Reducing current taken by an immersion heater

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Does anyone know of a commercial device that will reduce the current taken by my 3Kw immersion heater down to 1 or 2 Kw.

I know that I can get lower rated elements but my hot water cylinder has a non standard fitting so I'm stuck with it.
 
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Does anyone know of a commercial device that will reduce the current taken by my 3Kw immersion heater down to 1 or 2 Kw.
Why would you want to do that?

If you want water at a lower temperature, do what EFLI said, or fit a time switch.
 
Does anyone know of a commercial device that will reduce the current taken by my 3Kw immersion heater down to 1 or 2 Kw.
No - and, even if there were, if it had any financial effect at all it would probably be a tendency to increase your electricity bills. As others have asked, why would you want to do that?

Kind Regards, John
 
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the reason that it is pointless is the second law of thermodynamics. You cannot create or destroy energy. or even more simply E or(P)= VI. As your Immersion is a purely resistive load if you reduce the current, the energy supplied to the water is correspondingly reduced. ie, have a high current and the element is on for (x) time, reduce it by a half and the immersion heater will be on for (x) x2. What do you gain? timer or thermostat reduction is the answer
 
ie, have a high current and the element is on for (x) time, reduce it by a half and the immersion heater will be on for (x) x2. What do you gain?
Indeed - and, as I hinted, far from gaining anything, one would probably slightly lose, since heat would have been being lost from the cylinder for twice as long - so, to achieve the same water temperature, the half (power, not current) heater would have to work for a little longer than "(x) x2".

Kind Regards, John.
 
If ever anyone is at an exhibition where someone is selling one of those devices which "save you money by reducing your supply voltage" I can recommend explaining things like that to them.

It is great fun, especially if you can get an audience of people who had been potential buyers.

Best to stop at the point where they tell you that if you don't stop they will call security though.
 
Best to stop at the point where they tell you that if you don't stop they will call security though.
No, don't stop at that point - but make sure you've called a journalist and given them enough time to turn up before the security folk arrive :)

Kind Regards, John.
 
Can I join the "Why Would You Want To Do That?" camp? ;)

I want to dump the excess power from my PV array into the water but I'm not likely to have 3kw spare. I appreciate the second law of thermodynamics but as the power is free I don't care if it takes three times as long !
 

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