This 55 gallon drum heater is a silicone rubber heating band, 1740 mm long, made to wrap around the wall of a standard 200 L (55 US gallon) drum. It comes in two band heights. The 250 mm band is rated 2,000 W or 3,000 W, and the 125 mm band is rated 1,000 W. Each band is built for one supply voltage, with 220 V and 380 V as the usual choices and 110 V or 36 V available on request. The band’s listed working temperature range is -60 to +200°C. Every band ships with either a mechanical knob thermostat mounted on the band, adjustable from 30 to 150°C, or a separate digital display thermostat.
The band warms drum contents that have thickened or set in cold conditions, such as oils, resins, adhesives, waxes and chemical intermediates, so they can be pumped, poured or dispensed. This page covers the three 200 L band configurations, how a 1740 mm band fits a drum that measures roughly 1,800 mm around, and how to choose between the knob and digital thermostat.
Key Features
- 1740 mm band length for 200 L / 55 gallon drums
- 250 mm band at 2,000 W or 3,000 W; 125 mm band at 1,000 W
- 220 V or 380 V; 110 V and 36 V builds on request
- Working temperature range -60 to +200°C
- Knob thermostat on the band, 30–150°C adjustable
- Separate digital display thermostat as an alternative
- Nickel-chromium alloy heating wire laid in an even serpentine pattern
- Hook-and-spring closure at the band ends
200 L Band Configurations
| Band size | Power | Watt density* | Current at 220 V* | Current at 380 V* | Thermostat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1740 × 125 mm | 1,000 W | approx. 0.46 W/cm² | approx. 4.5 A | approx. 2.6 A | Knob or digital |
| 1740 × 250 mm | 2,000 W | approx. 0.46 W/cm² | approx. 9.1 A | approx. 5.3 A | Knob or digital |
| 1740 × 250 mm | 3,000 W** | approx. 0.69 W/cm² | approx. 13.6 A | approx. 7.9 A | Knob or digital |
*Calculated from band area and rated power, and from power divided by voltage. **The 3,000 W build is confirmed per order.
The 1,000 W and 2,000 W bands share the same watt density. The 125 mm band simply covers half the wall height, so it suits partly filled drums or slower warming where a lower total load is wanted. The 3,000 W band puts about 50% more heat into the same 250 mm area. It warms the drum faster, but the band face runs hotter for a given setting, which matters most on plastic drums and heat-sensitive contents.
Fitting a 1740 mm Band to a 55 Gallon Drum
A standard 200 L / 55 US gallon steel drum has a body diameter of roughly 570–585 mm, which gives a circumference of about 1,790–1,840 mm. The 1740 mm band is deliberately a little shorter than that. When it is wrapped around the drum, the two ends stop 50–100 mm apart, and the hook-and-spring closure bridges that gap and pulls the band tight against the drum wall. A band that matched the circumference exactly could not be tensioned, so it would sag away from the drum and heat unevenly.
Two checks prevent most fitting problems:
- Measure the drum, not the label. Plastic (HDPE) drums and reconditioned steel drums of the same nominal volume can differ in diameter. Wrap a tape around the drum where the band will sit and compare the result with 1740 mm plus the closure gap.
- Measure the clear height between the rolling hoops. Steel drums have raised rolling hoops that the band must not bridge. Place the band on a flat section of wall, and choose the 125 mm band if the clear height is less than 250 mm.
Knob Thermostat or Digital Thermostat
| Mechanical knob thermostat | Digital display thermostat | |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Fixed on the band, with the bulb and capillary moulded in | Separate controller box connected to the band |
| Setting | Dial, 30–150°C | Keypad setpoint with live temperature display |
| Best suited to | Moving one band between drums; simple warming duty | Repeat batches where the operator needs to read the temperature |
| What it controls | Band temperature at the bulb position | Temperature at the sensor position |
With either control, the setpoint governs the band or sensor temperature, not the temperature of the liquid in the middle of the drum. A full 200 L drum of viscous product heats from the wall inwards, and the core can stay well below the setpoint for hours. Plan warming time around the product, and treat the setpoint as an upper limit for the band rather than a target for the contents.
Steel Drums and Plastic Drums
On a steel drum, heat spreads along the metal and into the contents, so the band face stays close to the drum wall temperature. A plastic drum conducts heat far less well, so the band face runs hotter than the wall behind it, and the plastic itself has a temperature limit. On plastic drums, use the 1,000 W or 2,000 W band rather than the 3,000 W build, keep the knob setting well below the drum’s maximum service temperature, and check that limit with the drum or product supplier before first use.
Voltage Selection
Each band is built for one supply. At 220 V, the 3,000 W band draws about 13.6 A, which is above the rating of many standard single-phase plugs, so check the outlet and plug type for your market before choosing it. At 380 V, the same band draws about 7.9 A. A 110 V build of the 3,000 W band would draw over 27 A, which is impractical on most 110–120 V circuits. For 110 V supplies, the 1,000 W or 2,000 W band is the realistic choice. 36 V builds are better suited to the smaller drum bands than to a full 200 L band.
Specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product type | Silicone rubber drum heater band |
| Drum size | 200 L / 55 US gallon |
| Band dimensions | 1740 × 250 mm; 1740 × 125 mm |
| Power | 1,000 W (125 mm); 2,000 W or 3,000 W (250 mm, 3,000 W confirmed per order) |
| Supply voltage | 220 V / 380 V; 110 V / 36 V on request; one voltage per band |
| Working temperature | -60 to +200°C |
| Heating element | Nickel-chromium alloy wire in a serpentine layout |
| Outer material | Silicone rubber |
| Temperature control | Mechanical knob thermostat 30–150°C on the band, or separate digital display thermostat |
| Closure | Hook-and-spring closure at the band ends |
| Listed use | External heating of steel and plastic (resin) drums |
| Certification | Not stated for this item; confirm required documents per order |
What This Heater Specification Covers
The specification defines the band’s size, rated power at a stated voltage, working temperature range, control type and closure. It does not cover warming times, which depend on the product, the fill level, the ambient temperature and whether the drum is insulated. It does not cover suitability for flammable contents or classified hazardous areas, either. Confirm application suitability, including any hazardous-area requirements at your site, before specifying the band for flammable or combustible products.
Common Procurement Errors
- Ordering by drum volume alone. Two “200 L” drums can differ in diameter. Measure the circumference where the band will sit.
- Choosing 3,000 W for a plastic drum. The higher watt density runs the band face hotter against a material that conducts heat poorly.
- Ignoring current draw. At 220 V, the 3,000 W band draws about 13.6 A. The plug, outlet and circuit must carry it.
- Bridging the rolling hoops. A 250 mm band placed across a hoop loses contact with the drum wall. Check the clear height first.
- Treating the thermostat setpoint as the product temperature. The control senses the band or sensor position, not the drum core.
RFQ Checklist
- Drum type (steel or plastic) and measured circumference
- Clear wall height between rolling hoops
- Band size: 1740 × 250 mm or 1740 × 125 mm
- Power: 1,000 W, 2,000 W or 3,000 W
- Supply voltage, plus plug type or bare leads
- Control: mechanical knob thermostat or digital display thermostat
- Drum contents and required product temperature
- Certification or test documents required for your market
- Quantity per configuration
Certification and Documentation
No certification is stated for this heater in the current specification. If your market, site or customer requires a specific approval or test report, name it at enquiry so that availability can be confirmed for the ordered band, voltage and control before quotation. Applicable RoHS / REACH documentation can be confirmed according to the ordered construction.
Related Categories
Bands for 20 L to 150 L drums and gas cylinders, along with crankcase belts, tapes and pads, are listed in the Silicone Rubber Heaters category, which belongs to the High Temperature Wire Cable range.
