Heaters and Canadian Regulations

[Greg Turner]

I've got the A-718 Thermal Compact Pre-Set - 300 W heater from Hagen.  Now they say its "Completely submersible" on their website.  Yet it has a water line and instructions not to submerse it.  Is it just Canadian Regulations that it can't go under water?

[Marc]

Hi Greg,

I just noticed nobody ever replied to this.  It's probably too late to be useful but here goes anyways....

I've noticed the exact same thing with Ebo-Jagr heaters.  On their website and on U.S. retailer websites it says completely submersible yet when you buy them in Canada they have a water line and instructions not to submerse them.   I submerse the Ebo-Jagr heaters with no problems.

I suspect it's something to do with Canadian regulations being stricter than American regulations.

Marc

[Greg Turner]

Actually, I just completely submerged it shortly after that post just to experiment.  It's been underwater for a couple months now and doesn't seem to be leaking....

I think that in Canada any appliance that is submerged has to be self faulting to prevent electrical shock.  So that's why there heaters aren't covered.

[ambushman2j]

Do you like how your heater is working?  I have the exact same one and I found it took a long time for the water to actually get to the temp I Wanted (3-4 days) and recently it won't even maintain the temp, I had to go out and buy another tronic 200 to help it..now, the fact the air conditioning vent is HITTING the tank may have something to do with it, but what conserns me is when the temp is 74f  and the heater is set to 82f why is the pilot light not ALWAYS on?

[Marc]

Hi Drew,

That doens't sound right.  If the heater is set to 82F and the water temp is 74F the pilot light should be constantly on.  Sure we have to allow for a few degrees error in the calibration of the heater so that that setting it to 82F actually gets you something in the range of 79F to 85F but 8 degrees is too much.

I suspect you have a faulty heater.  I recommend you bring it back to the store and exchange it for another one the same.

Marc