Among the many options for portable electric heating, the ceramic heater cube is one that can be both fairly effective and cost efficient. But is it a wise investment when you can get a larger, more powerful heater for not much more money? Ultimately that question is left up to the individual consumer. But one thing that can be said for sure is that ceramic heater cubes have become very popular additions to a winter heating arsenal that includes several different options.
What is a Ceramic Heater Cube?
Simply put, this device is a small ceramic heater constructed in the shape of a cube. It’s smaller than most ceramic heaters, but it’s designed to be that way. These cubes are intended to work in confined spaces such as small to medium-sized rooms, automobiles, RVs, and the like. You certainly wouldn’t be heating an entire house with one because they’re just too small. However, the nature of ceramic heat makes them ideal in many situations.
Constructing them in the shape of a cube has a couple of advantages when we’re talking about heating small spaces. First of all, the simplicity of the cube makes it aesthetically pleasing in just about any environment. In other words, the cube shape is such a natural part of our environment that doesn’t stand out as the central feature in a room. But beyond the aesthetics, the physical properties of the cube make it ideal for compact heating.
PTC heating, the concept on which the ceramic heater cube is built, utilizes ceramic blocks in various shapes and sizes to regulate the amount of heat being produced. The size and geometry of the cube allows for the most efficient use of ceramic’s PTC properties in a confined space. That means with a cube-shaped ceramic element you get the maximum amount of heating potential in the smallest amount of space.
Are There Any Disadvantages to the Ceramic Heater Cube?
There are some consumers who are not fond of these types of heaters for several reasons. But understand that these issues are not related to the concept of a heater cube itself, but rather design features implemented by individual manufacturers. That said the most common complaint comes from fans that make too much noise. This is a typical problem due to the fact that heat must be quickly dissipated from a ceramic heater cube in order to maintain maximum efficiency. Adding a high powered fan to such a small unit tends to produce unwanted noise. How loud a given heater is will depend on the design.
Another common complaint revolves around the use of thermostats. In theory, PTC heaters don’t need thermostats because ceramic heating blocks are self-regulating. Some manufacturers use ceramic with a high PTC rating to maximize heat potential, but then build in a thermostat to allow lower temperatures when desired. The problem is that adding a thermostat to a PTC ceramic heater cube defeats the purpose of the ceramic block, thus providing inconsistent heat at times.
As previously stated, these two issues, as well as some of the others that consumers complain about, will vary from one manufacture to the next. As a general rule, a higher quality, brand-name ceramic heater cube will be less likely to experience these issues.
What are the Advantages?
The most obvious advantage to a ceramic heater cube is the fact that you can potentially heat up a significant amount of space with a very small unit. That makes these heaters ideal for situations where you don’t have the room for a larger unit, or you simply don’t want to use one. One good example would be a caravan during early and late summer, when overnight temperatures can be chilly. A ceramic heater cube can provide just the right amount of heat without the need to turn on your furnace.
The other big advantage with this type of heater comes by way of efficiency. Because these small heaters operate at maximum efficiency, they also draw very little power in comparison to some other types of heaters. By using a ceramic heater cube rather than an old-style convection heater, you will spend less money in the long run on your electricity.
