12 VDC to 120 VDC Boost Converter

[Jered]

I need to power a DC heater capable of at least 100W for an enclosure that will be stored outside. I found a heater that can output my desired power, but it requires 120VDC input and the system currently is designed for an external 12V battery as per the customer.

Or, can I simply add three 60W, or two 50W, heaters to the enclosure?

Any leads/thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Jraef]

Since it's DC and you already know the power you need and the voltage you have, use Ohm's law to solve for resistance you need in the heater. Then go the other way with available heaters to find the right one.

R = V²/P so R = 12² = 144/100 = 1.44 ohm

Your heater is 100W 120V so the resistance is 144ohms, way too much. So knowing you need 1.44ohms, if delving into 120V heaters, to get 1.44ohms you need V²/R so 14,400/1.4 = a 10kW heater. Not practical to be looking in that bin.

Find a heater mfr that makes electric heaters for 12VDC applications. Companies that support the RV industry?

 

[petersonra]

how about a 1.44 Ohm resistor wired to the 12vdc. that would give you 100W at about 8.33 Amps.

 

[winnie]

A DC heater is simply a resistor, unless it perhaps includes a fan.

If you already have a source for 50W heaters, you can simply use 2 in parallel to get the necessary heat production.

Omega shows 100W 12V heater. Digikey shows suitable resistors which would produce about 100W at 12V.

It would make no sense to boost 12V in order to run a higher voltage heater.

-Jon

 

[petersonra]

A DC heater is simply a resistor, unless it perhaps includes a fan.

If you already have a source for 50W heaters, you can simply use 2 in parallel to get the necessary heat production.

Omega shows 100W 12V heater. Digikey shows suitable resistors which would produce about 100W at 12V.

It would make no sense to boost 12V in order to run a higher voltage heater.

-Jon

some include a thermostat which is a good idea. there are plenty of 12VDC strip heaters.

 

[Jered]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you all for the knowledge dump, it was very helpful. Have a great day y'all!

 

[electrofelon]

Renewable energy places such as AEE have 12V heaters off the shelf for use as dump loads.

 

[junkhound]

I need to power a DC heater capable of at least 100W for an enclosure that will be stored outside. I found a heater that can output my desired power, but it requires 120VDC input and the system currently is designed for an external 12V battery as per the customer.

Or, can I simply add three 60W, or two 50W, heaters to the enclosure?

Any leads/thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

-----simply do a web search.
In Dec, bought 2 ea 300W 12-120V boost converters off ebay shipped directly from China for the 'exorbitant' price of $8 (eight) dollars US. Works well, big heat sink -- how they can make, sell, AND ship for $8 is beyond my comprehension.

 

[Jraef]

-----simply do a web search.
In Dec, bought 2 ea 300W 12-120V boost converters off ebay shipped directly from China for the 'exorbitant' price of $8 (eight) dollars US. Works well, big heat sink -- how they can make, sell, AND ship for $8 is beyond my comprehension.

Slave labor, crap materials designed to MINIMUM standards, government subsidies and artificially costed shipping. Other than that, nothing is different.

 

[Ingenieur]

There are a range of these made
hoffman
rittal
omega
verify your sizing, hoffman has a calculator
12 vdc 40 w
http://www.enclosureclimatecontrol.com/fgc0503-2r-din-rail-enclosure-fan-heater-40w-12-vdc/
60 w
http://www.enclosureclimatecontrol.com/fgc1002-2r-din-rail-enclosure-ptc-fan-heater-60w-12-vdc/

some use light bulbs
dual purpose
a door switch in parallel with a thermostat

 

[Ingenieur]

For future reference
the sizing calculator I use
accounts for
internal power
location, int, ext, heated wall, isolated
panel material
sizing based on temp and/or humid

https://www.stego.de/nc/us/support/calculation-tools/heater-calculation/