How To Buy A Small Space Heater That Fitsyour Needss
For a variety of reasons, consumers are often disappointed by the performance of their newly acquired small space heater.
It's easy to avoid the disappointment of purchasing the wrong space heater and get the comfort you deserve if you answer the following questions before you start shopping.
This might sound obvious, but there is a multitude of small space heaters designed for different purposes.
If you are the only person requiring additional heat, a radiant heater will be more effective than a convection heater. Radiant heaters warm people and objects first. When you turn on a radiant heater you will feel instant, focused warmth.
A convection heater works by warming the air, which in turn eventually warms you. Most convection heaters take 20 minutes or more to heat an average sized room. However, in a room occupied by 3 or 4 people at that same time, like a family room, a convection heater provides even heat enjoyable by all.
How Much Space Are You Heating?
Since most space heaters max out at 1500 watts (5120 BTUs), they won't heat much more than 150 square feet. The results you get from any space heater will vary according to room ceiling height and the quality of a home's insulation.
A drafty room with 8 foot ceilings will not reach the same degree of comfort as a room with 7 foot ceilings in a well insulated home using the same heater.
If you're interested in heating your office cubicle or bathroom, a small ceramic heater will provide plenty of warmth. For under the desk heat, a low wattage radiant heat panel will keep your lower extremities comfortably warm.
Another interesting use for under the desk radiant heat panels is hanging them on, or near, a bird cage to keep your feathered friends warm.
Do Have Children or Pets?
Space heater safety takes on added significance when you have inquisitive toddlers and/or nosy pets running around.
15 years ago, an oil filled heater was my first choice. I never had any problems with this type of heater or how my kids interacted with it. Today you can purchase micathermic flat panel and ceramic space heaters that can be hung on the wall, away from little hands and cold noses.
Does Anyone in Your Family Have Allergies or Respiratory Problems?
If this is the case, you should be aware that fan assisted heaters tend to stir up dust and allergens. You can get around this problem by purchasing a micathermic or oil filled heater. Quartz infrared and radiant heaters without a fan will also eliminate this problem.
Space Heater Safety
Take time to read the manufacture's safety instructions. If you must use an extension cord, or your computer is plugged into the same circuit as your small space heater, use a power strip/surge protector.
Place your space heater on a level surface away from combustibles and don't use it to dry clothes. Don't leave your small space heater running if you're not at home. If you want your space heated room to be comfortable when you get home from work, buy a space heater with a programmable thermostat.
Purchase only the models with tip over (automatic off) switches and over heat protection.
About the author: For specific small heater recommendations please read "Sam's Guide to Small Space Heaters" at http://www.Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=108897&ca=Home+Management
How would I go about building a small scale wind turbine to power small items/store excess electricity?
With all this windy weather in the UK at the moment it made me think about designing/constructing a small wind turbine to power small items, i.e. things that would usually plug into the mains and not use that much power, e.g. lamps, etc. How can I go about making one that will power such items and store excess power it produces in a battery or something? I’m sure it will be difficult but any tips will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
How should i make a small wind turbine and connect it to an amp meter?
for a science project i have to make a wind mill or wind turbine ( a small one no taller than a foot long) and then i have to measure which shape of the blade creates the most amps..how should i connect it to an amp meter and where can i get materials to make one?
how should i get the wind turbine to connect to the generator and the meter..do u know anywhere to buy pre made small windmilll/windturbines to hook up to generators
which is more efficient small or large wind turbine?
I have a question for my assignment. I wanted to find out which turbine(small or large) was the most efficient at generating electricity. I carried out a experiment and found that large wind turbine produced more electricity at low wind speed and the small wind turbine produced more electricity but at higher wind speed. Which is better and why?
Can i use a Desktop PC UPS in a small wind turbine system?
Iam a mechanical engineer and i would like to make a small wind turbine for my home in Chennai. i can easily make the turbine part and couple it with a DCPM motor. it is difficult for me in the electronics side. In any way, is it possible to use my desk top PC UPS for storing and reusing the power generated?
Where can I find investors to build a small wind turbine generator in Canada?
Global Kinetic Technology Canada is a start up clean energy company. It’s first project is to build a commercial small wind turbine generator prototype in the 1.5 -3.5 kW range using the SEMA technology from GKT USA under an exclusive agreement for Canadian market.
I will need $100,000.00 US for 10% of the company.
Get hold of a small battery (DC) electric motor, such as you find in toys. When spun, it will generate current.
You obviously have to experiment with different windmill/ propeller designs, but that leaves me wondering how you can compare, unless some design criteria (say, diameter) is used as a comparison criteria.
For a small motor, you would probably be better off using a multimeter, so you have multiple current ranges.
You need a load on the “generator”, such as a suitable resistor, and your meter in series with the motor and resistor. If you can run the motor at its designed voltage and apply some load to the shaft, you should be able to find how much current it draws (with your multimeter in series) at that voltage, and Ohm’s law can be utilised to find a reasonably suitable value for a load resistor.
You also need a wind source that is repeatable.
Then, spin up your “generator”, and start measuring. Start with the meter on a high range, and switch it to the lowest range at which you can get it, without going overrange. Note the reading.
Change the propeller, and again repeat the above. Continue changing and repeating and noting until you have the highest reading you can get. Whichever propeller that is, is the best design for the conditions you are testing under.
Give this a shot – you never know… at the very least you would be on a very popular Canadian TV show and get national exposure…
http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/
look in here
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=small+scale+wind+turbine+design&meta=&aq=2m&oq=scale+wind+turbine+
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=small+scale+wind+turbine+design&meta=&aq=2&oq=small+scale+wind+turbin
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=small+scale+wind+generator&meta=&aq=3&oq=small+scale+wind+
Anita
Hi.. I am an electrical engineer!!!
Yeah its is possible till u meet some requirements
1. From the UPS.. the output is AC.. and the input of the DCPM Motor is DC.. so u need to convert this into DC with a converter called Rectifier.. I would recommend a ful wave recitifier..
AC converted should be of the frequency of 50Hz!!… This is very important!!
2. The current and voltage rating of the wind turbine should meet the rating of the UPS..
the rating of a standard household domestic purpose UPS would be 240V, 5A.
(Voltage is constant and the maximum current is 5A)
3. if the rating of the turbine is more than 240V.. please do not connect to the turbine.. It causes overload on UPS!!
Hope this might help
Hey Shalom, good day to you. Your question is not really answerable as it is written. From the standpoint of efficiency, fewer blades does translate to better efficiency, meaning how much energy you can extract from a given wind and swept area, I’ll explain in a moment. Mike is correct that there is no one design that is best, whether you’re speaking of cost per unit power, power per unit wind, man-hours of maintenance per unit power and so on. If there were one best design, all windmills would be the same. They aren’t, and there’s a very good reason. Mad Max is correct also, the utility sized turbines use less material per unit power output. The other advantage to them is you need fewer people to maintain them per unit power they put out, this is what really endures them to utility companies. They do cost more in terms of purchase price for manufacturing, shipping and installation, but once you have one of those beasts running, they look very good on the balance sheet for years to come.
When people in the wind business talk of efficiency, they are referring to amount of power you can extract from a given wind speed and swept area of the blades. The short answer is the most efficient wind turbine design is the horizontal axis single blade turbine. Most people have never heard of or seen one in North America, they were common years ago in many parts of Europe where the winds were very light, and so efficiency was a chief concern. The single blade extended only in one direction away from the hub, and on the opposite side was a large bowling ball shaped counter weight. The reason this type is most efficient is that the one airfoil has complete use of the passing air. When you add a second blade, you can capture the wind twice as often, but the combination of two blades to swing through the air creating drag, and the turbulence left behind from one blade interferes with the second one in its path, much like a boat leaving a wake behind for another one to pass through. The next most efficient design is the 2 blade, but it is nearly as efficient as the single blade, better for slightly higher and less steady winds. They work best in areas where the wind blows mainly in one direction all day and the rotor head does not have to change direction often. When you are in a situation where the wind changes direction frequently, like the upper midwest, the three blade units are the best, because no matter what orientation the blades are in, the gyroscopic moment on the tower is steady while the unit is turning to a different direction. This is the main reason the 3 blade units are so common in North America. The 5 or 10 percent loss in efficiency is more than offset by the longer longevity of the tower and equipment, they run much smoother. Once you get beyond the 3 blades, additional blades do not offer any additional advantages, but each additional blade costs a bit more in efficiency losses. For this reason, most wind turbine manufacturers today primarily make 3 blade units. There are a few 2 blade units out there, Southwest windpower has one I believe for home use. There are also a few very small units for remote applications with 6 or 8 blades, but these are made purely for extremely high wind applications, like an artic weather station or onboard an ocean going vessel.
The two people who are considered the gurus on this subject are Mick Sagrillo and Paul Gipe. Paul has written a book called, “Wind Power for Home and Business,” and Mick has authored several papers and articles and written several books on renewable energy as well, and continues to teach workshops in Wisconsin on the subject. We were fortunate enough to go to one of his classes at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair several years ago. I would suggest looking for Paul’s book at the library, or anything by Mick, or surfing to one of the websites below, it’s all very interesting reading, and you’ll be getting better information on the subject this way. Hope this helps, take care, Rudydoo