

 

[MAXreefer]

Looks like oversized heaters relative to the size of the tank. I use 400W on a 120g system and they cycle about 20 minutes out of every 30 and use a pretty tight control band.

Todd

We live in Minnesota....:spin3:
The tank is in the basement and in wintertime when we are gone for work the room is not fully heated and the room temp. drops quite a bit.
I think a 500W would be safer and better to keep up with the temp drops.
JMT

Michael

 

[aquamanic]

500W: ON 78.5 and OFF 79
300W: ON 77 and OFF 78.5

Wrong?

Are you bouncing around that 78.5 mark? If so, then either widen that gap or put a Defer statement on the end of both heater programs. That should smooth out the cycling a little.

 

[MAXreefer]

Are you bouncing around that 78.5 mark? If so, then either widen that gap or put a Defer statement on the end of both heater programs. That should smooth out the cycling a little.

I changed a little my settings. I didn't use the "advanced mode" for the heaters but just the regular drop down options.
Primary heater 500W: ON=78.5 OFF=79
Backup heater 300W: ON=77.5 OFF=78.5

I am not familiar with the Defer statement but will look into it.

Below are a screenshot from what is happening now after using the new settings:

 

[aquamanic]

Actually doesn't look too bad assuming you are striving to keep your tank temp within 1/2 degree. You could open a whole new debate on whether that's necessary or not but if that's what you want, then it's working.

 

[MAXreefer]

Actually doesn't look too bad assuming you are striving to keep your tank temp within 1/2 degree. You could open a whole new debate on whether that's necessary or not but if that's what you want, then it's working.

Thanks again for your input.
And without starting a new debate what do you think would be better
Is my temp range to small or to big. Would 0.3 be better?

Thanks
Michael

 

[aquamanic]

For comparison, my tank is set to fluctuate +/- 2 degrees.

 

[schwaggs]

And on the other end of the spectrum, I have 3 heaters that come on and off sequentially at .1 degree increments with a 2 minute defer on each. If the heater is on a solid state (triac) outlet, coming on and off frequently (even if it was every 2 minutes) won't hurt a thing.