Rewiring Heater?

[npaden]

Well, temperatures are dropping here and my tank temps are getting a little colder than I would like.

I have a couple 500W titanium heaters that crapped out on me. The controllers basically just fried.

I still have them and was wondering if it would work to just put a plug on the end and use a Ranco controller to turn them on and off.

Does the element itself cause the resistance to limit it to 500W or would I need a transformer of some sort to limit the power going to the element?

Or is this just crazy and I should just go buy a couple new ones?

Thanks for any input.

Nathan

 

[Anonymous]

Buy some new ones IMO. The controllers fried for some reason.....

 

[npaden]

I'm pretty sure the controllers fried because they got wet. In the winter the humidity in my shed/greenhouse is about 125% and it basically rains in there.

I now keep my electronic stuff covered with plastic but then I didn't.

 

[npaden]

Well, I pulled them out and plugged one in and it worked!

Put my hand in the water and no shock. Went back to check on it a few minutes later and the power cord had melted off the heating element and it was smoking under water with a live power cord. I have no idea why it didn't trip the breaker but it didn't.

Unplugged it and threw them both in the trash. Guess I'm buying some new heaters tomorrow.

 

[magicman76]

are your coarls ok? OUCH!!! 8O 8O 8O 8O

 

[npaden]

Yeah, the heater was in a tank with 2 rose bta's a pair of maroon clowns and a gigas clam and all seemed perfectly fine when it was happening and look fine now.