terry wrote:
On May 9, 11:01 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Electric filament heaters are usually very expensive to run. And electric
water heaters use filaments.

For twenty bucks, this person could buy a ceramic heater from Walmart or
Home Depot, and plug it in to the wall. Get much the same output. The
ceramic heaters are supposed to be safe, and more heat for the buck.

Sounds like too much equipment, for not much benefit.

.
Thanks for all the comments.

I think part of the discussion was because electric hot water tanks
are still a pretty cheap item. (around $200). And for a 'summer
cabin' if it has electrical service at all the 30 or so amps for
heating when the cabin is in use is not a major factor for what will
be at least a 100 amp/115-230 volt service.

Interesting to see some differences between European and North
American practice.

In North America one perceives many (most) hot water heater tanks are
the 'always on', as opposed to 'instant' and have two elements, upper
and lower each with a thermostat. The upper thermostats usually
arranged as a 'flip-flop' .

The top element heats first and then flips over to the lower heater
element. In other words (normally as shipped from factory) only one
3000 watt heater is on a a time.

BTW in this part of Canada most heaters are 40 US gallon (about 33
Imperial gallons) and have two 3000 watt, 230 volt, heating elements.
However, daughters house has a 60 gallon version with i think, two
4500 watt elements, also arranged flip-flop.

It is possible very easily by moving one wire to alter so that both
heater elements can come on at same time, each under control of its
thermostat. That of course doubles the current flow (in our case for
6000 watts or about 26 amps).

Ours is wired with #10 AWG, good for 30 amps and a suitable breaker.
Have only resorted to that arrangement once when we had a number of
additional people staying with us.

As mentioned this is only discussion of an idea and as pointed out the
additional complexity probably not worth while.

This (all electric) 38 year old house; about 1500 sq foot single
storey main floor, 4 bedroom etc. is heated by electric baseboard
convection heaters; with an occasional use wood stove in the mainly
unheated full in ground concrete basement workshop below.

Averaged monthly total energy cost is $210 (which includes all taxes
etc.). Or about $2500/yr. And it's a pretty cold and windy climate
(Today May 9th for example it is +2 deg Celsius!).

Not sure why the statement;
" Electric filament heaters are usually very expensive to run. And
electric
water heaters use filaments.... "

That electric filament heaters are 'more expensive' to run? Not
understood.
Electricity is electricity no matter how one turns it into heat! Or
light, or cooking or TV viewing etc. For heating it's matter of cost
whether it is more or less expensive that other fuels!

With current world prices of oil, here people are converting their
homes from oil to electricity, no matter what type of existing heating
they have, warm air, water etc. there are conversion units available.

Here much electrcity for about one half million people is generated
by water (hydro) power; although oil is used in one thermal plant for
peak winter backup and during emergencies such as ice storms.

Once again thanks for the ideas.
Hmmm,
Depending on your location, how about going solar?