Why aqurium heaters?
February 1, 2006 - 11:32pm
Can anyone tell me why people are useing Aquarium heaters? I was wondering if useing them would cause less convexion in the oil and the teh microdroplets fall out better w a longet slower heat. I currently use a fixed hot water heater element and once heated the oil stays warm for about 24 hrs give or take. I was thinking of adding a 2nd phaze where I oput my oil in the final drum OR a 2nd drum and keep warm w an aquarium heater.
Does this make sense. Or do people just use them cause they are cheaper?
Erik
February 2, 2006 - 1:55am
#2
Yes, correct. If the heat is turned off, there is NO convection currents.
I just ordered 2 aqurium heaters off of eBay and an just about to start using a second holding barrel -- with a 1 micron bag in the top that I gravity feed the oil thru out of my filter barrel. That barrel will be heated by the 2 aquarium heaters, where over 90 will never be needed; and they can easily be "borrowed" from that barrel to preheat cubies to go into the first barrel, if needed.
I have a water heater element in my first filter barrel.
Jeff
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98 Jetta TDI, FRYBRID kit, 12/05.
======> Nearly 9,000 miles in first two greasy months-
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86 Nissan Pathfinder, WISH was diesel. And an 86 Mustang SVO. If it was diesel, would make it an SVO SVO !!
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February 2, 2006 - 6:26am
#3
water bed heater work also..but you can buy a hot water heating elment and thermo and just drop it in the veggie. you do not have to mount it. but the fish tank heaters seem to last longer.. but the water heaters might be cheeper. you can even drom a iron in your veggie if you want to...
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Life is like a grease Dumpster, you never know what your going to get.
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February 2, 2006 - 8:14am
#4
I have one aquarium heater and I have to say, had I to decide all over again I might go with a bucket heater instead. The price is about the same, and I think bucket heaters produce hotter temps. You may want to search on "bucket heater" - since I didn't get one there may be a downside or something I'm not aware of.
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Karen in Atlanta
a/k/a PeachGrease
1982 MB 240D (Vanessa)
Self-designed system for
Southern Climates
February 2, 2006 - 8:17am
#5
I love my bucket heater...
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I like my martini's and biodiesel the same way-> NEAT!!!!!!!!
February 2, 2006 - 8:43am
#6
It may come from the influence of biodiesel too. They use the aquarium heaters because the BD won't deteriorate an aquarium heater.
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1982 Mercedes 300TD running on biodiesel since March 2005
Live simply so others can simply live--Keller Williams
February 2, 2006 - 1:18pm
#7
I'd got mine for cheap at a pet store. I like the fact the it has built-in thermostat with electronic shutdown ckt.
February 2, 2006 - 8:31pm
#8
So fils tank heaters have nothing to do w warming the oil up gently and w out stiring back in water and what not? Ok good to know. Somtimes I hear about people talking about holding a temp of what ever for days at a time to get the suspended water out. Does anyone know hot this is done??? My insulated barrel keeps the oil nice and wrm for about 24hrs in the winter but how do I keep it warm longer when I am dealing w suspended water???
February 3, 2006 - 6:13am
#9
From what I have read, 8-10 hours at 90-100F should be adequate when there are no convetive currents.
-------------------------
2001 VW Golf TDI
Converted 9/1/05 @ 46,200 miles with standard Greasecar kit
Added vegtherm 11/1/05
Currently 10k greasy miles
125 mile per day commuter
February 3, 2006 - 6:21am
#10
I use aquarium heaters but not because of price per say. Water heater elements are about 12$ each my aquarium heater cost me about 40$. Water heater elements burn out and for me they seemed to burn out an awfull lot. My aquarium heater has yet to burn out. The aquarium heaters don't seem to use a lot of electricity and have auto shut offs to prevent fires so i feel a lot safer just walking awey from it after turning it on.
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01 vw jetta TDI : RC II : VR6 Clutch
Vag-Com tool at home
Running on Veg since summer 04 still learning new tricks.
11mm IP + lift pump = POWER
February 4, 2006 - 10:31am
#11
Quote:
Originally posted by: GETFRYD
From what I have read, 8-10 hours at 90-100F should be adequate when there are no convetive currents.
-------------------------
2001 VW Golf TDI
Converted 9/1/05 @ 46,200 miles with standard Greasecar kit
Added vegtherm 11/1/05
Currently 10k greasy miles
125 mile per day commuter
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I would have to go with the theory that people use them because they are cheaper and easier to use than a water heater element. A person can just go buy the aquarium heater and go home and plug it in. done ...
In fact thats what I did at first but I found them to be a little slow and the thermostat only went to 94f so I got something that got hotter faster.
I think if your oil stays warm for a few hours after the heat is turned off then you should not worry about convection being a problem.
nate