Types of Electric Elements:
STANDARD:
They have a fixed temperature electrical cartridge element with a built-in thermostat. They also incorporate a thermal fuse as a safety feature.
THERMOSTATIC:
The electrical element senses the internal water temperature. This gives you surface temperature control. Some thermostatic elements have timers that allows setting up custom schedules. They also incorporate a thermal fuse as a safety feature.
What else do I have to buy?
You only need a 3 Amp Unswitched Fused Connection into your bathroom. It needs to be less than 1 meter away from the Towel Rail, as this is the length of the lead.
What exactly is in the box?
Installation:
*** Electric elements should be installed by a qualified electrician. Think about your safety first.
Step 1
Check that the wall is strong enough to hold the weight of the towel rail. Mark your preferred bracket positions on the wall and drill holes for the fixings you intend to use. The diameter of the Wall Plugs supplied is 8mm and they are only suitable for solid walls. You will need alternative fixings for other wall types.
Step 2
Screw the Bracket Bases to the wall using the Washers & Wall Screws provided or alternative fixings.
Step 3
Loosely fit the Bracket Stems to the towel rail with the Bracket Fronts & Bracket Screws. Rotate the Bracket Stems as shown in the diagram below.
Step 4
Align the Bracket Stems with the Bracket Bases and push the towel rail back into position.
Step 5
Tighten the central Bracket Screws with a screwdriver.
Step 6
Insert the Mini Screws into the holes in the underside of Bracket Bases and tighten with a screwdriver to fix the Bracket Stem into the Bracket Base
Step 7
Push the Cover Caps into position on the Bracket Fronts.
Electrical Connection
**Insert the element into the bottom of the radiator (see the image).
Step 8
Cut the cable to the desired length and strip the outer sleeve for approximately 40mm. Cut the coloured wires to the correct lengths and strip off approximately 5mm of the insulation on each one.
Step 9
Connect the wires to a fused connection unit fitted with a 13A fuse and tighten the cord clamp.
Step 10
Place the fused connection unit onto the back box and tighten the two holding screws.
Heat Distribution in Electric Towel Rails
Liquid filled Electric Towel Rails have a heating element fitted into one of the vertical collectors that heats up the liquid inside the rail. They are in principle similar to a kettle; however, the larger volume and the requirement for a safer surface temperature does not allow changes in temperature to be immediately spread across the rail.
As there is no internal flow inside the rail, the heat is spread by diffusion, which means that the warmer particles of liquid will move up and horizontally to the coldest spots of the rail whilst the cooler ones move down and towards the heating cartridge. This is why the lower bars will not be as hot as the middle section; the fluid inside the lower bars has already traveled through most of the rail and it is making its way back to the heating rod of the element. At this point, it has already transferred most of the heat that it carried.
The top bars will not be either as hot as the rest of the rail, our rails are filled to the 90% of their capacity to allow the 10% for expansion of the liquid to prevent overpressure.
If you want to improve the heat distribution, consider bleeding your radiator to release any trapped air inside a radiator.
Check: How to bleed a radiator?
