Towel rad with electric element?

[macka09]

Hi lads. I haven’t done one of these for quite some time but I’ve been asked to fit the towel rad with an element but the supplied valves are straights. It’s 500mm wide but whoever done the first fix have set the pipes at 400. Do I need to use one straight valve and one angled valve out of the tee for the element??

 

[king of pipes]

Yes bud that's how it's done. Kop

 

[Old Account]

What type of towel rad is it?

 

[macka09]

What type of towel rad is it?

It’s just a straight laser type 1200x500. Pipe centres 400.
Seems daft having to have an angled valve and a straight.
When I’ve fitted them previously I’ve used corner valves but obviously had the pipes set correctly.

 

[macka09]

Also I am correct in thinking it’s filled fully as it’s also part of the heating circuit? Rather than if it was electric only

 

[John.g]

Also I am correct in thinking it’s filled fully as it’s also part of the heating circuit? Rather than if it was electric only

I have seen a ~ 300W electric towel rad that may have been oil filled, with thermostatic control but certainly had no connection to the heating circuit.

 

[Aire]

Also I am correct in thinking it’s filled fully as it’s also part of the heating circuit? Rather than if it was electric only

Yeah you fully bleed it and then in the summer months when the element is been used, the lockshied attached to the element is closed to prevent heat loss and the other valve remains open to allow for expansion. Just remember you can't use both the element and heating at the same time. It's one or the other.

 

[Ben-gee]

I would not close the lock shield in summer. If the room comes up to temp of trv this will close and then there is no room for expansion should the towel rail get left on, more importantly heat dissipation- this will lead to a blown element.
Just leave lock shield as it is and don’t worry about the tiny heat loss through there.

 

[Aire]

I would not close the lock shield in summer. If the room comes up to temp of trv this will close and then there is no room for expansion should the towel rail get left on, more importantly heat dissipation- this will lead to a blown element.
Just leave lock shield as it is and don’t worry about the tiny heat loss through there.

How do we know a trv will be fitted? If there is then the trv will want putting on the element side so this can be turned off without effecting the lockshield. With all the elements I've installed, the manufacturers instructions have stated that when in use, one valve is to be closed and one is to remain open. I can imagine this is because you can't run both at the same time, if both valves are left open, and it's get a little cold and the customer puts the heating on, and forgets about the element, that will also cause damage to the element. You can remove your disagree rating too 😛