Max. heating area
A very conditional parameter that slightly characterizes the purpose by the size of the room. And depending on the height of the ceilings, the layout of the room and the equipment, the actual values may differ significantly. Nevertheless, this item represents the maximum recommended area that the heat gun can effectively heat.
When determining the maximum area, usually, a universal formula is used that is valid for all heaters: 1 m² of floor space in a room with a standard ceiling height of 2.5 m requires 100 W of thermal power. Therefore, if the ceiling height differs markedly from this value, the actual heating area should be recalculated; for more details on scaling, see “Maximum thermal output".
Increase in air temperature (ΔT)
This parameter describes the difference between the air temperature at the inlet to the heater and the outlet temperature — in other words, by how many degrees the air temperature rises when passing through the unit. The higher ΔT, the hotter the outgoing air will be and the more attentively it is necessary to observe safety measures (do not place the device near flammable and heat-sensitive materials, prevent people from being in the immediate vicinity of the gun exit, etc.).
Airflow
The maximum amount of air that an industrial heater can pass through itself in a certain time.
This parameter is associated with an increase in air temperature (see above): at constant power, higher performance usually corresponds to a smaller temperature difference. Accordingly, a more efficient industrial heater will heat the entire volume of the room faster, but the heating temperature will be lower. So, it is worth choosing according to this parameter, taking into account what is more important for you — a large temperature difference or a high heating rate.
Power adjustment
The method of adjusting the heating power provided in the design of the heat gun.
- Stepped. Step adjustment assumes the presence of several fixed power values, between which switching is carried out during the tuning process. The accuracy of such a setting is worse than that of a stepless one (see below), even in cases where there are quite a lot of fixed values. At the same time, perfect accuracy is far from always required, and setting a specific value is easier than selecting the position of the regulator with stepless adjustment.
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Stepless. Stepless systems include adjustment systems that do not have fixed steps and allow you to set the power value in any range from minimum to maximum. Due to this, this setting is extremely accurate, although in some cases it is not as convenient as the stepped one described above.
Max. operating time
The longest time during which the industrial heater can work without interruption.
The value of this parameter depends on the power supply (see above). So, in diesel models, the operating time is usually indicated on one full tank, without refuelling. Note that this implies operation at the lowest power, with minimal fuel consumption, and in optimal environmental conditions. Therefore, when choosing a diesel heat gun for this parameter, it is worth taking a certain margin, or better, separately calculating the operating time at the highest fuel consumption: for this, the volume of the tank (see above) must be divided by the maximum consumption. If we are talking about a gas or electric model, then the maximum operating time usually means the time during which the unit can work without overheating.
Regardless of the type, the long maximum run time provides additional convenience when working with an industrial heater. At the same time, it does not always make sense to pursue the maximum value of this parameter: in fact, the need for continuous heating for a long time occurs quite rarely. In addition, many diesel models allow refuelling right during operation (and in others, the refueling break usually does not exceed a few minutes). Therefore, it is worth specifically looking for a heat gun with a long time of continuous operation only if such a feature is fundamentally important to you.
Safety features
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Overheat protection. A safety system that turns off the device when the temperature rises critically. The technical features of such a system can be different: for example, in electric models (see "Power supply") it monitors the temperature of the heater, in gas and diesel models (see ibid) it monitors the temperature inside the housing. However, such protection prevents overheating and its unpleasant consequences — from a breakdown of the unit to a fire in the room.
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Flame sensor. The safety system used in gas and diesel guns: monitors the presence of a flame in the combustion chamber, and when it is attenuated, it shuts off the fuel supply. It not only helps to avoid unnecessary fuel costs but above all prevents filling the room with gas, the formation of a puddle of flammable liquid and other dangerous consequences.
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Motor shutdown delay. This function provides a specific shutdown mode for the heat gun: when the switch is set to the appropriate position, the fan motor does not turn off immediately, but after some time has elapsed. It is done to cool the heating elements — otherwise, the residual heat from them (which is practically not removed after the fan is turned off) could lead to overheating, with all the ensuing consequences. The temperature sensor is usually responsible for turning off the motor, and the delay time can be up to several
...minutes — depending on the characteristics of a particular heater, as well as the temperature of the air supplied by the fan.
— Ignition system protection. Security systems are installed mainly in diesel-type heaters. Usually, it provides limiting the number of attempts to ignite the fuel — for example, less than three. It reduces wear on the ignition system and prevents excess fuel from entering the combustion chamber, which could lead to various troubles.
— Tip-over protection. A safety system that provides automatic shutdown of the heater in case of tilting. The vast majority of modern units are not designed to work in the lying position, and in some cases, this position can be dangerous even if normal operation is maintained: for example, when falling forward, air circulation is disturbed, and the surface under the device becomes very hot. Shutdown in case of a fall helps to avoid unpleasant consequences.
