Storage wall heaters

[gazdkw82]

I need to put some storage heaters in a large room. It's around 50 square meters.

Energy efficiency is my number one priority. What is the leading energy efficient technology when it comes to wall heaters?

Last time I fitted some, infrared was the leading form

 

[gazdkw82]

I agree with your views on this UNG, in part at least. I'm not deluded about the view of cheap electricity being the saviour of the world, but if new properties were built to the correct specification, and your experience with Passivhaus, shows that much can be done to save energy and thus cost. However, building the perfect house will be unaffordable for most people...
I guess there is no easy or overall correct answer, given the ariables involved, but it's a fascinating topic, to me anyway!

gazdkw82, thanks for those details about the construction of the room. From my limited experience, such construction is a perfect match for infra red heating, as it is identical to the recent installation I mentioned originally. If you can install the heating on the ceiling, that would be a bonus in a number of ways.

What are the benefits of heating on the cieling? Does it make a difference if the cieling is over 2metres high?

 

[loz2754]

What are the benefits of heating on the cieling? Does it make a difference if the cieling is over 2metres high?

It stops people dancing on the ceiling.

 

[Zerax]

A new build is a perfect opportunity to maximise the efficiency of electric heating, the ease of installation/repair/replacement/upgrade...sadly, the quality of many new build properties, especially from mainstream builders, is so poor as to negate in part the benefits I suggested above...

Agreed... but the issue is more about the very very low standard of building regulations. So if the law required the thermal insulation to be double what it is now... it would be.

There's a new development near me that they are just finishing off... every property, even the 1 bed flats with a flat above them, have gas heating ! No provision for EV charging installations at a later date, and the roofs are all over the place, so if PV ever becomes viable, they can't easily make use of it. Very very short-sighted from the local council...

 

[Zerax]

Also with a higher dependence on electricity we are creating more peak demand so will the cheaper off peak tariffs disappear as the growth in EV's and other power hungry needs increases

It's the advent of battery storage that'll flatten the graph of peak/off peak prices. EVs are part of this already, but the big changes will come when there is widespread use of grid battery systems. It's all new and rapidly evolving technology... but I think the favourite system uses tanks of fluid of some sort, not lithium as we often think of batteries now.

The ability to store large amounts of electricity could also make PV economically viable.

 

[pirate]

These are benefits from ceiling mounting:
1. The system is less visually obtrusive
2. Even if you can't get access to run the cables above it, trunking is less of a problem
3. The panels are less prone to accidental damage, such as someone pushing a chair back against a wall-mounted panel.
4. Where some users may be less able, keeping the heater panels out of touch can be a consideration.
5. The "heat" radiated from the panels is directed at the solid walls and floor, which is where the efficiency is best.
6. Not having heaters and cabling mounted on the walls leaves the walls clear and makes it easier to clean the room.
7. Those using the room who are follically-challenged will benefit from the heat from above! This allows you to run the system a couple of degrees lower.

 

[UNG]

It's the advent of battery storage that'll flatten the graph of peak/off peak prices. EVs are part of this already, but the big changes will come when there is widespread use of grid battery systems. It's all new and rapidly evolving technology... but I think the favourite system uses tanks of fluid of some sort, not lithium as we often think of batteries now.

The ability to store large amounts of electricity could also make PV economically viable.

Tanks of liquid air, basically it's air compressed to liquid form at -196°C when needed it boils off and it expands to drive a turbine
Can't find how efficient this might be in terms of the electricity used v's electricity produced

 

[gazdkw82]

These are benefits from ceiling mounting:
1. The system is less visually obtrusive
2. Even if you can't get access to run the cables above it, trunking is less of a problem
3. The panels are less prone to accidental damage, such as someone pushing a chair back against a wall-mounted panel.
4. Where some users may be less able, keeping the heater panels out of touch can be a consideration.
5. The "heat" radiated from the panels is directed at the solid walls and floor, which is where the efficiency is best.
6. Not having heaters and cabling mounted on the walls leaves the walls clear and makes it easier to clean the room.
7. Those using the room who are follically-challenged will benefit from the heat from above! This allows you to run the system a couple of degrees lower.

Does it have to be a specific type of heater to be cieling mounted or can most panel heaters be cieling mounted?

 

[pirate]

I'm not sure if all types can be ceiling mounted, but the ones i investigated could be.
FYI, I finally settled on the select range from Herschel. They use a mounting plate which is suitable for wall or ceiling mounting...it takes a bit of practice, and I had assistance with the large panels, but the smaller ones were fine.

 

[pirate]

Here's a pic of the heater panels in situ, obviously the grey panels between the LED panels

 

[pirate]

Another pic showing centre-line placement.

 

[Mike Johnson]

They look a lot better than I thought they would, well done.

 

[pirate]

Thank you all who liked...it was a fun project and the heaters fitted in with the LED panels nicely.