Hello fam.
I am trying to re-purpose the heater element from a 100W soldering iron to use it on heating pipe section (basically a section of a steel pipe that will heat the contents passing through.). I managed to test the rewound heater element and its working. but in the soldering iron it was basically covered up in insulation. So at this point i am wondering if that serves any other purpose aside from making sure the metal part of the iron does not conduct the mains electricity or short the coils. Two, i am wondering whether there needs to be special protection of the wound coil with relation to air or moisture or basically the operating environment (which will be almost always dry).

Any insights and advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

Any kind of heater or resistance wire can work. Nichrome (nickel-chromium alloy) is a commonly used material.
Yes, the wire needs to be insulated from the steel pipe. Kapton® tape (polyimide film) can withstand up to 400°C.

 

Any kind of heater or resistance wire can work. Nichrome (nickel-chromium alloy) is a commonly used material.
Yes, the wire needs to be insulated from the steel pipe. Kapton® tape (polyimide film) can withstand up to 400°C.

Thanks for the insight, I was really in need of that tape but i was'nt sure what to be looking for in the store.
with regards to the element being exposed to the air, the Nichrome wire can operate in the presence of air without problem right? just wanted to be clear on that since most heater elements will usually be inside some sort of coating like the oven ones or room heaters.

 

just wanted to be clear on that since most heater elements will usually be inside some sort of coating like the oven ones or room heaters.

Look into the slots of your toaster.

 

Look into the slots of your toaster.

Yeah! those really are right in the open. So its safe for me to assume that they will be okay, maybe i should just keep an eye out on the temperature to avoid burning them out. its a 0.13mm wire after all.