Tankless water-heaters use ZF switches and sensors

Newer technologies provide instant hot water and are more cost-effective than stored-water systems because they only heat water as it is needed, rather than heating a large volume and storing it in an insulated tank.

Many people have experienced the sudden unpleasant-blast of cold water, which happens when the stored hot-water suddenly runs out in the middle of a shower.

With households looking closely at their household bills, instantaneous water-heaters are likely to become the first choice for new and replacement domestic hot-water systems.

More than 400,000 modified Cherry MP101301 flow sensors have been built into water heaters manufactured by a leading European producer.

The sensors turn the heater on and off and simultaneously maintain a precise set water-temperature, even in the event of a change in the rate of flow, thereby avoiding a sudden deluge of hot or cold water, which can be dangerous as well as unpleasant for the user.

Cherry's D4 miniature switch is used by another European water-system manufacturer to activate the heating coil in its tankless water heaters.

This versatile snap-switch, which is available with various auxiliary actuators and mounting points, is reliable and offers a high level of repeat accuracy.

Its high-contact stability is achieved with application-specific contact materials for switching currents of 0.1 to 21A at 250V AC.

Approved for ambient temperatures between -40 to +150C, the D4 subminiature switch is EN 61058 and UL 1054 approved.

Technical specifications and documentation are available on ZF Electronics's website.

Design engineers and product-purchasing professionals can also use the 'Ask a Question' feature, which can be found at the website of Cherry Electrical Products.