Cartridge Heaters
The Watlow FIREROD® Heater revolutionized the heating element industry in 1954 when it was patented as the first swaged cartridge heater. With premium materials and tight manufacturing controls, the FIREROD® Heater continues to provide superior heat transfer, uniform temperatures and resists oxidation and corrosion at high temperatures.
Available in a wide variety of SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) and metric sizes with lead and mounting options, the FIREROD® remains the superior performance heater.
| Sheath Material | Maximum Watt Density | Maximum Operating Temperature |
| Incoloy® | 400 W/in² (62 W/cm²) | 1400 °F (760 °C) |
| Stainless Steel | 400 W/in² (62 W/cm²) | 1000 °F (540 °C) |
Applications:
- Plastics Processing
- Molds, Dies & Platens
- Heat Sealing
- Liquid & Gas Heating
FIREROD® Cartridge
The FIREROD® Cartridge heater offers many delivery programs to meet your needs: same day shipment, ship-to-stock or just-in-time. Our experience in customized engineering is reflected in over 250,000 FIREROD® Cartridge heater designs. Stock or made-to-order, the Watlow FIREROD® Cartridge delivers heat in a hurry.
Performance Capabilities:
- Operating Temperatures up to 1400 °F (870 °C) (on Incoloy® sheath)
- Operating Temperatures up to 1000 °F (540 °C) (on optional stainless steel sheath)
- Watt Densities up to 400 W/in (62 W/cm)
Features:
- Magnesium oxide insulation of specific grain and purity, swaged to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound and centered in the unit, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Conductor pins metal lurgically-bonded to the resistance wires, ensure trouble-free electrical continuity.
- Minimal spacing between the element wire and sheath results in lower internal temperature, giving you the ability to design with fewer or smaller heaters that operate at higher watt densities.
- Incoloy® sheath resists oxidation and corrosion from many chemicals, heat and atmospheres.
- Patented Lead Adaptor (LA) method allows same day shipment on more than 150,000 configurations of stock FIREROD® heaters and lead combinations.
- UL® (Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc.) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved flexible stranded wires, with silicone-fiberglass oversleeve, insulate the wires to temperatures of 480 °F (250 °C).
HT FIREROD® Cartridge
Performance Capabilities:
- Platen Temperatures up to 1800 °F (980 °C)
- Maximum Watt Densities up to 100 W/in (15.5 W/cm)
- Maximum Voltage of 277 V ~(ac) to Ground
- Length Tolerance: +0, -4 Percent Standard Diameters; +0, -8 Percent for Special Diameters
Features:
- High temperature seal prevents exposure to the atmosphere, which minimizes oxidation of the winding wires. The end result is longer life of the element.
- Incoloy® sheath is treated for better emissivity which transfers heat more efficiently.
FIREROD® Immersion
FIREROD® Immersion heaters package up to 300 W/in (46.5 W/cm) in a compact uint, giving you greater versatility in designing your heating system. This design solution is ideal for replacing large screw-plug immersion heaters.
Aside from its versatile design, these heaters come complete with a brass 3/4 inch NPT double threaded screw-plug, which allows you to add conduit boxes.
Also, FIREROD® Immersion heaters are sealed at the lead end with a silicone rubber seal. Solid copper leads, with silicone rubber sleeve, are provided for unconfined wiring.
These units are recommended for immersion in water or 90+ percent water-soluble solutions.
Performance Capabilities:
- Maximum Operating Temperatures in Water up to 212 °F (100 °C) at 13.7 psi
- Maximum Watt Densities up to 300 W/in (46.5 W/cm)
- Maximum Voltages up to 480 V ~(ac)
Features:
- Magnesium oxide insulation compacted to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound and centered in the unit, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Metal lurgically-bonded conductor pins overlap the resistance wire inside the core, ensuring trouble-free electrical continuity.
- 240 and 480 V ~(ac) give flexibility in wiring the heater for use in your particular application.
- Lead end with silicone rubber seal protects the heater against moisture contamination.
- Horizontal through the wall tank mounting makes set-up faster.
- Optional stainless steel fittings are available for use in corrosive applications.
- Incoloy® sheath resists corrosion from water.
FIREROD® Bolt
The high performance FIREROD® that has served the heater industry for almost 30 years has been up-graded with a conduit box and wooden handle.
When inserted into a hollow bolt, this heater lengthens the bolt by heat expansion, allowing the nutt to be further wrench-tightened. The FIREROD® Bolt is then de-energized and removed. Upon cooling, the bolt contracts to a tight fit.
Performance Capabilities:
- Operating Temperatures up to 1000 °F (540 °C)
- Maximum Watt Densities up to 100 W/in (15.5 W/cm)
Features:
- Conduit box has been added for wiring convenience.
- Wooden handle is attached for ease of handling the heater.
- Magnesium oxide insulation compacted to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound through the heated length, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Conductor pins metal lurgically-bonded to the resistance wires, ensure trouble-free electrical continuity.
- UL® (Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc.) approved flexible stranded wires with silicone-fiberglass sleeve, insulate the wires to temperatures of 480 °F (250 °C).
PC Cartridge
The Watlow PC Cartridge heater is a proven performer like the FIREROD®. This is due to the same quality of materials go into its construction; MgO insulation, nickel-chromium resistance wire, silicone-fiberglass insulated lead wires.
The only difference is that the PC Cartridge is packaged in a more economical design. Instead of having the high watt density capabilities of a FIREROD®, its made for medium watt density applications.
Performance Capabilities:
- Operating Temperatures up to 1000 °F (540 °C)
- Maximum Watt Densities up to 100 W/in (15.5 W/cm)
- Maximum Voltages up to 480 V ~(ac) (on some diameters)
Features:
- Magnesium oxide insulation compacted to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound through the heated length, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Metal lurgically-bonded conductor pins to the resistance wires, ensure trouble-free electrical continuity.
- Flexible stranded wires rated at 480 °F (250 °C).
Metric FIREROD® Cartridge
The Watlow FIREROD® not only set the industry standard for cartridge heaters, it continues making improvements in construction and design. Among those improvements is the Metric FIREROD® Cartridge, a variation of the FIREROD® cartridge heater, which was built to meet the exacting specifications of the global market.
The Metric FIREROD® Cartridge, like its counterpart, consistently outperforms other cartridge heaters because of design solutions like its exclusive resistance wire winding process. Plus details, like bringing the resistance wire closer to the sheath, and compacting the MgO insulation, maximizing heat transfer.
The end result is longer service life and better efficiency.
Performance Capabilities:
- Operating Temperatures up to 1600 °F (870 °C) (on Incoloy® sheath)
- Watt Densities up to 60 W/cm (400 W/in)
Features:
- Magnesium oxide insulation of specific grain and purity, swaged to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound and centered in the unit, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Conductor pins metal lurgically-bonded to the resistance wires, ensure trouble-free electrical continuity.
- Minimal spacing between the element wire and sheath results in lower internal temperature, giving you the ability to design with fewer or smaller heaters that operate at higher watt densities.
- Incoloy® sheath resists oxidation and corrosion from chemicals, heat and atmospheres.
Metric EB Cartridge
The Watlow Metric EB Cartridge heater is a proven performer like the metric FIREROD® cartridge, thats because the same quality materials go into its construction: MgO insulation, nickel-chromium resistance wire, silicone-fiberglass insulated lead wires.
The only difference is that the Metric EB Cartridge is packaged in a more economical design. Instead of having the high watt density capabilities of a metric FIREROD® cartridge, its made for medium watt density applications.
Performance Capabilities:
- Operating Temperatures up to 1100 °F (600 °C)
- Maximum Watt Densities up to 30 W/cm (190 W/in)
- Maximum Voltages up to 480 V ~(ac)
Features:
- Magnesium oxide insulation compacted to the proper density, results in high dielectric strength and contributes to faster heat-up.
- Nickel-chromium resistance wire, precisely wound through the heated length, assures even, efficient distribution of heat to the sheath.
- Metal lurgically-bounded conductor pins crimp-connected to the resistance wires, ensure trouble-free electrical continuity. This process provides lead flexibility just 8 mm (5/16 inch) from the end of the heater.
- Flexible stranded wires with silicone-fiberglass sleeve, insulate the wires to temperatures of 480 °F (250 °C).
- Optional lead end with silicone rubber seal protects the leads against moisture and other contaminants.
- VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniler) component recognition up to 230 V ~(ac) according to VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniler) 0721 part 1/3.78 and part 2/3.78 Section E in connection with VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniler) 0720 part 1/11.7.
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