Specifications

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10.5 IMMERSION WATER HEATERS:
An immersion water heater is a very simple appliance which heats a bucket of water in a 10 to
15 minutes. It consist of a heating coil has a chord similar to an electric iron as shown in Fig.10.4
Construction : The main parts are i) heating element and
ii) outer frame
Heating element : The heating element is made up of
Nichrome wire which produces heat while giving electric
supply. Its melting point is about 4200
o
C. The coil type
heating element is normally used in this heater.
Outer frame : The outer frame is made up of chromed iron
brass pipe in which a heating element is placed. Inside wall
of the pipe is coated with magnesium oxide, which act as
insulation, so that the heating element may not touch the
pipe. The top portion of the outer frame is made up of bakelite
Fig.10.4 - Immersion water heater
insulator. The ends of the heating element coils are connected at the points called as a terminal
which is connected to the power chord. The scale is also provided to indicate the water lever to
be maintained.
Operation : To use immersion water heater, one simply fills a bucket of water and places the
immersion rod into the bucket either directly or with an aid like a clothes hanger. Then connect
the plug into the socket and switch ON. As the supply is given, the heating element gets heated
and is transferred to the water. So water gets heated.
Drawbacks:
i) It do not have auto off mechanism. This means, when the bucket is warm enough, the
system has to be manually switched off.
ii) Operating immersion heaters without adequate water or no water will burn the coil and
render the device useless.
iii) One can use heated water from the bucket with a mug or external aid. This means
having hot shower is ruled out.
iv) It is required to transport this bucker of hot water from the place with electric connection
to the place of use.
Precaution
i) The heater should not be heated for a long time. Supply should be given only after
immersing the heater in bucket of sufficient water.
i) After disconnecting the supply only, water should be taken out from the bucket.
ii) In the bucket, water should be filled upto the level marked in the heating element.
iii) The heater should be operated with out adequate water otherwise it will burn the coil
and make the device useless.