A cartridge heater can be helpful in keeping equipment warmed up to the proper temperature, but not just any cartridge heater will work for any application. Instead, there are a few things that you should avoid when picking out one of these heaters.
1. Improper Fit
The first thing that you should look at when purchasing a cartridge heater is the size of the heater itself in comparison to the item that you will be heating and the hole space that you have for inserting the cartridge. If the cartridge is too small for what you are heating up, you have to worry about it not being able to do its job properly. On the other hand, if you purchase a cartridge heater that is too big, you have to worry about it producing too much heat. You also have to think about whether your cartridge heaters will fit where they are supposed to fit, and you should also consider the cost -- there is really no reason to purchase a too-big heater, which will probably cost more, when a smaller one would do the trick. You also don't want the cartridge heater to be too big to fit into the hole that is available for insertion, nor do you want it to be small enough that it will not fit properly.
2. Wattage and Voltage
You should also pay careful attention to the wattage and voltage of the cartridge heater, to ensure that it gets hot enough for your needs without getting too hot. For example, if you are inserting the cartridge heater into a plastic container to keep materials warmed up, you will want to make sure that the plastic is strong enough that it won't melt and that the cartridge heater isn't so hot that it can accelerate heating. Different climates also require different wattages and voltages when you're looking at cartridge heaters; a cartridge heater that is heating up materials in a chilly warehouse does not have to be as powerful as a cartridge heater that is being used to heat up materials in temperatures that are below zero, for example. Carefully consider the surrounding temperatures, the temperatures that you need to bring the items that are being heated up to and the outside temperature around the vessel to make this decision.
As you can see, there are a couple of considerations that you should look at when purchasing cartridge heaters. Keep these two things in mind, and you should purchase the right heater for your needs.
