Heated Towel Rail Energy Regulator

[gman76]

Hi, my parents are going to install a 400w heated towel rail in their bathroom soon, I thought it would be a good idea to get an "energy regulator" fitted outside of the room, for the purpose of saving energy during the summer months etc.

Am I overlooking something, or are these just overpriced dimmer switches with a crude scale drawn on the front?

 

[RF Lighting]

You might be better off with something like this

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HOE30.html

 

[gman76]

Thanks for your response R F, that would be another idea, by controlling the time scale it's on for, rather than limiting the current drawn.

I guess the linked timer switch is similar to those push timed light switches you find in flat stairwells. (except not mechanical).

Am I correct in assuming that the energy regulator works in exactly the same way a standard dimmer switch does?

 

[RF Lighting]

Dont know. I've not seen one.

All I can assume is it is some sort of thermostat system.

A dimmer would save no power. It would just mean the towel rail takes longer to heat up

Do you have a link to this 'energy regulator'?

 

[gman76]

As far as I can tell it is not thermostatic, as the spec refers to "output range" this is what leads me to believe it's just an elaborate dimmer switch (at twice the price)!

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DX4123.html

 

[gman76]

I forgot to mention I realise the one in the link would be unsuitable for the job as it's hugely underrated - I have seen another rated at 850w elsewhere, but with no other spec.