On 1 Jan 2004 13:48:00 GMT, (Huge) wrote:

Tony Williams writes:
In article ,
Huge wrote:

[20 lines snipped]

TRIAC power regulators are devices that produce an effective
reduction of the AC voltage into a resistive load (silently).

See http://www.farnell.com part numbers 291-500 or 291-511.

291-511 is interesting because it also allows attachment of a
thermistor for temperature control.

Ooh. Tinkering to be done. Thanks!

A solution for tonight - get inside it and connect the 2 x 1Kw
elements in series to make a 500 w one which is probably nearer the
actual output you need during the night and turn the thermostat up to
max. You could re-jig the switchery to give a choice of 1 kw or 500w
so you can preheat the room before you retire.

If it's cycling with the frequency you describe ISTM the heater is
badly designed anyway. The thermostat is getting ackled directly by
the heating element itself rather than the air temperature of the
room. It would benefit from being divorced from the heater itself. To
that extent a 14 quid plug in thermostat would give you less grief
because of less cycling and even if it had a relay in it the absence
of the resonant tin box must make it quieter.

DG