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22-10-2020, 11:37 AM #1
Adding Timer to Electro Koi Heater
I have a Electro Koi 900 heater, it does not have a timer, is there an easy way to fit one?
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24-10-2020, 10:35 PM #2
Can you not just use a plug in time controller? Just be careful of the power rating, although if your heater is 900W (guessing from the number so please check), I would have thought any timer would do.
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25-10-2020, 09:16 AM #3
IIRC the 900 is the series (which is stainless steel model) and has no relation to the kW rating of the heating element. You need to have a look on casing to see what it says.
You could potentially use an immersion heater timer which can be had in a variety of ratings and styles - you can even get WiFi ones now! Obviously need to add that a qualified electrician is needed if you are going over 3kW (ie not on a plug).
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25-10-2020, 03:57 PM #4
if it's less than 3kw you could just use a contactor to plug any digital timer into.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kw-Powersta.../dp/B005VDZCTK
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25-10-2020, 04:09 PM #5
I was thinking more along the lines of this... Only £7 odd... and rated to 3.2kW
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defender-Se...NsaWNrPXRydWU=
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25-10-2020, 04:37 PM #6
I'd be very wary of anything using two 13 amp plugs to power a single item like that as the obvious problem is if you only plug in one 13 amp plug will it liven up the pins of the other plug? Maybe not from new but if there is a fault on the control box then you could get around 230 volts going back to the second plug. That thing looks like a disaster waiting to happen. You can use up to about 3 kw from a single plug or 12.5 to 13 amps so why use two 13 amp plugs which in theory could potentially deliver 25 to 26 amps
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25-10-2020, 04:43 PM #7
If you need more than 13 amps or 3 kw then you have to run a separate supply to it which would be much safer than using that thing with 2 plugs on.
I only had a quick look at the advert so couldn't see where it was made or if it was CE marked
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25-10-2020, 05:50 PM #8
2 plugs lol!
one just controls a contactor switch for the second.
UK company been going since 1994
i've been using them for over 20 years...lots of use in reef keeping and hydroponics.
company
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25-10-2020, 06:53 PM #9
Well as long as you're happy to use it Dave, on your head be it
As an electrician that looks an overly complicated way of doing it. The power consumption of a timer and coil for a contactor is so low it would have very little effect on the maximum load you could run off a single plug top unless I'm missing something obvious?
The load that's showing in the drawing is 2400 watts OK. 13 amps is between 2990 watts and 3250 watts allowing for a minimum voltage of 230 volts and a maximum voltage of 250 volts so even at the lowest voltage there's 590 watts to play with an I'd guess the wattages of the coil and timer are probably 100 watts in total and that's being extremely generous I would think.
Please feel free to correct me as I'm just going on the figures on the drawing here
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25-10-2020, 07:00 PM #10
Sorry Dave I'm not arguing with you BTW just trying to make sense of the one or two plug top theory or idea?
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davethefish1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-10-2020, 09:03 PM #11
no probs mate
AFAIA the low wattage switching (timed) line in powers the relay,
so the 13A second line in passes straight through the relay to power the load without loss.
the contactor was originally designed for mercury vapour and metal halide lighting.
so the 2400w load for lamps doesn't include the wasteage from ballasts as even different lamps can give wildly varying ampage.
depending on how hard it has to work to strike and maintain an arc.
so 4x 600w lamps would probably be getting very close to 3kw
i've still got 2 of these that i bought in 1998
to be fair though that style of lighting has had it's day, it's all LED now....
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Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-10-2020, 09:14 PM #12
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25-10-2020, 09:23 PM #13
I know fluorescent fittings have a start up current of 1.8 times there run current and SONs etc have a raised start up current but from memory can't remember what the actual figure is.
LEDs have a raised start up current which can be an issue if you have loads of them on the same circuit, so even though they are very energy efficient you sometimes have to upgrade the MCB.
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26-10-2020, 09:01 AM #14
Thanks all been away so sorry for lack of response, it is the 900 series 6kw, rated at 25amp, and protected by a 32amp rco, hence there are a real lack of options on basic timers, as they tend to only be rated to 3kw..
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26-10-2020, 09:37 AM #15
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26-10-2020, 10:01 AM #16
yes seperate circuit in the koi house, i have a 100amp board fitted..
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26-10-2020, 10:09 AM #17
That must be nice on your electric meter!
I think you want to look at a din rail timer then, something like this but rated to 25A
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/prod...ay-12v-to-240v
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26-10-2020, 10:11 AM #18
thanks but i have always worked to the 70% rule, so my view is i need at least a 32amp timer, which i am struggling to find, electric is not bad as if you think about it needs to be on less than a lower powered model, so in the end the amount it costs to heat is the same
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26-10-2020, 10:21 AM #19
Agreed, a bit of headroom is good, I did mean something rated for a 25Amp load. So if finding a timer is a problem, why not use a suitably rated din rail contractor / relay and then you can drive the relay with a low rating cheap din rail timer.
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26-10-2020, 10:22 AM #20
Have you looked on the RS website as they do loads of that sort of thing. You can buy directly from them now as you used to need to be an account customer with them before. Speak to their technical section and they should be able to advise you better
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