Space heater

[jalover]

Hi! I need some help about choosing the right space heater to be used inside the forcastle space of the ship. The space heater to be used just to warm up the space when the ship sail in cold place. I preffered electric type. I anyone can give me how to choose the right one like capcity in KW to be used for a given space, size of the cable and circuit breaker.
Thanks a lot ang looking forwrd for any help that you may extend.

 

[7anoter4]

The heat power one needs to maintain a certain level of temperature in a room depends on the power losses through the walls, doors and windows and also on the heat sources already existing as electrical appliances, number of persons activating in this room and other sources.
The losses through walls, doors and windows depend also upon the difference from inside to outside temperature.
The wall thickness, material heat resistance [heat insulation], and sealing capacity of doors and windows may reduce the heat dissipation to outside.
As an example of heat loss calculation from a usual room see:

http://www.plumbingpages.com/featurepages/Heatloss.cfm

The power supply cable has to be calculated [or chosen] considering the required current[amperes] ,conductor material -usually copper or aluminum-the insulation material as PVC or XLPE -the heat dissipation possibility along the routing way [exposed, conduit, tray and so on].Some time also the voltage drop could be considered for a long distance.
Practically, I think you have to test the heat dissipation using a heating element suitable to the existing receptacle outlet in this room-the rated voltage and rated current- and to recalculate [proportionally] for a required difference inside -outside temperature.
In order to design the supply cables as branch circuits, installation, control and protection see NEC Article 424.

 

[jalover]

Thanks 7anoter4 for your valuable info. fyi, i will have a look all your points to come up with the correct size.
Best regards.

 

[OperaHouse]

When I heated a small modular office I used a 240V heater on a 120V line. This almost eliminates the burning smell common with heaters that are not used very often. At this reduced voltage the heater will produce 25% of the rated wattage. Using a longer heater or more in parallel will make up for this. I find this more comfortable and safer if something should get wedged in the heater.