Electric water heaters

[Boatfixer]

Does anyone have experience with electric water heaters? We now have room for a sink in the outbuilding with our washing machine in it but have only a cold water feed and a 13 amp ring main. I guess we would be looking at something that could be run of a fused spur from the ring main but have no idea what is available or suitable. Obviously the more hot water the better and if it could be plumbed to a mixer tap on the sink and hidden underneath that may be better but cost will feature in the end choise - we may stick with a kettle and a cold tap......

 

[Digit]

we may stick with a kettle and a cold tap.

I would! During the winter the incoming water is likely to be so cold that by the time it is hot enough to be noticeable you will be down to a trickle.
The best you can get out of a 13 amp supply is about 3 KW.

Roy.

 

[jasonB]

You can get small storage units (7-10lts) that will give hotter water than a small instantaneous heater, these are rated at 3Kw. Enough to give good hot water for hand washing.

They must be used with a special vented tap (mixer or individual) so the water can expand or their own arm if mounted above the sink.

Jason

 

[jpt]

Caravan suppliers do a range such as http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/carava ... eater.aspx

You could also run them off of portable gas.

john

 

[Night Train]

If you want instantaneous hot water then you will need at least 9kw and it would be like an electric shower.

As you only have a 13A supply to use then you can get small storage heaters that take a while to warm up and will give you hot water. The trouble is that it is very wasteful of energy as it will cycle on and off all the time whether it is used or not. It will also take a while to heat up when you first switch on each day.

You may be better off with one of those energy saving kettles that only 'boil' as you need. Obviously you couldn't wash your hands under it but you could use it to add warm water to a basin of cold. Don't place it next to the basin for this purpose though because if it fell in you would get electricuted.