Ebo Jager operation??

[No-Name]

I purchased a new Ebo Jager TS heater (250W, 105 gallon tank) - I've got the
heater set to bring the tank to 79.5 degrees - I'm used to seeing heaters
run (the red light stays on) until the tank is at the desired temp, then
cycle on and off as necessary - this heater is cycling on and off even
though the tank is not at 79.5 degrees - two different thermometers show the
tank at 77 degrees - is the heater working as designed and it'll just take
longer to get the tank to the desired temp, is does there appear to be a
problem? Thanks!

[D&M]

Very true, my Jager is 8 degrees off from the heaters scale and the tanks
actual measured temp.


"Dr. Know" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 22:33:37 -0600, "No-Name"
> > wrote:
>
> >I purchased a new Ebo Jager TS heater (250W, 105 gallon tank) - I've got
the
> >heater set to bring the tank to 79.5 degrees - I'm used to seeing heaters
> >run (the red light stays on) until the tank is at the desired temp, then
> >cycle on and off as necessary - this heater is cycling on and off even
> >though the tank is not at 79.5 degrees - two different thermometers show
the
> >tank at 77 degrees - is the heater working as designed and it'll just
take
> >longer to get the tank to the desired temp, is does there appear to be a
> >problem? Thanks!
>
> Due to the close proximity of the thermal switch to the heating
> element, heaters will cycle on and off, even though the water is not
> at the desired temperature - just more frequently than when they have
> reached the desired temperature.
>
> Also, those temperature values printed on the heater are not accurate.
> I have two different brands, Visi-therm and Hagen, and the closest one
> is 3 degrees off. You have to set the heater by actual measured
> values, not the heater's 'scale'.
>
> Greg
>

[groove_sf]

"No-Name" > wrote in message >...
> I purchased a new Ebo Jager TS heater (250W, 105 gallon tank) - I've got the
> heater set to bring the tank to 79.5 degrees - I'm used to seeing heaters
> run (the red light stays on) until the tank is at the desired temp, then
> cycle on and off as necessary - this heater is cycling on and off even
> though the tank is not at 79.5 degrees - two different thermometers show the
> tank at 77 degrees - is the heater working as designed and it'll just take
> longer to get the tank to the desired temp, is does there appear to be a
> problem? Thanks!

my Ebo Jager is about 10 degrees off. i set it at 88 and it keeps the
tank at a rock-steady 78.

it annoyed me at first, but as long as the thing works and keeps a
consistent temp, who cares?

but it does make me think less of the product.

[NetMax]

"No-Name" > wrote in message
...
> I purchased a new Ebo Jager TS heater (250W, 105 gallon tank) - I've
got the
> heater set to bring the tank to 79.5 degrees - I'm used to seeing
heaters
> run (the red light stays on) until the tank is at the desired temp,
then
> cycle on and off as necessary - this heater is cycling on and off even
> though the tank is not at 79.5 degrees - two different thermometers
show the
> tank at 77 degrees - is the heater working as designed and it'll just
take
> longer to get the tank to the desired temp, is does there appear to be
a
> problem? Thanks!

They will cycle faster closer to the desired set-point. Some analog
models now add a magnet to the bi-metal contact so they cycle less but
allow a small variation in water temperature. Heater accuracy can be
described in 2 ways. There is the _absolute_ accuracy (how close it is
to the dial) and the _relative_ accuracy (how tightly the water
temperature is held).

Absolute accuracy is factory adjusted, but usually very poorly. To
calibrate a heater properly, it must be operating in a submerged
environment for enough time for all of its components to completely
stabilize to the same temperature. This takes about 20 minutes and isn't
practical to do in a high volume production line where a heater must be
adjusted in under a minute. The technician does an approximate
calibration, and it's accuracy only reflects the quality of the
calibration procedure. Fortunately, absolute accuracy has no bearing on
longevity, stability or other operating parameters which better describe
heater 'quality'.

Relative accuracy is a heater's ability to hold a set-point. Holding the
temperature within 2F is IMHO acceptable. Once the heater has been
adjusted to the desired temperature (using an accurate thermometer), it's
relative accuracy is it's most important parameter (especially from a
fish's perspective).

Keep the heater in an area of water circulation (to maximize it's
efficiency) and oriented so the heating elements have less effect on the
thermostat (putting submerged heaters horizontally, diagonally or upside
down), and ...using 2 smaller heaters is almost always better than using
1 heater (failure redundancy).

NetMax