How to make a simple induction heater for heating

Searching for a reliable and affordable method of heating your house? Perhaps induction heating is the answer you’ve been looking for. Even though it might sound difficult, the typical do-it-yourselfer can easily construct a basic induction heater to heat their home. This technique, which uses electromagnetic induction to its full potential, provides a healthy and sustainable replacement for conventional heating systems.

An electromagnetic field is used in induction heating to produce heat inside the target object—in this case, your home. Induction heating eliminates the need for direct contact between the heat source and the object being heated, in contrast to traditional techniques that rely on burning fuel or heating elements. Rather, it functions according to the electromagnetic induction principle, which involves the transfer of energy via electromagnetic waves.

The efficiency of induction heating is one of its main benefits. Compared to other heating techniques, there is less energy loss because the heat is produced inside the object itself. This implies that you can use less energy to heat your house more efficiently, which will eventually result in lower utility costs.

But how precisely can one make a basic induction heater to heat their house? Fortunately, all you need to get started is a basic understanding of technology and some inexpensive equipment. You can construct your own induction heater at home with a few easily obtained parts and a basic understanding of the underlying concepts. We’ll go over how to build an easy-to-use induction heater that can help keep your house warm and comfortable in the sections that follow.

On the principle of inductive heating

Let’s start by describing how electric induction heaters work. An electromagnetic field is created around the coil by alternating current flowing through it. A core of magnifying metal placed inside the winding will heat up due to vortex currents created by the field’s influence. That is the entire idea.

A crucial prerequisite. The coil must consume alternating current, changing the sign and field vector at a high frequency, in order for the metal core to heat up. You will get a regular electromagnet when you apply a direct current to the winding.

The primary component of the installation is the heating element, also known as the inducer. It is a flat coil that is positioned as close to the hob as possible in kitchen slabs, as seen in the photo below, and it is a steel pipe with coolant flowing inside heating boilers.

The circuit that raises the current frequency is the second component of the induction heater. The truth is that for these kinds of devices to function, a voltage with an industrial frequency of 50 Hz is noteworthy. The inductor will start to buzz loudly and warmly if it is connected to the network directly, warming the windings and the core. The electric circuit operates at a frequency that must be raised to at least 10 kHz in order to convert electricity into heat and fully transmit its metal.

What actual benefits do induction boilers have over electrode and heating systems?

1. The water -heating part is a simple piece of pipe that does not participate in electrochemical processes (as in electrode heat generators). Therefore, the service life of the inductor is limited only to the efficiency of the coil and can reach 10-20 years.
2. For the same reason, the element is equally well “friends” with all types of coolants – water, antifreeze and even machine oil, there is no difference.
3. The inducer"s insides are not covered with a bit during operation.

Note: There are a lot of misconceptions about induction boilers. For instance, vendors claim that their products are 10–20% more cost-effective than other electric heaters, despite the fact that all electric ships are 98% efficient. Three of the aforementioned points are on the list of benefits; the remaining points are just advertisements.

In our guide on heating and insulating your home, we delve into the realm of DIY heating solutions with a focus on building a simple yet effective induction heater. Induction heating is a fascinating process where an electrical coil generates a magnetic field, which then heats up a metal object placed within it. By harnessing this concept, you can create a practical heating device using common materials and basic tools. Whether you"re looking to supplement your existing heating system or explore alternative heating options, this DIY project offers a cost-effective and efficient solution. With clear instructions and a step-by-step approach, we"ll walk you through the process of constructing your own induction heater, empowering you to enhance the warmth and comfort of your home while also reducing energy consumption and costs.

Self -made devices

There are enough diverse designs made for a range of uses available on the Internet. Consider a 250–500 watt induction small heater powered by a computer power supply. The master in a garage or auto repair can melt brass, copper, and aluminum rods with this model, which is useful.

However, the structure’s low power makes it unsuitable for heating the space. The video documents the trials and labor of two genuine options that can be found on the Internet:

• a water heater from a polypropylene pipe with power from a welding inverter or an induction kitchen panel;
• steel boiler with heating from the same hob.

Citation. In other entirely handcrafted structures, artisans gather frequency converters one by one. However, as this calls for expertise in radio engineering, we won’t address it here; instead, we’ll merely provide an example of one.

Let’s now examine more closely at the construction of induction heaters using your own hands and, crucially, how they work in the future.

We make a heating element from the pipe

This design must have come to your attention if you were deeply researching this subject, as the master uploaded its assembly to the well-known YouTube videoless platform. Following that, a lot of websites posted textual instructions in the form of step-by-step directions detailing the manufacture of this inductor. To put it briefly, the heater works as follows:

1. Inside the pipe made of polypropylene with a diameter of 40 mm and a length of 50 cm, metal ruffs for washing dishes run up (you can chopped wire – rifle). They must be attracted by the magnet.
2. Discharges with threads for connecting to the heating network are soldered to the pipe.
3. Outside, 4-5 cores from textolite are glued along the case. The wire is wound on them with section 1.7-2 mm² with glass insulation, used in welding transformers.
4. The hob is disassembled and the “native” inductor of the flat shape is dismantled. Instead of it, a homemade heater from the pipe is connected.

An important nuance. The standard stove indurator should be used to determine the coil’s length and cross section so that it matches the power of the field transistors in the electric circuit. Transistors will overheat and fail if you use more wires than necessary. The heating power will decrease with more wires. Check out the video to see how it appears visually:

As one might expect, metal ruffs situated in the coil’s variable magnetic field serve as the heating element. The unit’s tests indicated that you could heat it by 15-20 °C if you turned the hob to its highest setting while also running water through the makeshift boiler.

Since most induction plates have a power of between two and 2.5 kW, you can use a heat generator to heat rooms that are no larger than 25 m². Although there are challenges here, it is possible to raise the heating by connecting the inductor to the welding machine:

1. The inverter gives a direct current, and a variable is needed. To connect the induction heater, the device will have to be disassembled and found on the diagram of the point where the voltage has not yet been straightened.
2. You need to take a larger wire and choose the number of turns by calculating. As an option, copper wire Ø1.5 mm in enamel isolation.
3. You need to organize the cooling of the element.

In the video that is provided below, the author illustrates how the inductive water heater works. Tests have demonstrated that the unit needs to be finalized, but sadly, the outcome is unknown. It appears that the craftsman abandoned the project unfinished.

How to assemble an induction boiler

This is one instance where disassembling a cheap Chinese plate is not necessary. The main idea is to cook the boiler tank according to its size while following these detailed instructions:

1. Take the steel profile pipe 20 x 40 mm with a wall thickness of 2 mm and cut the blanks from it in the width of the panel.
2. Boil the tubes among themselves along the length, joining the smaller sides.
3. On top and bottom to the ends, hermetically weld iron covers. Make holes in them and put rods with threads.
4. Attach 2 corners to one of the sides so that they form a shelf for an induction stove.
5. Paint the unit with a heat -resistant enamel from a spray can. More details of the assembly process are shown in the video.

Installing the boiler on the wall and inserting it into the heating system is the last assembly and launch. The hob is attached to the mains by sliding it into the corners’ sockets on the tank’s back wall. All that’s left to do is add coolant to the system, agitate the air, and activate the inductor’s heating.

You are currently waiting for the same issue that I encountered with the earlier model. Induction heating will certainly function, but its 2.5 kW power is sufficient to warm a few tiny rooms in a frosty street. A DIY boiler can heat an area of 35–40 m² in the fall and spring when the temperature does not drop below zero. Watch the following video to learn how to properly connect it to the system:

A cheap and energy-efficient way to heat your house is by building a basic induction heater. Flames or other conventional heating sources are not necessary when you use electromagnetic induction to create heat. This method is considered environmentally friendly as it minimizes energy waste and lowers the risk of fire hazards.

The flexibility it offers in terms of design and customization is one of the main benefits of building your own induction heater. By modifying a few easily accessible parts and a basic understanding of electronics, you can customize the heater to meet your unique heating requirements. You can easily modify the heater’s size and power to suit your needs, whether you want to heat a small space or a larger one.

Moreover, the low maintenance requirements of induction heating technology are a result of its simplicity. An induction heater often has strong, long-lasting parts, unlike conventional heating systems that might need frequent cleaning or maintenance. In the long run, this lowers ongoing maintenance costs in addition to saving you time and effort.

You also learn more about the technology involved in heating your home if you choose to do it yourself. You can learn about electrical circuits and electromagnetic fields by building your own induction heater. This will enable you to troubleshoot and make necessary improvements. This practical experience can be enlightening and satisfying, providing you a sense of control and accomplishment over your heating system.

In conclusion, building a basic induction heater for your house provides a useful and independent substitute for traditional heating techniques. You can benefit from effective and scalable heating while reducing the negative effects on the environment and maintenance requirements by utilizing electromagnetic induction. Building your own induction heater can be a satisfying project with long-term advantages for your home, regardless of your motivations—saving money, being environmentally conscious, or just wanting to learn new skills.

Video on the topic

🔥 made crazy induction discs on a grinder.

Microwave heater

Induction heating on two fingers