|
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. |
|
Thread Tools |
10th Jan 2021, 11:00 pm | #1 |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Hi
HNY I have this Dimplex radiator in my bathroom, still going strong BUT the cable has now snapped, any ideas? It was put in early 1980s I think so is one of the more modern ones (I think they started in the 60's) At the top of the string there is a plastic bit which goes into the pull switch, this has snapped off just outside the switch but is very short (and I suspect brittle). Sadly I don't think gluing it back on is an option. I have taken the cover off the radiator, the switch is called a Nettle 250w 10Amp switch. there are two inputs and 2 outputs Anyone know if I can get a replacement OR a modern replacement? There is a bit of space in the case if another shape is needed etc which is good. Cheers guys! |
10th Jan 2021, 11:32 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 5,000
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
The plastic bit that the pull cord connects to on my bathroom heater went brittle and snapped off years ago. I just set it to permanently on at the heater switch and switch it on and off at the isolator which is up on the wall outside the bathroom. I never bothered to see if replacements were available, but someone might know. You could probably make the part if you wanted a bit of a challenge.
|
10th Jan 2021, 11:40 pm | #3 |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
That's an interesting way of doing it I guess! I presume if I get pliers I can pull it down again hopefully just enough to turn on.
Trouble is my switch is in the water pump cupboard so not very accessible! |
11th Jan 2021, 12:11 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 5,000
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Yes, you should be able to pull the stub with care, although it'll obviously be brittle and may break even shorter.
Shame the isolator fuse switch is in that cupboard, but it might just get you by while you look for a replacement part. |
11th Jan 2021, 12:32 am | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Either bypass the built in switch, or set it to permanently on. Fit a new switch, of the pull cord variety near the heater.
|
11th Jan 2021, 12:56 am | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
|
11th Jan 2021, 12:46 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
One rated for an electric shower should be suitable!
__________________
....__________ ....|____||__|__\_____ .=.| _---\__|__|_---_|. .........O..Chris....O |
11th Jan 2021, 1:19 pm | #8 |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
I've opened it up fully and got it hanging on a handy hook below.
Could I insert a wall switch here on the left where the power cable comes in off the wall similar to the one at the other end in the water cupboard (shown)? Best Edward |
11th Jan 2021, 1:56 pm | #9 |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Thanks for all your messages BTW!
|
11th Jan 2021, 2:19 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
You could do as you suggest, but I don't think it would be acceptable in a bathroom to have an "ordinary" switch, at least not in the UK.
Nothing to stop you from mounting a ceiling pull cord shower switch and routing the connection to the heater via said switch, though..... Something like this: https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-g...E&gclsrc=aw.ds with one of these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-g...mm-white/83819 (Other makes/types/sources are available)
__________________
....__________ ....|____||__|__\_____ .=.| _---\__|__|_---_|. .........O..Chris....O |
11th Jan 2021, 2:26 pm | #11 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Quote:
These heaters are typically 750 watts, so just over 3 amps. |
|
11th Jan 2021, 3:06 pm | #12 | |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Quote:
|
|
11th Jan 2021, 3:07 pm | #13 | ||
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Quote:
|
||
11th Jan 2021, 3:11 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
You can get pull-switches rated at 45-50A - they're used as electric shower isolators.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-50a-1-...ch-white/12094 I think that would be a more-sensible option than a 'lighting' pull-switch; though the heater may only be rated at 750W I guess that will be its output when hot. When the element is cold it could suck a few more Amps than the 3 it will take once hot. |
11th Jan 2021, 3:38 pm | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,337
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
I don't think the resistance of the wire used in this type of radiator changes significantly with temperature. It would be different if it were a high power tungsten lamp, which would draw a much higher current on switch-on.
|
11th Jan 2021, 3:54 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,986
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Have you tried Espares? https://www.espares.co.uk/search/at1...eaters/dimplex they sell to the general public. The plastic "see saw" switch part attached to the string pull broke in our Dimplex wall fan heater I bought one and a spare. No connection just a happy customer.
Looks like they have gone up in price since I ordered a spare. John.
__________________
My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again" Last edited by 60 oldjohn; 11th Jan 2021 at 4:01 pm. |
11th Jan 2021, 4:55 pm | #17 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Bromley, London, UK.
Posts: 702
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
This thread prompted me to look at the model number of the Dimplex heater in our bathroom and see if a replacement heating element can still be had - just in case. It is an IRD 750 and it seems a compatible element is still available. The pull switch still works well.
|
11th Jan 2021, 5:11 pm | #18 | |
Triode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London & York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 17
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Quote:
Thank you, crikey they are expensive though! |
|
11th Jan 2021, 6:26 pm | #19 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
Quote:
__________________
....__________ ....|____||__|__\_____ .=.| _---\__|__|_---_|. .........O..Chris....O |
||
12th Jan 2021, 12:35 am | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,394
|
Re: Vintage Dimplex Wall hanging bathroom radiator
I assume that broadgage meant that 5 amps was the minimum maximum current rating seen in pull switches- if that's not confusing the issue further!
Re. the "cold" current question, surely a given amps "running" of filament bulbs would have a proportionately lower cold resistance than the same running amps of heater anyway, i.e. if the switch was rated for x amps of light-switching, it would have an easier life when used to switch the same amps of heater. Admittedly, the heater would have a slower warm-up but it would only be a handful of seconds anyway from that higher cold resistance. |