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Immersion Heater

Summary

An electrical device designed to be immersed in a liquid for heating purposes.

Operation

School immersion heaters are often small metal tubes with flying leads which enable connection to a labpack. They are usually low voltage (12V) and should only be powered using the recommended voltage. This voltage is usually written on the heater or in a manual/instruction booklet supplied with the device.

Lab packs with ?dial? type voltage adjustment should be locked down if possible to the correct voltage when immersion heaters are being used. Higher voltages may irreversibly damage the heating element inside each heater.

Immersion heaters are often used in conjunction with calorimeter blocks in experiments to determine specific heat capacity and also sometimes used to show energy transfer (electricity to heat).


Safety

Caution

The heater should only be used with calorimeter blocks or with a suitable liquid. Operating the heater on an open bench could lead to permanent damage through overheating.

Do not fully immerse in a liquid if you notice damage to leads or cracks in the ceramic.

The contents of this page are for information only. Please refer to CLEAPSS or ASE safety advice and/or publications before undertaking any preparation, practical experiment or using any equipment featured on this site or any other.