For the modern user, the heating circuit of a private house with an electric boiler is of practical interest, when you have to independently mount the purchased equipment. Even before purchasing it, you will need to deal with the types of heating boilers, as well as with the features of their installation and connection. It is also important to correctly assess the advantages and disadvantages of the boiler equipment installed in a country house.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of heating in private homes with electric boilers include:
- comfort created by heating conditions at a minimum cost;
- high efficiency at a relatively small size;
- ease of installation, taking into account a well-chosen place;
- unpretentious maintenance and safety of boiler operation;
- wide range of capacities and environmental friendliness.
Thanks to these capabilities, the user can easily choose the model that is optimal for heating rooms of any category. The advantages of electric boilers include their relatively low cost. Operational safety is manifested in the absence of an open flame, as is observed in gas boilers, and environmental friendliness - in the absence of combustion products that pollute the environment.
The disadvantage of electric boilers is considered to be high energy consumption and the need to ground the body. To solve the first problem, it is possible to purchase equipment with a built-in cumulative buffer. The second is removed by arranging a reliable grounding loop located on the personal plot of a one- or two-story house.
Boiler selection
The main criteria for choosing units for private consumption are their thermal power, characteristics of the supply network and the method of electrical heating. According to the last feature, all electric boilers have the following versions:
- heating devices equipped with built-in heating elements;
- electrode assemblies;
- induction boilers.
The first models on the list are the most common, due to their cheapness and ease of maintenance. The indisputable advantage of such boilers is the safety of operation. In case of depressurization of the heating system and the coolant flowing out of it, the protective mechanism disconnects the heating element from the network, after which the heating of the water stops until it is re-filled.
In electrode boilers, a well-known physical phenomenon called electrolysis is realized. When an alternating current passes through the electrolyte, due to the chaotic collision of ions, electrical energy is converted directly into heat. Due to the direct generation of heat, the efficiency of such boilers is very high. On the other hand, these units require constant monitoring of the state of the thermal environment, which complicates the control system and increases the cost of equipment.
The principle of operation of induction boilers is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. When current flows through a winding wound on a ceramic tube, the ferromagnetic element located inside is heated by the vortex field. From it, heat is transferred to the water carrier
The advantages of induction-type boilers include their relatively small dimensions and durability.Like the equipment equipped with heating elements, these products are capable of working with any type of heat carrier (water, antifreeze, distillate, etc.).
Choosing a location
- the ability to restrict the access of residents of the house to power equipment;
- the presence of a separate line with a junction box, allowing you to connect powerful power equipment;
- the possibility of earthing the boiler drum.
To fulfill the first requirement, it makes sense to install a powerful floor-standing unit in isolation - in a garage or utility room. Compact wall-mounted models can be placed in the kitchen or next to the input device. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of connecting a heating main with a wiring to the batteries. In addition, the selected location should provide easy access to the unit in case of repair or maintenance.
Optional equipment
The piping of electric boilers is equipped based on the use of the following mandatory elements in it:
- A circulation pump used to move the coolant along the heating circuit in order to transfer thermal energy to batteries that can heat the surrounding space.
- Expansion tank designed for temporary accumulation of excess coolant when it overheats.
- A pressure gauge that monitors the pressure in the system.
- Automatic device for bleeding air (Mayevsky cock).
- A safety valve that is triggered only in emergency situations - when the water carrier boils, when the pump stops or the tank is overfilled.
The order of operation of the last element provides for the discharge of excess coolant into the sewer.
According to the requirements of the standards, when installing an electric boiler, it is mandatory to install a safety group that duplicates the functions of some devices.
Heating system diagrams with an electric boiler
Depending on the design features of the unit and its functionality, the diagrams for connecting the electric boiler to heating systems will differ. The following options are possible:
- In the presence of pumping equipment and an expansion tank, a more complex electric heating boiler circuit will be required.
- Its simplified version is in demand if these components are not available.
- A completely different option is needed if there is a piping with a buffer tank in the system or a connection to an indirect heating boiler is required.
- A special method of switching is used when using the scheme for connecting a solid fuel boiler and an electric boiler into one system.
A completely different approach will be required when combining equipment with a gas boiler. When choosing a double-circuit unit in the circuit design, it will be necessary to provide a connection line to the heating and hot water supply.
Do-it-yourself connection and launch
The specific scheme for connecting the electric boiler to the heating system is selected taking into account the following considerations:
- It is allowed to connect heating units with a power of up to 3.5 kW to the power outlet.
- To heat a house with an electric boiler with a power of up to 7 kW, you will need to connect its supply cable directly to the machine installed in the switchboard.
- Samples of boiler equipment with a declared power of up to 12 kW, as a rule, are connected to a single-phase network with a voltage of 220 volts.
- For units of greater energy intensity, it will be necessary to lay a three-phase 380 volt supply line.
Before putting into operation, it is mandatory to check the connection of the corresponding components of the electric boiler to the heating circuit.
According to the requirements of the PUE, the unit is connected to the mains through a bunch of RCDs plus a protective circuit breaker, selected based on the rated current consumption. The value of the latter is indicated in the passport of the equipment to be installed and is taken into account per phase. The cross-section of the conductors of the power cable is selected according to special tables and depends on the power of the connected unit.
Trial run
Before starting the boiler into operation, you will need:
- Check the reliability of electrical contacts and the tightness of the couplings, as well as the absence of leaks in the taps and pipe joints.
- Fill the heating system with coolant using the make-up tap.
- Bleed air from the system through the Mayevsky tap or a similar device.
When starting, it is mandatory to monitor the pressure in the system using a built-in pressure gauge.
