Added a New Heater to My Collection

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Chetlaham

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I bought a new heater for the collection and I must say I love it. Full range thermostat with freeze protection, tip over cutout switch, 3 mode fan/1300 watt /1500 watt heating selector switch, metal lift handle, grill guards, beefy heater coils, all metal casing.

 

The fan sounds like a plane propeller but it is actually quiet and soothing and just that. The motor is very well balanced, does not saturate or hum or buzz. There is zero metal vibration, buzzing, popping, clanking or audible 60Hz mains hum as a result of the fan running or the unit outputting heat. There was was no smoke or smell when the unit was initially turned on or after. Aside from the vents directly in front of the heating coils, the rest of unit stays cool to the touch even on the 1500 watt setting running for an hour.

 

A single high limit thermostat is present electrically parallel to a red warning light such that the hi-limit bi-metal opening causes the red "warning" light to illuminate indicating that the unit has overheated. This is a plus because on other heaters the high limit opening usually does not give the user a positive indication. 

 

I looked in side through the back grills via flashlight and I have to say the wiring and crimps are well made up. Everything is adequately sleeved and no stray copper strands are protruding from any switch or connectors. The cord is taken to crimped wire caps instead of directly to respected components, a plus preference for me. The metal casing and heat shields are near precision bent and stamped. No grease spots, fingerprints, misalignment, warps, scratches, burs, sharp edges, dents, ect.  Coating is fair for the most part. Yes it is coming off or thin around the edges, but all else is stellar. In other words quality manufacturing with quality control. Only one chintzy thing I see: it appears that the indicators lights are hot glued in place. Perhaps redundant, perhaps the primary means of keeping them in place. If primary, this I do not approve of, but the rest is really good.  

 

At $30 to $38 you're getting your money's worth. More expensive heaters are out there which as plastic and less durable, other metal heaters are noisy. This one is both reasonably durable, quiet and does its job.

 

And oh, the most important thing to report on: It heats the room really well. It appears to output its listed 1500 watts. The outgoing air temps are not to hot but not to cool, so the unit running next to you is cozy.    

 

 

I only have two gripes with the unit:  The orange "power" indicator is directly across the line and remains illuminated even when the unit is turned off. There is no visual indicator that the unit is not heating or the fan is not running. The second is lack of 3 prong cord on an all metal casing heater. Not much of a concern for me when used on a carpeted or hard wood floor in a bedroom without any grounded objects in the vicinity, however I prefer grounding regardless. 

 

In the end the unit is worth it and I am happy with it. I've used other space heaters that being something so simple had so many flaws or were just down right over-priced. A Vornado heater I had touted as one of the best literally drew cold air around it causing drafts and failed after a few months of use. Bypassing the rocker switch only kept it going another month before other components started burning open. Compare that to two Delonghi heaters which I paid 1/3 the price for and are still going after 10 years of daily white noise fan use with yearly seasonable use. The Delonghis despite the near room temperature trip point of their thermostat and high limit (a really annoying disadvantage) just won't quite. My favorite heater comfort wise are the Presto and similar makes of oil filled radiators, but some of them make loud metal thuddish pops when they cool down or reheat.    

 

 This heater I like. It is durable, utilitarian with finesse, quiet and does its job as advertised. 

 

[this post was last edited: 3/3/2025-02:29]

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That is nice! I am sure it will serve for many years.  This is a very tried-and-true design. I am not sure when the first ones were made, but at least as early as the late 60's. They were sold as "Titan" milkhouse heaters. Over the years other companies have sold very nicely made "clones" with little added features and changes, but the same overall construction. 

The only thing you may eventually need to do is add a few drops of oil to the oil wicks on the fan motor. If you notice the fan taking longer to pick up speed, or running slowly, that would indicate it needs a few drops of fan motor oil, such as Zoom Spout turbine oil. 

 

Sincerely,

David 
 
I bought a Comfort Zone heater at Menards about 7 or 8 years ago. It is a larger version that is 240 volts, and a little less than 4000 watts. It worked fine until a couple years ago, when the fan stopped working. I noticed it smelled like it was overheating, as the elements were still on. I replaced it with a Markel of the same size, which was substantially more expensive. That one lasted almost one year to the day before it started making a burning odor. I'd ordered it from Staples, and they said the warranty had expired, even though it had been in my possession a couple days less than a year. I called the manufacturer and told them about it, and they sent me another at no charge, and didn't want the old one back, so I kept it for parts. The new one is doing well.
 
Thanks!

 

Its a Chinese build. I have no idea how long the fan motor or selector switch will last hopefully of enough quality that it can go at least 10 years. I had a Sears fan forced heater that lasted 20 years.

 

Thank you mentioning Zoom Spout turbine oil. I can't thank you enough. In the past I made the mistake of using WD-40 which contrary to what its advertised at is not a lubricant for anything mechanical in my experience. WD-40 is really a detergent/cleaner IMHO. It will force remaining oil out of bearings and then dry them out. Learned that the hard way. Perhaps other have different experiences.

 

Question- is Zoom Spout turbine oil good for door hinges? Or would you recommended something else.    
 
Reply #3

The Zoom Spout is just for journal bearings which have oil felts / wicks or porous bronze Oilite bearings. 

For door hinges, a more viscous oil which will not drip, is better. I recommend Lucas Chain and Cable Lubricant. It is a tacky oil which is clear and clean. It will penetrate and will stay inside the hinges for a long time. https://www.lucasoil.com/product/chain-lube-aerosol/

 
 
I don't really collect heaters, but...

...seem to have about 50: I buy these whenever i find them cheap in the used stores-use them for loads testing generators as well as their intended purpose. I have some of the Chinese Titon clones similar to the subject heater pictured-the fan runs a little faster on the clones-original Titons had fan motor wired in series with element and just a few turns of heavy wire on the field bobbin :) I buy any of the Italian made(Delonghi and rebadges)oil filled radiator heaters on sight when i find them-same with high grade versions of those little "ceramic"cube heaters.One of my fave "collection" heaters is an Intermatic Heatwave from about 1977 in an era correct shade of orange-saw one of these in a La Belle's store about 1977 and thought it was really cool.Several Arvin ribbon element heaters too.
 
When I was really little we had an old reflector type heater, probably from the 1930's. It was something my grandfather brought when he moved in with us. My mom didn't like using it, as she thought my sister or I would stick our fingers into it. It had an element that screwed into an Edison base lamp socket. When I was about 9 or 10 I took the element out, and screwed a 100 watt lightbulb in. My sister, a couple neighbor kids, and I used it as our spotlight when we put on a play in the basement.
 
I bought a 1960's Markel heater 20 years ago with 2 neoglow elements, a thermostat, various combinations of low heat, high heat, and both of those with or without the fan running for work during the winter time. I hid it under my desk from facilities 'cause I know they'd shit bricks seeing a heater that old with a cloth cord. Loved that damn thing, its operation was silent even with the fan running and threw out the most even heat I ever experienced out of an electric space heater. Of course, never a single problem with it.
 
You're not the only on hiding heaters under desks lol. In a lot of office/administrative buildings secretaries and workers will often stash some type of heat besides them. Often blowing a breaker when they bring in one of those 1,500 watt units. Space heaters make you work faster, harder and cancel noise when its a fan model. Comfort is key to excellence. 
 
@Tomturbokinetic: I want to give you a big shout out and I want to say thanks for recommending these two oils. I just did the door hinges and garage door- what a difference! I couldn't have done it without you or the right oil. 

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