Ceramic heater won't stay on

Hi, not sure what's going on, I had a 100W ceramic heater connected to pulse-proportional stat to raise the ambient temp.


But it started to just not stay on making the temperature drop.


I changed the thermostat, the bulb, the cable, and the power strip, but kept ceramic holder, and it still would turn off randomly.


I tried bending the metal flap in the holder so it would make better contact, but it didn't help.


Now I changed the holder for a new one, and that hasn't helped either.


Getting frustrated now as everything has been changed, and I donno the problem.


I tried cleaning the contact on the ceramic heater, but its not turning on at all now, even if plugged in without thermostat (so I know its not the thermostat).


Thanks for any thoughts.

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Originally Posted by colin-java

Hi, not sure what's going on, I had a 100W ceramic heater connected to pulse-proportional stat to raise the ambient temp.


But it started to just not stay on making the temperature drop.


I changed the thermostat, the bulb, the cable, and the power strip, but kept ceramic holder, and it still would turn off randomly.


I tried bending the metal flap in the holder so it would make better contact, but it didn't help.


Now I changed the holder for a new one, and that hasn't helped either.


Getting frustrated now as everything has been changed, and I donno the problem.


I tried cleaning the contact on the ceramic heater, but its not turning on at all now, even if plugged in without thermostat (so I know its not the thermostat).


Thanks for any thoughts.

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Have you tested the outlet?

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Have you tested the outlet?

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Not exactly, but there is another thermostat for the heat mat plugged into the same powerstrip, so I assume the outlet it okay.

I'll plug it into the other socket just in case.

Okay, just tried that and it came on straight away, so maybe it was that, I'll try it out, but it might turn off again.

Thanks very much, I kinda ruled that out, but we'll see.

Sounds like you need a new CHE. I get a bad one every now and then that only lasts a few months. I average about 7-8 years per emitter (and I buy generic cheapies).

You could try checking the wires for the fixtures-sometimes they get squished underneath an enclosure.
If it is kinked or obviously damaged you can straighten it out-and then bind it with electrical tape (in a position where the connection works properly).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Sounds like you need a new CHE. I get a bad one every now and then that only lasts a few months. I average about 7-8 years per emitter (and I buy generic cheapies).

You could try checking the wires for the fixtures-sometimes they get squished underneath an enclosure.
If it is kinked or obviously damaged you can straighten it out-and then bind it with electrical tape (in a position where the connection works properly).

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Thanks, it is a brand new CHE though, so would be weird if the old and new CHE's were both failing randomly but also working for many hours at a time.

It is a thick UK cable with some heat resistant stuff on the end of it and is hard to kink, this is brand new too, so I don't think its that.

I'm thinking the power outlet may be a bit dodgy for some reason, but its not drawing that many watts.

I'll see how I get on with it plugged in to different outlet.

If its plugged into a power strip thats the issue.

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Originally Posted by mistergreen

If its plugged into a power strip thats the issue.

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How?