Author Topic: Cartridge heater/Melting stick (Read 13761 times)

K.H · « **on:** July 18, 2012, 06:11:24 PM »

Has anyone used one of these or know anything about them? and before Julian says anything i know they are a heater and cartridge shaped,i have a cunning plan for one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160827028178?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1685wt_1185

Julian · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2012, 06:25:56 PM »

Looks like a great find and cheap too.

Only thing I've played with that's similar is a couple of soldering iron elements which I've started cobbling together as a mini hot pan tester. Yet another unfinished project and now superseded buy a £16 solder pot off ebay which needs modifying ... for which I need some assistance with the electronics.

C'mon, spill the beans, what punning clan do you have in mind?

K.H · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2012, 09:41:43 PM »

Well,i was thinking of an "L" shaped pipe,the bottom of the L been copper,90 comp fitting then plastic pipe,the cartridge would go in the copper bottom bit,cable coming up and out the plastic,then the bottom of the L would fit through a cubie lid hole/or in tubs for melting solids,if it gets too hot then i would solder some small legs onto the copper pipe to keep it off the bottom,unless there is something obvious ive missed i thought it would be worth a try for £3 and some scrap bits
Waddya think?

Thought this was interesting as well,but a bit expensive
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190693068066?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1202

Tony · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:04:18 PM »

Nice find Keith! (The 220V one)

I wonder if the wires are oil/bio resistant? All the ones I've tried (admittedly designed as water heaters) had the cabling fail.

Would a pipe fitting actually seal on the body of that tube or do you think it would just crush?

Could be a side-fit element in a settle tank (bio or oil) or possibly a glyc warmer (keep that NaOH glyc liquid between two-stage)?

Tony · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:07:06 PM »

Keith you're a bad influence - I've bought two!

Julian · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:19:13 PM »

Sounds ok to me. Tony did some experiments resting a heater on the side of an oil filled cubie (heater in the oil obviously) and it never melted the plastic.

Just typed the following and went to post only to find Tony beat me to it! ...

You can get 10mm compression fittings which you might fit the heater directly, especially if they have copper olives. That way you'll get far better heat transfer and no convection losses up the 'L' shaped pipe work.

K.H · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2012, 09:30:48 PM »

Well its arrived,nice little thing if it works.
I have fitted the cartridge into a 10mm reducer in a 15mm straight connector,then a piece of 15mm copper pipe bent to 90,then onto 15mm plastic.
The power lead goes up the inside of the pipe and is water tight,i will give it a test in oil tomorrow and hopefully i will get a tub of solid tomorrow as well.
The first thing i want to check is if the heater will melt a cubie/tub if it does i will attach a piece to keep it away from the surfaces,about £7 spent so far

K.H · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2012, 09:40:56 PM »

Looking through the suppliers other items i spotted this,might have its uses somewhere

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150847644894?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1811wt_1185

Tony · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:00:55 PM »

Given previous experiments with a 500W element against the sides of a cubie (submerged) I don't think you've got much to worry about with this one.

So it is 10mm bore and you've fitted a 10mm compressionfitting to it OK?

K.H · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:16:28 PM »

9.3 but a copper olive and a big spanner sorted it

Tony · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:25:29 PM »

0.7mm, that's nothing vs a big spanner

Tony · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2012, 03:26:11 PM »

So do you think that it could be used as an inline heater? Creates some interesting drying/spraying possibilities. Though the lack of thermostatic control might be an issue.

K.H · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2012, 05:55:30 PM »

Its not quick but it certainly does the job,i need to get a tub of solids and time the melt,must be a lot of uses esp the larger sizes,has it got a use in your flasher evaporater?

Some pics

Tony · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2012, 07:53:41 PM »

Not for a flash evap, not enough power

I also wonder if you could seal it in a tube entirely with mineral oil like an electric oil radiator, to increase the surface area?

Liking the work above - all the cabling safely away from the oil, I do like that!

Julian · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2012, 07:59:10 PM »

Nice simple idea, well done.

Often with heating elements, the section near the connections stays much cooler than the business end. If this is the case with these, what do you recon to one of these controllers (RM had a 240v version) with the probe just stuck inside the copper pipe near the bottom compression fitting.

Mount a little box on the plastic pipe using a tank connector to house the controller, gland for the cable ... should work OK.

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