Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Did some figuring on this...

I have an old heater from a B30. The heating wire itself is good, but the aluminum terminals have rotted off. The electrical info, from the nameplate reads:

110 volts, 375 watts.

If I = P/V, then the current = 375/110 = 3.41A

If R = V/I, then the resistance = 32.3 ohms (The ACTUAL resistance measures 28.5 ohms, for whatever that's worth)

The number of turns is approx. 34, at 2.5"/turn, which gives a heater ribbon length of 85"

85" = 7.08 ft., 32.3 ohms would require a wire resistance of approx. 4.6 ohms/ft.

I measure the wire ribbon size at .004 thick X .031" wide.

This source has wire available in 5.15 ohms/ft, .0035" thick, and 1/32" wide, which would work:

https://jacobs-online.biz/nichrome_ribbon_wire.htm

It's the first size listed, with various lengths available.

Paula