question about pilot light on an electric heater

[Joao]

Hello all,

I'm buying a home electric heater accumulator, but it doesn't
have a pilot light, so I won't be able to know when it's
charging

The heater accumulator solution is being promoted by
the local utility supplier, in order to use more power
at the night hours of the network

I would like to know when it's charging, so I'm thinking
on joining, in serial, some sort of pilot light

Could somebody inform if there's a simple product that
already does this? Other solutions?

The heaters' power is 1,7KW, on a 230V installation

Thank you,
João

 

[operator jay]

Hello all,

I'm buying a home electric heater accumulator, but it doesn't
have a pilot light, so I won't be able to know when it's
charging

The heater accumulator solution is being promoted by
the local utility supplier, in order to use more power
at the night hours of the network

I would like to know when it's charging, so I'm thinking
on joining, in serial, some sort of pilot light

Could somebody inform if there's a simple product that
already does this? Other solutions?

The heaters' power is 1,7KW, on a 230V installation

Thank you,
João

You may be able to install a switch w/ pilot light in the circuit. I seem
to recall seeing pilot lit switches with an option of having the pilot light
on current. Sorry if I'm sending you down the garden trail. If you are
getting a switch make sure it is rated for whatever duty it's going to see.

j

 

[Don Kelly]

----------------------------

Hello all,

I'm buying a home electric heater accumulator, but it doesn't
have a pilot light, so I won't be able to know when it's
charging

The heater accumulator solution is being promoted by
the local utility supplier, in order to use more power
at the night hours of the network

I would like to know when it's charging, so I'm thinking
on joining, in serial, some sort of pilot light

Could somebody inform if there's a simple product that
already does this? Other solutions?

The heaters' power is 1,7KW, on a 230V installation

Thank you,
João

A lamp in serial (assuming you mean series) will not do anything but
prevent "charging" . The question is, how is it switched on to "charge" ?
Is it some sort of time switch? If so, a small neon light (with appropriate
resistance) or even a night light in parallel with the heater (and on the
heater side of the switch) will do the job.

 

[ehsjr]

Hello all,

I'm buying a home electric heater accumulator, but it doesn't
have a pilot light, so I won't be able to know when it's
charging

The heater accumulator solution is being promoted by
the local utility supplier, in order to use more power
at the night hours of the network

I would like to know when it's charging, so I'm thinking
on joining, in serial, some sort of pilot light

Could somebody inform if there's a simple product that
already does this? Other solutions?

The heaters' power is 1,7KW, on a 230V installation

Thank you,
João

One posted solution was to use a small indicating light -
a neon or a nite lit - in parallel with the heater.
Here's another: use a CT (current transformer) with
a burden resistor, a diode and an LED with a limiting
resistor. This has the added benefit of telling you the
heating element is working, not just receiving power.


TR-3025-S (Toroid Corp. of Md.)
=========
Mains wire --------| CT |------------------ heater
=========
| |
[150R] |
| | 1N4001
+-------+--[D1]--+
| |
[47R] |
| |
+------[LED]-----+


One (and only 1) of the mains wires passes through the hollow
center of the CT. When current is drawn by the heater element,
a current is induced in the CT. The 150 ohm 1 watt burden
resistor provides a path for the induced current, and an
AC voltage of about 3.7 volts is created across that resistor.
The 47 ohm 1/2 watt resistor limits the current to the LED to
about 25 mA. The diode rectifies the AC to DC that the Red LED
needs so that it is not exposed to reverse voltage.

Different CT's would require different calculations.

Ed