Below are answers to questions we get asked most by our customers. If you have any further questions, please get in touch.
Below are answers to questions we get asked most by our customers. If you have any further questions, please get in touch.
|
Standard Resistive Elements |
XTEND Elements |
|
Use a coiled wire to turn electricity into heat. This has not changed much in 100 years. |
Use a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. |
|
Surface temperature of around 500°C. |
Surface temperature of 220°C. |
|
Varying metal alloys encase the coiled wire. These are all relatively soft and prone to corrosion and scale build-up, which cause failure. |
Encased in marine-grade (316) stainless steel. Large surface area to reduce the impact of scale build-up. The design makes the XTEND element easy to descale. |
|
Burn out when the geyser empties or the scale build-up becomes too much. Loses efficiency over time, operating at about 50% when they burn out & fail. |
Scale build-up is significantly reduced. XTEND element will switch off when 240°C is reached. It will not burn out and can be cleaned or installed in a replacement geyser and work as designed. |
Reducing the temperature from 500°C to 220°C slows scale build-up and other negative chemical reactions. The rate of heating is not affected, as the XTEND element has a far bigger surface area through which to exchange heat.
XTEND elements require a thermostat. The set temperature is typically around 10°C lower for an XTEND than a standard element because the thermostat is positioned lower on the XTEND flange element range.
The XTEND element design also reduces system heating losses, reducing the electricity required to heat your water.
In an average family home, an XTEND element uses around 1,000 units less electricity than a standard element.
This equates to a payback period of 12-18 months.
XTEND elements have a 3-year warranty and are designed to last 10 years.
XTEND elements are an affordable way to reduce the cost of your most expensive appliance.
Positive Temperature Coefficient. A PTC element’s electrical resistance rises extremely rapidly as it reaches the set temperature, which with XTEND is 270°C. The resistance becomes so high at the design set point (Curie point) that electricity cannot flow through the element.
PTC has a low-watt density. This is the amount of power for the surface area.
<p><strong>No additional fittings</strong> or thermostats are needed. XTEND elements are installed using the same parts as standard elements.</p>
<p>We strongly advise installing a new thermostat when installing an XTEND element. It is standard good practice to change the thermostat at the same time as the element. However, if the geyser is new, you should not need to change the thermostat.</p>
<p>Yes, for various reasons. If you use less than the full volume of your geyser then using a timer to heat up only a portion of the geyser, when you use it will save money in two ways:</p>
<ol>
<li>You heat up less water</li>
<li>You are storing colder water, which causes less heat to be lost to the air. This reduces standing losses.</li>
<li> </li>
</ol>
<p>If you have solar PV (electricity) panels, you can heat your geyser for free using the power from these panels. To do this, you need to set the timer to work during sunlight hours. Adjusting this timing can help maximise the savings and returns on solar systems.</p>
<p>Heat rises, and the hottest water is at the top of the tank. The element will turn off only when the water at the thermostat level reaches the set temperature.</p>
<p>The thermostat position with the XTEND flange (Kwikot, Heattech) element is lower than a standard element. As a result, the thermostat needs to be set to a lower setting. Around 10°C is about right.</p>
<p>The hotter the water in the tanks, the higher the standing losses, but the more baths and showers it can support. How hot to set the geyser depends on the hot water consumption patterns.</p>
<p>A temperature setting of 40-45°C in a home is about right for an XTEND element.</p>
<p>This depends on how you use hot water. The image below shows the heating times.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone
wp-image-1805" src="https://xtendelements.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/XTEND-approx-heating-times.jpg" alt="" width="691" height="303" /></p>
<p>Generally, we recommend a 2kw XTEND element for 100L & 150L geysers and a 3kw XTEND element for 200L or larger geysers. The choice depends on many factors, including usage patterns and the number of people using the geyser.</p>
<p>The advantage of using a lower power element is that it fits very well with solar PV systems, allowing the homeowner to, when budgets further allow, significantly reduce their electricity bill.</p>
<p>XTEND elements have a marine-grade stainless steel case to protect the PTC chips. This casing, combined with the lower operating temperature of 220°C, lower watt density, bigger surface area, and other design features, makes XTEND elements extremely hardwearing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Montserrat; color: black; background: white;">XTEND elements build up scale slower and thinner than a standard element. In addition, XTEND elements are easily cleaned if the limescale build-up is significant, as they can be serviced in hard water areas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://xtendelements.co.za/ideal-for-hard-water/">See more details and before and after photos...</a></span></p>
<p>Yes. XTEND elements have been tested and passed for <a href="https://xtendelements.co.za/resources/#certifications"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SANS 514.</span></a></p>
<p>XTEND elements will last significantly longer than standard elements. Eventually, hard water will impact XTEND elements.</p>
<p>XTEND elements have been tested to 21000 heating cycles. This is over 7 years of normal usage. We would expect the electrical components to last longer than this.</p>
<p>The stainless-steel case is corrosion resistant. It can also be cleaned to remove scale build-up. We recommend this in very hard water conditions.</p>
<p>If the geyser anode is not replaced, the life of the XTEND element may be negatively impacted.</p>
<p>XTEND elements will also not burn out and need replacing should the geyser suddenly empty. They will turn on to reach 240°C, then off for around 10 minutes, then on for a minute, and off again. Each of these ON/OFF cycles is known as a dry burn cycle. XTEND has been tested to 5000 dry burn cycles.</p>
<p><a href="https://xtendelements.co.za/ideal-for-hard-water/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Read More...</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Montserrat; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Yes. Solar thermal systems use the element to boost heat at night and in winter when required. Any time that an element is used, XTEND elements will reduce the electricity costs. </span></p>
<p>Anybody who is authorised to install normal elements. The <a href="https://xtendelements.co.za/installation/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">installation</span> </a>is exactly the same.</p>
Below are answers to questions we get asked most by our customers. If you have any further questions, please get in touch.
|
Standard Resistive Elements |
XTEND Elements |
|
Use a coiled wire to turn electricity into heat. This has not changed much in 100 years. |
Use a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. |
|
Surface temperature of around 500°C. |
Surface temperature of 220°C. |
|
Varying metal alloys encase the coiled wire. These are all relatively soft and prone to corrosion and scale build-up, which cause failure. |
Encased in marine-grade (316) stainless steel. Large surface area to reduce the impact of scale build-up. The design makes the XTEND element easy to descale. |
|
Burn out when the geyser empties or the scale build-up becomes too much. Loses efficiency over time, operating at about 50% when they burn out & fail. |
Scale build-up is significantly reduced. XTEND element will switch off when 240°C is reached. It will not burn out and can be cleaned or installed in a replacement geyser and work as designed. |
Reducing the temperature from 500°C to 220°C slows scale build-up and other negative chemical reactions. The rate of heating is not affected, as the XTEND element has a far bigger surface area through which to exchange heat.
XTEND elements require a thermostat. The set temperature is typically around 10°C lower for an XTEND than a standard element because the thermostat is positioned lower on the XTEND flange element range.
The XTEND element design also reduces system heating losses, reducing the electricity required to heat your water.
In an average family home, an XTEND element uses around 1,000 units less electricity than a standard element.
This equates to a payback period of 12-18 months.
XTEND elements have a 3-year warranty and are designed to last 10 years.
XTEND elements are an affordable way to reduce the cost of your most expensive appliance.
Positive Temperature Coefficient. A PTC element’s electrical resistance rises extremely rapidly as it reaches the set temperature, which with XTEND is 270°C. The resistance becomes so high at the design set point (Curie point) that electricity cannot flow through the element.
PTC has a low-watt density. This is the amount of power for the surface area.
No additional fittings or thermostats are needed. XTEND elements are installed using the same parts as standard elements.
We strongly advise installing a new thermostat when installing an XTEND element. It is standard good practice to change the thermostat at the same time as the element. However, if the geyser is new, you should not need to change the thermostat.
Yes, for various reasons. If you use less than the full volume of your geyser then using a timer to heat up only a portion of the geyser, when you use it will save money in two ways:
- You heat up less water
- You are storing colder water, which causes less heat to be lost to the air. This reduces standing losses.
If you have solar PV (electricity) panels, you can heat your geyser for free using the power from these panels. To do this, you need to set the timer to work during sunlight hours. Adjusting this timing can help maximise the savings and returns on solar systems.
Heat rises, and the hottest water is at the top of the tank. The element will turn off only when the water at the thermostat level reaches the set temperature.
The thermostat position with the XTEND flange (Kwikot, Heattech) element is lower than a standard element. As a result, the thermostat needs to be set to a lower setting. Around 10°C is about right.
The hotter the water in the tanks, the higher the standing losses, but the more baths and showers it can support. How hot to set the geyser depends on the hot water consumption patterns.
A temperature setting of 40-45°C in a home is about right for an XTEND element.
This depends on how you use hot water. The image below shows the heating times.
Generally, we recommend a 2kw XTEND element for 100L & 150L geysers and a 3kw XTEND element for 200L or larger geysers. The choice depends on many factors, including usage patterns and the number of people using the geyser.
The advantage of using a lower power element is that it fits very well with solar PV systems, allowing the homeowner to, when budgets further allow, significantly reduce their electricity bill.
XTEND elements have a marine-grade stainless steel case to protect the PTC chips. This casing, combined with the lower operating temperature of 220°C, lower watt density, bigger surface area, and other design features, makes XTEND elements extremely hardwearing.
XTEND elements build up scale slower and thinner than a standard element. In addition, XTEND elements are easily cleaned if the limescale build-up is significant, as they can be serviced in hard water areas.
Yes. XTEND elements have been tested and passed for SANS 514.
XTEND elements will last significantly longer than standard elements. Eventually, hard water will impact XTEND elements.
XTEND elements have been tested to 21000 heating cycles. This is over 7 years of normal usage. We would expect the electrical components to last longer than this.
The stainless-steel case is corrosion resistant. It can also be cleaned to remove scale build-up. We recommend this in very hard water conditions.
If the geyser anode is not replaced, the life of the XTEND element may be negatively impacted.
XTEND elements will also not burn out and need replacing should the geyser suddenly empty. They will turn on to reach 240°C, then off for around 10 minutes, then on for a minute, and off again. Each of these ON/OFF cycles is known as a dry burn cycle. XTEND has been tested to 5000 dry burn cycles.
Yes. Solar thermal systems use the element to boost heat at night and in winter when required. Any time that an element is used, XTEND elements will reduce the electricity costs.
Anybody who is authorised to install normal elements. The installation is exactly the same.
|
Standard Resistive Elements |
XTEND Elements |
|
Use a coiled wire to turn electricity into heat. This has not changed much in 100 years. |
Use a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. |
|
Surface temperature of around 500°C. |
Surface temperature of 220°C. |
|
Varying metal alloys encase the coiled wire. These are all relatively soft and prone to corrosion and scale build-up, which cause failure. |
Encased in marine-grade (316) stainless steel. Large surface area to reduce the impact of scale build-up. The design makes XTEND easy to descale. |
|
Burn out when the geyser empties or the scale build-up becomes too much. Loses efficiency over time, operating at about 50% when they burn out & fail. |
Scale build-up is significantly reduced. XTEND will switch off when 240°C is reached. It will not burn out and can be cleaned or installed in a replacement geyser and work as designed. |
Reducing the temperature from 500°C to 220°C slows scale build-up and other negative chemical reactions. The rate of heating is not affected, as the XTEND element has a far bigger surface area through which to exchange heat.
XTEND elements require a thermostat. The set temperature is typically around 10°C lower for an XTEND than a standard element because the thermostat is positioned lower on the XTEND flange element range.
The XTEND element design reduces system heating losses, reducing the electricity required to heat your water.
In an average family home, an XTEND element uses around 1,000 units less electricity than a standard element.
This equates to a payback period of 12-18 months.
XTEND elements have a 3-year warranty and are designed to last 10 years.
XTEND elements are an affordable way to reduce the cost of your most expensive appliance.
Positive Temperature Coefficient. A PTC element’s electrical resistance rises extremely rapidly as it reaches the set temperature, which with XTEND is 270°C. The resistance becomes so high at the design set point (Curie point) that electricity cannot flow through the element.
PTC has a low-watt density. This is the amount of power for the surface area.
No additional fittings or thermostats are needed. XTEND elements are installed using the same parts as standard elements.
We strongly advise installing a new thermostat when installing an XTEND element. It is standard good practice to change the thermostat at the same time as the element. However, if the geyser is new, you should not need to change the thermostat.
Yes, for various reasons. If you use less than the full volume of your geyser then using a timer to heat up only a portion of the geyser, when you use it will save money in two ways:
- You heat up less water
- You are storing colder water, which causes less heat to be lost to the air. This reduces standing losses.
If you have solar PV (electricity) panels, you can heat your geyser for free using the power from these panels. To do this, you need to set the timer to work during sunlight hours. Adjusting this timing can help maximise the savings and returns on solar systems.
Heat rises, and the hottest water is at the top of the tank. The element will turn off only when the water at the thermostat level reaches the set temperature.
The thermostat position with the XTEND flange (Kwikot, Heattech) element is lower than a standard element. As a result, the thermostat needs to be set to a lower setting. Around 10°C is about right.
The hotter the water in the tanks, the higher the standing losses, but the more baths and showers it can support. How hot to set the geyser depends on the hot water consumption patterns.
A temperature setting of 40-45°C in a home is about right for an XTEND element.
This depends on how you use hot water. The image below shows the heating times.
Generally, we recommend a 2kw XTEND element for 100L & 150L geysers and a 3kw XTEND element for 200L or larger geysers. The choice depends on many factors, including usage patterns and the number of people using the geyser.
The advantage of using a lower power element is that it fits very well with solar PV systems, allowing the homeowner to, when budgets further allow, significantly reduce their electricity bill.
XTEND elements have a marine-grade stainless steel case to protect the PTC chips. This casing, combined with the lower operating temperature of 220°C, lower watt density, bigger surface area, and other design features, makes XTEND elements extremely hardwearing.
XTEND elements build up scale slower and thinner than a standard element. In addition, XTEND elements are easily cleaned if the limescale build-up is significant, as they can be serviced in hard water areas.
Yes. XTEND elements have been tested and passed for SANS 514.
XTEND elements will last significantly longer than standard elements. Eventually, hard water will impact XTEND elements.
XTEND elements have been tested to 21000 heating cycles. This is over 7 years of normal usage. We would expect the electrical components to last longer than this.
The stainless-steel case is corrosion resistant. It can also be cleaned to remove scale build-up. We recommend this in very hard water conditions.
If the geyser anode is not replaced, the life of the XTEND element may be negatively impacted.
XTEND elements will also not burn out and need replacing should the geyser suddenly empty. They will turn on to reach 240°C, then off for around 10 minutes, then on for a minute, and off again. Each of these ON/OFF cycles is known as a dry burn cycle. XTEND has been tested to 5000 dry burn cycles.
Yes. Solar thermal systems use the element to boost heat at night and in winter when required. Any time that an element is used, XTEND element will reduce the electricity costs.
Anybody who is authorised to install normal elements. The installation is exactly the same.