Leister Heating Element
Replacement Heating Elements
For hot air tools to work correctly, there is one component more important than any other: the heating element. However, these elements don’t last forever. They operate in extreme conditions that can reach temperatures of 1000°F and higher. This is why it’s important to have replacement heating elements ready to go for your hot air solution.
This is where our Leister heating elements can help. Leister is renowned for producing the finest heat gun tools, accessories, and parts, and that’s no different with these elements. Manufactured in Switzerland and available right here in the U.S. through Heatgun.com, you can order your replacement part online today and avoid any costly delays.
How to Order Replacement Elements
To order your replacement elements, please identify the following specifications:TYP, Volts, and Watts.
You can find these identifying labels on the bottom of Leister elements, as seen below in the example image:
The older style element is listed on the left, and the new style elements are listed on the right.
How Heating Elements Work
For a hot air tool to work correctly, it is essential that it features a fully-functioning heating element. These elements are necessary for powering up these tools – and other heating solutions – so they successfully reach high temperatures. Speaking of which, high-quality heating elements are capable of reaching temperatures that go beyond 1000°F (538°C) and higher. However, due to the role they play within a hot air tool, heating elements naturally don’t have a long lifespan. Are you in the market for a replacement Leister heat gun element? If so, the following information will help. This guide explains how they function, the types of heating elements available, how to choose and replace an element, and more.
What Is a Heating Element?
So what are heating elements, exactly? They are materials that work together to convert electricity into heat. The scientific name behind this process is Joule heating. Heating elements will typically contain materials such as:
- Metal
- Ceramic
- Semi-conductors
- Thick film heaters
- Polymer PTC
Various metals can be utilized within a heating element. For example, copper, which is 20 times faster at transferring heat than stainless steel, regularly features in elements. Other options include aluminum and metallic resistor alloys. Elements are generally in a coil, ribbon, or strip of wire that supplies the heat. Heating elements are not restricted to just heat guns. They are used across many different devices and appliances, ranging from space heaters to coffee machines.
How Does a Heating Element Work?
To describe Joule heating in simple terms, this involves an electric current that flows through the heating element. This electric heat element process takes the energy produced and converts it into heat. When heated, the material typically glows hot, with the heat expanding outwards in all directions. The levels of heat can be controlled by the conductor’s resistance. A high resistance will, naturally, produce a high level of heat. In a hot air tool, the air is sucked in and pulled across the heating element. After getting the air up to the desired temperature, it is then dispensed through a nozzle. Yet whether it is used in heat guns or electric heaters, the process remains the same when a heating element is in use.
Types of Heater and Heating Elements
It is easy to underestimate the number of heater and heating element types available. However, they come in many different shapes with varying materials. To put this into perspective, there are metal, PTC, composite, shroud, strip, tank, tubular, process, infrared, heated hoses and tubes, trace cable, flexible heaters, enclosure heaters, drum heaters, coil, cable, ceramic fiber, cast-in, cartridge, and band heaters.
That’s just some of the examples. However, to keep things simple – and to avoid this turning into a never-ending guide – we are going to specifically focus on the Leister heating element. This heating element type is used by the following Leister heating tools:
- Triac ST, AT, S, and Diode S
- Hemtek ST
- UNIROOF
- Hot Jet S
- Labor S
- Uniplan
- Welding Pen
- Variant
- Electron
How to Identify Your Leister Heating Element?
Leister produces the world’s highest-quality heating elements. They also make it easy to identify which element you require for your hot air tool. It is a case of identifying the TYP, volts, and watts on your current heating element. This information is found near the heating element’s base, conveniently next to the Leister logo. Once you have identified the element for your Leister heat gun, it is a case of finding and ordering a replacement. That can all be done right here at Heatgun.com.
How Hot Can a Heating Element Get?
The amount of heat generated by a heating element is dependent on the type used. If your projects require the production of high temperatures, it is wise to go with an element that uses metallic resistor alloys. When using alloys like Fe-Cr-AL or Ni-Cr(Fe), it is possible to reach temperatures of 1112°F (600°C) and higher. Unsurprisingly, this results in the metal being turned red-hot. What if you don’t need such high temperatures? This is where elements made with other materials like copper, aluminum, and nickel can be used with your heat gun.
How to Test Your Heating Elements
To test if your heating element is still good or needs to be replaced, there are four main steps to follow. These are:
- Unscrew the heater tube and remove the mica tube.
- Take the heating element out of your hot air tool.
- Check the element to see if anything has been damaged.
- Use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance of the heating element. If the ohmmeter displays double digits, that’s the signal the element must be replaced.
As an example, if you are using a 120V Leister tool, the heating element should read 9 for resistance. An element for a 230V tool, on the other hand, should read 34 resistance.
Commonly Asked Questions for Leister Heating Elements
How do you replace a heating element?
Replacing the heat element is a relatively straightforward task. With your hot air tool cooled and unplugged, remove the mounting unit, heater tube, gasket, and any other component concealing the heating element. Once fully exposed, grasp the element in one hand, and hold the heat gun with the other. Now move the element back and forth gently until it detaches from the tool.
There are a few aspects to inspect before going straight to a replacement part. First, look at the heating element for any visible burn marks or cracks. You should then check the element, along with the air filter, to see if any blockages are restricting airflow. If the fault seems to originate with the electric heating element, it will need to be replaced.
When installing your replacement element, it is a case of aligning the element’s prongs to match up with your heat gun’s sockets. Insert the element by firmly pressing it into the gun, doing so until it is snug and in place. Finish by reassembling the rest of the tool and checking to see if the new element has resolved the problem.
Do heating elements get weak?
Although a Leister heat gun element has been designed with robustness and durability at the forefront, not even the finest elements can last forever. Due to the nature of the work they do and with the intense temperatures they face, heating elements will naturally become weaker over time.
There are various factors that can result in the failure of a heater element, including oxidation, mechanical failure, corrosion, and the formation of hot spots. The longer an element is in use, the greater the possibility it develops an issue that leads to a deterioration in its overall performance.
How long should a heating element last?
The lifespan of a heating element is dependent on numerous points. Firstly, the quality of the element is the most important part. The second is how regularly it is in use. Understandably, an element that’s in use each day is going to suffer more general wear and tear than one which is used occasionally. The maintenance of your heat gun will also play a role in how long the element lasts.
In general, you should expect electric heating elements to last for 400-500 hours. However, this is just a general guide, and it is recommended you store a backup element long before that estimate to prevent any potential downtime.
Order Today from Heatgun.com
As the leading supplier of professional heating tools from Leister, you have landed in the right place for heating element options. We stock a wide range of heat gun element replacement parts, including options for the Triac ST and AT, Hemtek ST, and Hot Jet S. By having these products ready and available, you can take the initiative and have backup components ready to go. Yet even if you didn’t have the foresight to purchase replacement parts before any issues, we have you covered. Purchase an in-stock Leister heating element, and this can be delivered in just a single business day. With our combination of quality components and unparalleled service, there’s no reason to go anywhere else for your heat gun needs. If you have any questions or require assistance, we are here for you. Please give us a call at 1-800-241-4628 drop us a message via the Heatgun.com contact form. We’ll be more than happy to help!