Towel Rail Heating Element

[andysanders]

Hello all. Hope someone can offer me abit of advice...I have a heated towel rail in my bathroom, and have recently purchased a 250W heating element (from Screwfix) for it. However, having turned the element on for over an hour, the towel rail is only 'lukewarm'. The rail is approx 1100mm tall, and the element is wired stright to the mains. I was hoping to put it through a time switch so as to control the times that it turns on. I can't see any variable controls on the unit to control the temperature of the element. Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong. Thanks in advance!

 

[benichembla]

With a 250w it should be quiet warm within an hour, can you tell if it's switching it's self off via the built in temp control? Could be a faulty one.

 

[madderose]

need a bit more info. Is it on a sealed rail or is it on a conventional rail. If the latter the heat could just be leeching off through the pipes.
I made my own electric sealed rail. 1100 x 600 curved chrome rail 1200 watt capplilary element with thermostat and indicator light. ( ome of the websites maybe plumbworld had em cheap for 30 notes) in bottom right (capped off tee piece) two air cocks and other entry capped of.
Rail filled with (60/40) etheyl glycol mix same stuff we use in the solar rig circuits ( thanks keston) for sending me twice wot i needed lol. Rail filled up and top two rails left empty to allow for expansion, in all honesty top two rails always cold so probably could have added more glycol but best to err on the side of safety.
All done for around £125 saving a considerable sum on wot they charge for electric sealed rail. Heats up toasty in like 5 mins