Bathroom Panel Heater

[dizz]

Looking for a cheap small panel heater for bathroom about 400W.

If I put it on one wall it will be 60cm away from the bath, if I put it on the other, it will be within 60cm of bath. What IP rating considerations are there and does anyone have any recommendations of a suitable product.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Looking for a cheap small panel heater for bathroom about 400W.

400W isn't much - sure it's enough?

You can get 400W towel rails, which might be an option.

What IP rating considerations are there

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:bathroom-zones

and does anyone have any recommendations of a suitable product.

Dimplex have been around for years - they must be doing something right.

 

[dizz]

Thank you - yes it has no window and just about fits a sink, toilet and bath. I see that 60cm is outside the zones hence my thought about putting it on one of the walls, so does that mean it requires no IP rating at all? Seems a bit odd in a bathroom?

 

[dizz]

Can anyone help me on this - The regulations refer to Zone, 0, 1 & 2. I cannot see any requirement outside zone 2 for a particular rating for a heater? All circuits are RCD protected. Is there a particular rating required for a heater? I sense there must be a requirement in a bathroom but can't see it in the regulations anywhere?

 

[sparkiemike]

As already said look at dimplex

See these two examples http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/d...led_heating/panel_heaters/exp_range/index.htm (IPX4 rated)

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/d...oms/bathroom_radiators/apollo_range/index.htm (also IPX4 rated)

Although thare are no special IP rating requirements for equipment outside the zones (except for socket outlets - they are NOT allowed within 3m of the boundary of zone 1) the equipment needs to be suitable for the area, so you need to use a bit of common sense (see reg 512.2).

 

[dizz]

Thanks for the links - I'll take a look.

It seems to me that 512.2 is just a complete cop out, after being very specific regarding zones in a bathroom, the general 512.2 clause doesn't really help - It ends up being very subjective with one spark saying "what if someone took the shower head and pointed it at the appliance for 30 minutes" and another spark saying "it'll be fine cos it's further than 0.6m and no rational person would point the shower head at the appliance".

 

[big-all]

what is your main heating source ??
400w is a foot warmer and not much else
if you have gas central heating it is cheaper to heat any location 95% off the time
heating by electric is around 3 times the price off gas in a normal situation

 

[dizz]

Hi Bigall - E7 Storage Heaters is the main source - OK may need to go higher wattage, but I'm not even at first base because I don't know requirements outside 0.6m for IP rating.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If you go for IPx4 heaters which the maker says are OK for bathrooms you won't go wrong.

 

[big-all]

if you want heat "boosts" a say bath time or just before a shower providing it has a thermostat and you are careful how you use it a say 1500 w will be cheaper to run as it will heat in minuits rather than hours so waste less in heat loss

your not talking a lot perhaps 15 to 20% but you know a 10 min boost will take the chill off rather than say a 1hr wait with a 400w

 

[OwainDIYer]

Hi Bigall - E7 Storage Heaters is the main source - OK may need to go higher wattage, but I'm not even at first base because I don't know requirements outside 0.6m for IP rating.

Dimplex say: mini storage heaters XL6 & XLS6 are ideal in size and IPX2 [drip-proof] rated making them suitable for bathroom use, although the installing electrician must ensure its position within the bathroom complies with the IEE regulations. Our range of XL/XLS are all also IPX2 rated.