#1 - Powerblanket manufactures a complete line of IBC Tote Heaters with thermostatic controllers to dial in temperature to exact requirements.  We tested the Powerblanket TH330 (330 gal.) with internal heat spreading technology and an adjustable thermostat controller, all retailing at about $1399.  Price tag seemed a lot less than competitors models,  however any worries we had about quality were quickly replaced with intrigue as we wrapped our first IBC with the Powerblanket.  It was obvious from the onset that the Powerblanket was very well built and included all the neccessary straps and clips to quickly secure it to our tote… this was no bare-bones base model heater.  What was really amazing was how quickly the blanket reached our target temperature of 130° F. The included thermostat controller included a unique heat probe that inserted directly into our tote allowing us to dial in the temperature to our target temp.  We used a solution of water and sodium for test purposes and found that the Powerblanket TH330 did a superb job of both heating and maintaining heat after unplugging.  The insulation within the Powerblanket really made a difference after we uplugged the TH330.  Heat loss was minimal even after being unplugged for 6 hours.  Further examination revealed that the powerblanket did not produce cold or hot spots which is a common complaint with competitor models.  Powerblanket’s heat spreading technology delivered a barrier of warmth that is unlike any other product we have reviewed.  A very solid piece of equipment which we are happy to give our “BEST BUY” 2010 buyers award!  See their complete products online at www.powerblanket.com

Shopping results for ibc tote heaters

275-Gallon IBC Tote Heater with Adjustable Thermostat $1,449.00 new – TigerFoam.ca 330-Gallon IBC Tote Heater with Adjustable Thermostat $1,549.00 new – TigerFoam.ca Large Tank & Silo Insulated Heat Wraps $ CALL  new – Powerblanket.com

The solution was quite easy… but the science behind the solution took a little time to develop.  Figure out a way to heat a blanket made of carbon fiber material… insert a layer of insualtion… and wrap the whole thing into a nice little vinyl blanket.  The guys at POWERBLANKET did just that, but they took it a step further.  Powerblanket included an adjustable thermostatic controller with heat probes that insert into the tote materials to allow exact temperature monitoring 24/7.  All Powerblanket Tote heaters include an insulated (removeable) top and adjustable straps for fitting larger or smaller containers.  Throw in a UL / CSA rating and GREEN low energy consumption certifications and you have yourself a near perfect work of art. 

I suppose there are cheaper ways to try and heat a tote or IBC tank, but quite frankly, we couldn’t find any method that worked.  We looked at blowers, non-electric blankets, immersion heaters, heat lamps, and a host of other contraptions, but they all failed at heating and/or insulating the tote contents.  Some of the devices we observed overheated and burned the tote or fluids while others simply couldn’t keep the tote above freezing in typical outdoor and winter warehouse conditions.  The only exception was the overpriced Brisk-Heat blanket that didn’t include a top and required close to 3000 Watts at 240V to operate.  Too mcuh for too little.  Our money is on the Powerblanket.

Millions of IBC Totes are found in warehouses, freight cars, loading docks, and trailer beds.  While transporting them may be relatively easy, keeping their contents from freezing is far from a walk in the park.  Millions of dollars annually are lost due to spoiled/frozen IBC products including food, dairy, chemicals, polyurethane, petroleum, and other temperature sensitive materials.

So just how do you keep a tote full of honey or resin or polyurethane at optimal temperatures?  The answer is… IT DEPENDS… depends on several factors like:

1. What are the external ambient temperatures working against you?

2. What is the material you are trying to heat?

3. Are you trying to increase or maintain temperature?

4. Will you be transporting the IBC Totes?

5. Will the Totes be exposed to snow and ice?

Then there are other factors to consider like viscosity, price, and the list goes on and on.  Generally speaking we recommend two types of devices for heating tote materials although they are very different in application.

The first is an immersion heater.  Immersion heaters have been used for decades to heat liquids inside drums, buckets, totes, and tanks.  Although immersion heaters do heat up quickly, there is a tendency for them to burn product and corrode quickly… both factors you want to avoid when dealing with expensive compounds.

The second is an insulated jacket or electric blanket that wraps around the plastic or metal tote, offering a barrier of warmth and insulation to an otherwise very exposed surface.  The most reliable and efficient tote blanket heaters we observed are manufactured by either Powerblanket or Brisk-Heat.  On the surface they look very similar, but the Powerblanket offers more bang for the buck with their patented Heat Spreading Technology and UL / CSA classification.

CALL POWERBLANKET @ 877-927-6432