How to tell heater wattage?

D

diafel

AC Members
Jan 7, 2010
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I was given two large aquariums recently (Freecycle is the BEST!), one a plexi and the other a glass. Both came with all kinds of stuff, like lights, decorations, etc. The two AC 300s were a real score! But the problem is that there are several heaters, and none of them are marked anywhere that I can see as to what the wattage is on them. Is there a way to tell?
Thanks!
 
Like stated there should be a stamp visible on the glass or a tag on the cord or a models number that can correlate to a power size. Other then that just by looking your highest wattage heater will usually be the one with the longest set of coils and the longest tube since it needs more area to disperse heat. So you may want to pair them up by size and use them that way the largest two for the largest tank and so on.

Be advised that occasionally people keep malfunctioning heaters especially if there is an odd number like 5 heaters for two tanks, usually people only have 2 per tank. So be sure to keep an eye on the temp once you start using them.
 
To go on what CWO4Gunner said, I'd test them out before putting them in a tank with fish to make sure they are working properly and won't either boil the fish or not heat at all/enough.

I prefer to just buy new heaters unless they are in really good shape and new-looking. I'm paranoid, though. I'm totally fine with used filters and powerheads and all, but those are pretty easy to determine if they are going to work.
 
Test them for sure, make sure they aren't stuck "on" and cook your fish. I would run them for a day in a big bucket and make sure they are working properly.

If the markings have worn off you could plug them into a killawatt meter and measure how much power they are drawing.

Otherwise, you can just assume the bigger ones are higher powered. It's hard to confuse 50w for a 300w, and it's doesn't really matter if it's a 50 or a 75, they will both work in a sensible size tank.

Ian
 
to figure out your heater watts you have to fined the resistance after you fined that you divide volts by resistance and you will have watts. items reqired: amp meter ohm meter and volt meter. most multi meters have all three.
 
iamvictor2k said:
to figure out your heater watts you have to fined the resistance after you fined that you divide volts by resistance and you will have watts. items reqired: amp meter ohm meter and volt meter. most multi meters have all three.
Click to expand...

You might want to research that equation you stated...voltage divided by resistance does not equal wattage...
 
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