How to Calculate your Heater Wattage (Get your target temperature)

Are you looking to calculate surface heater wattage? Follow the formula in this video given by Chet, Omega Engineer, to understand exactly the type of surface heater you'll need.

A flexible heater is a device which can conform to the surface which requires heating. There are many varieties of flexible heaters which include silicone rubber heaters, Polyimide Film heaters, heating tapes, heating tapes with thermostats, rope heaters, wrap around tank heaters, gas cylinder heaters, and custom sizes.

hm's law shows the relationship between voltage, wattage, amperage, and resistance. It is important to know Ohm's law in order to calculate the load you will be switching with your thermostat or digital controller. For example, if you select a flexible heater which is rated 200 Watts and apply 120 Vac, the current will be 1.6 Amps.

A is equal to W / V where: A = Amperes; W = Wattage; V = Voltage

Using our example above 200 Watts/120 Vac = 1.6 Amps
Some other variation of Ohm's Law:

Volts = Watts/Amperes
Volts = Amperes x OHMS
OHMS = Volts/Amperes
Amperes = Volts/OHMS
Watts = Volts x Amperes

Kilowatt Requirement
To determine the kW required to heat up a solid. The following formula is used.

kW = (WT x Cpx Δ T)/3412 x h

Where:
WT= Weight of Material, lbs
Cp=specific heat, BTU/lb-°F
Δ T = Temperature Rise, °F
3412= Conversion Factor, BTU/kWh
h = heat-up time, hrs

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