A time delay switch for your patio heater is a great way to save both energy and money. There are a range of time delay switches designed to operate your outdoor electric patio heaters. They can be used to switch the heaters on and off and control the amount of heat that is generated at any one time.
Electric patio heaters can be switched by a PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor. The PIR in reality is just a simple motion detector. It works in a similar way to the ones used in burglar alarms. They sense the presence of a person within the proximity of the heaters. Then they automatically turn the patio heater on for a pre-determined period of time. The electric heater automatically switches off until next time it is triggered. Some controllers have the added feature of their own temperature sensor. This will prevent the heater operating when the ambient temperature is sufficiently high.
Time Lag switches do much the same thing. They will turn on your electric patio heater for a pre-determined period of time. However, they are operated by a customer physically pressing a button.
Both these switches are available IP65 fully weatherproof.
Controllers switches with the added benefit of allowing you to vary the amount of heat. Your outdoor patio heater is more controllable. Ideal for areas where a small amount of additional heat warmth is needed to create the ideal environment. Variable controllers are available in 1, 2, 3 and 4 zone variants. The heat is controlled in each zone independently from the others. This is useful for restaurant guests who are feeling the chill more than the youngsters seated in an adjoining area. Tansun offer a 3 zone controller that is operated by a remote control.
