[Greenbuilding] Quartz Infrared Heaters

Thu Sep 22 12:20:45 CDT 2011

Having said that.  I think the subject of this thread "Quartz infrared
heaters" is really not asking if the heaters will generate more heat than
other resistance based electrical heaters (they don't and can't) but rather
how effective they are raising the comfort level of a room.  This is a
complicated question and depends on how the device is used.  Will you have
the heater out in the open so that the occupants will feel heat.

My opinion is that over the short term (i.e. minutes) the infrared heat will
increase comfort faster but in a well-insulated tight space over a longer
period (i.e. hours) the quartz heaters will work about as well as any other
resistance heater.  In a poorly insulated, leaky space the quartz heater may
work better because they focus the heat more while other resistance heaters
will lose more via convection.

---- Steve (KZ6LSD)

On Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 10:08 AM, Steven Tjiang <steve at tjiang.org> wrote:

> The conservation of energy (i.e. 1st law of thermodynamics) applies to
> closed systems.  It is very easy to MOVE much more than 1 kwh of heat from
> one place to another using 1 kwh of electrical energy.  Happens all the
> time.
>
> ---- Steve (KZ6LSD)
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 9:13 AM, Bob Waldrop <bwaldrop at cox.net> wrote:
>
>> I am not an expert on electrical heating devices, but the laws of
>> thermodynamics dictate that it is physically impossible to get more than 1
>> kwh of heat out of 1 kwh of electrical energy.  in fact, the amount of heat
>> will always be less than the amount of energy expended, whether we are
>> talking electricity, natural gas, wood, propane, whatever.  You can't make a
>> profit, you can't break even, you can't get out of the game.
>>
>> Bob Waldrop, firmly devoted to obeying the laws of thermodynamics, all the
>> time, everywhere,
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Kat
>> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 10:48 AM
>> To: Green Building
>>
>> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Quartz Infrared Heaters
>>
>> And if that "someone" would maybe possibly be willing to explain to the
>> rest of us MATH-FREE? ;-)
>>
>> -Kat
>>
>> On 9/22/2011 8:00 AM, elitalking wrote:
>>
>>> Corwyn writes: For heating areas, or people?
>>>
>>>
>>> My comment:
>>>
>>> This is for heating people.  However, I do not understand how it works.
>>>  A radiant infrared lamp directed at an occupant will deliver heat to the
>>> body without heating up the whole space.  However, in this device, the lamp
>>> is inside a box that includes a fan to distribute the heat convectively.
>>>  The box is warm to the touch, but not hot like a woodstove. My guess is
>>> that a lamp is used to heat up copper plates and a fan blows this heat to
>>> deliver to space.  Therefore the heat is not radiantly delivered to
>>> occupant.  I do not understand why 1kwh electricity would produce more heat
>>> the 1kwh of heat.  I know someone on this list does understand these
>>> devices.  I hope you are willing to explain it to the list.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks Eli
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Corwyn" <corwyn at midcoast.com>
>>> To: "Green Building" <greenbuilding at lists.**bioenergylists.org<greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
>>> >
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5:34 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Quartz Infrared Heaters
>>>
>>>
>>>  On 9/19/2011 4:00 PM, elitalking wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Do people on the list have experience and opinions about Quartz
>>>>> Infrared
>>>>> Heaters such as Edenpure? Are these better than heat element heaters
>>>>> for
>>>>> small heat required situations?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> For heating areas, or people?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you Kindly,
>>>>
>>>> Corwyn
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Topher Belknap
>>>> Green Fret Consulting
>>>> Kermit didn't know the half of it...
>>>> http://www.greenfret.com/
>>>> topher at greenfret.com
>>>> (207) 882-7652
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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