Heating your water barrel using a kettle element?

[Mattzilla]

Hi i recently saw a picture on another forum where a guy has stuck some kettle elements in buckets to heat water.

I have heaps of questions about this...so here goes:

Is it faster?
Is it cheaper?
Is it safe?
What sized kettle element would you use for a 220ltr barrel?
Could you use an element from an urn?
How do you safely install the element?
Does anyone currently use this method?


I think that about covers it....

If anyone has any experience with this method of water heating could you please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks very much
Matt

[Matt15]

Matt i've got the exact same quesitons running throught my head after seeing this thread. (last pic)
http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16317&highlight=
Answers would be greatly appreciated..... :D

[Bad Inferno]

I would really like to understand the tolerance levels of discus when it come to water temperature. Do we have any thoughts on what drop in water temperature is acceptable ? and over what time period ? from the normal tank temperature. Knowing this we can optimise just how much heat we need in the incoming water.

rob