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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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8th Nov 2018, 5:30 pm | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 232
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Mystery heater?
My nan has this heater that is made by Electrical Industries of Ireland Limited and I don't know much about it other than the brand, if anyone can help that would be great.
Tom. |
10th Nov 2018, 1:58 am | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,735
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Re: Mystery heater?
It’s similar to many ‘one bar electric fires’ made over the 1940-1960 decades. Yours looks in good condition, and well designed with an effective guard.
However please bear in mind the fact that such appliances will never meet modern electrical safety regulations! You might encourage your Nan to get it checked for safety. It should still pass a modern Class I PAT test.
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Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts |
10th Nov 2018, 9:54 am | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
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Re: Mystery heater?
Another one heading for the dustbin.
Electrical Industries of Ireland Limited doesn't ring any bells, but I would guess at a company building local versions of an existing item, for the benefit of jobs and the economy. Rover cars were built in Dublin under a similar arrangement. |
10th Nov 2018, 10:00 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,245
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Re: Mystery heater?
I'd guess at the '70s for this one's age, from the general look of it plus the foil label with British Electrical Approvals Board kite mark. Probably safe enough so long as the cable isn't under strain or fraying, the main danger with these comes if they're knocked over when nobody's around, anything gets draped over them, etc. Best kept out of the bathroom too of course.
Paul |
10th Nov 2018, 6:26 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 5,263
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Re: Mystery heater?
you can of course still buy them.
If it's BEAB approved then it's been through some pretty strict safety tests which include clothing etc draped over and timing how long it takes to ignite. The requirements are covered in the Which? tests.
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Kevin |
10th Nov 2018, 7:03 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,245
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Re: Mystery heater?
Yes, the spacing between the bars may be the main thing that wouldn't be permitted in a new heater: much wider on Tom's than on that one.
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10th Nov 2018, 7:45 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,735
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Re: Mystery heater?
I also think - though it’s hard to tell from the photo - that the elements in the ‘new’ heater are sleeved in quartz glass, rather than being open wound with bare wire.
It was by using a mains neon tester screwdriver and an open-wire bar fire as a schoolboy that I learned about potential dividers and neon striking voltages...
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Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts |
10th Nov 2018, 8:23 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 805
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Re: Mystery heater?
Glass sleeved elements are still treated as live for the purposes of inserting a British Standard Test Finger (BS 3042:1971)
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12th Nov 2018, 10:45 am | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
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Re: Mystery heater?
Quartz tube elements are a different technology. They are hollow, and take a spiral-wire of
the bowl-fire type, stretched out. I've not yet met a round bar element with a quartz tube as well. |
15th Nov 2018, 11:27 am | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 805
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Re: Mystery heater?
Yes, but for touch safe requirements quartz tubes are treated as though they were wire spirals.
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20th Nov 2018, 10:47 pm | #11 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 232
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Re: Mystery heater?
Quote:
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20th Nov 2018, 11:42 pm | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Barnstaple, N.Devon, UK.
Posts: 556
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Re: Mystery heater?
Hi Tom, if you are worried about the plug getting warm, I would have a look inside and make sure the screws are not loose and check the fuse holders. If you remove the fuse and squeeze the forks together slightly then the fuse will make a better connection.
It could also be the socket you are using is old and not gripping the pins as well as it should. It is quite common for 13 amp plugs to get warm with loads of 2 Kw or more but they shouldn't be hot. David. |
21st Nov 2018, 5:48 pm | #13 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 232
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Re: Mystery heater?
The socket used is a modern MK 2 gang switched with neon and I think it is a two KW heater.
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31st Dec 2018, 4:37 pm | #14 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 232
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Re: Mystery heater?
Quote:
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