Coates Electric Pool Heater, 12kw 600V Three Phase, Salt Water Application

The Coates 12kW 600V Three-Phase Electric Pool & Spa Heater for Salt Water Applications (Model 36012CES / 36012CPHS — featuring the "S" saltwater/corrosion-resistant package) is engineered for commercial hydrotherapy tanks, resort wellness spas, and institutional plunge pools operating with electrolytic salt chlorine generation systems (typically 2,500 to 4,500+ ppm TDS/NaCl) on a standard Canadian 600V 3-phase/3-wire or 4-wire electrical distribution system.

Operating 12kW across a 600V 3-phase supply limits line current to merely 11.5 Amps per phase (compared to 33.3 Amps on 208V 3-phase and 50.0 Amps on 240V single-phase). This allows minimal conductor sizing and compact breaker allocation while the factory saltwater package prevents accelerated galvanic degradation and chloride stress corrosion cracking in high-salinity water.

Electrical & Heating Performance

• Model Designation: Coates 36012CES / 36012CPHS series (360 designates 3-Phase 600V; suffix designates Saltwater/Titanium package).

• Heating Capacity: 12 kW (12,000 Watts).

• Thermal Output: 40,946 BTU/hr ($12\text{ kW} \times 3,412.142\text{ BTU/kWh}$).

• Operating Voltage: 600V AC, Three-Phase (3Ø), 3-pole / 3-wire plus ground (or 4-wire Wye), 60 Hz.

• Full Load Amperage (FLA): 11.5 Amps

  $$\text{FLA} = \frac{12,000\text{ W}}{600\text{ V} \times \sqrt{3}} = \frac{12,000}{1,039.23} \approx 11.55\text{ A} \rightarrow 11.5\text{ A}$$

• Overcurrent Protection (Breaker Sizing): Requires a dedicated 3-pole 15-Amp circuit breaker (600V-rated) conforming to CEC/NEC 125% continuous-duty loading standards ($11.55\text{ A} \times 1.25 = 14.44\text{ A}$ minimum branch rating, standardizing on a 15A 600V 3-pole breaker).

• Conductor Sizing: Minimum #14 AWG copper conductor (rated 600V, 75°C/90°C THHN/THWN/RW90; #12 AWG or #10 AWG often specified by commercial project engineers to account for conduit runs and mechanical terminal terminations).

Salt Water Construction & Metallurgy Upgrades

• Titanium / Incoloy 825 Sheathed Elements: Standard immersion elements are replaced with Titanium or high-molybdenum/nickel Incoloy 825 sheathing to eliminate chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC), scale accumulation, and localized pitting from dissolved sodium chloride.

• Passivated / Barrier-Coated Pressure Vessel: Cylindrical pressure chamber fabricated from heavy-gauge 316L stainless steel or carbon steel lined with a specialized baked phenolic epoxy/fluoropolymer protective barrier, isolating the tank substrate from saline electrolytic degradation.

• Sacrificial Cathodic Protection: Equipped with an accessible sacrificial zinc or magnesium anode plug port to absorb galvanic action and mitigate stray current erosion in the salt plumbing loop.

• Corrosion-Inhibited Cabinet: Heavy-gauge NEMA 1 industrial painted enclosure finished with an anti-corrosion powder coating to prevent cabinet degradation in high-humidity, salt-vapor mechanical rooms.

Construction & Safety Architecture

• Cabinet & Enclosure: NEMA 1 industrial painted steel cabinet with a removable front panel for terminal inspections, 600V-rated 3-pole magnetic contactor servicing, and field wire terminations.

• Internal Control Circuit: Factory-installed step-down control transformer (600V primary to 120V/24V secondary) powering the thermostatic control circuit and safety interlocks.

• Integrated Safety Controls:

  • Dual-dial adjustable thermostatic controller calibrated up to 104°F (40°C) for commercial spa compliance.

  • Manual-reset High-Limit safety cutout set to de-energize the magnetic contactor control circuit at 122°F (50°C).

  • Pressure/flow-interlock switch preventing heating element contactors from pulling in during low-flow, pump loss, or deadhead conditions.

Hydraulic & Plumbing Specifications

• Plumbing Connections: Standard 1-1/2" NPT female inlet and outlet ports (adapted via Schedule 80 CPVC unions into 2" or 2-1/2" headers).

• Equipment Sequencing in Salt Systems: Must always be installed upstream of the electrolytic chlorine generator cell (separated by an inline corrosion-resistant check valve) to prevent hyper-concentrated chlorine gas or acidic pockets from pooling inside the heater vessel during pump shutdowns.

• Flow Rate Parameters:

  • Minimum Flow Rate: 15 to 20 GPM (approx. 57 to 76 LPM) required to trip the internal safety flow switch.

  • Maximum Flow Rate: 60 to 70 GPM (approx. 227 to 265 LPM); filtration loops operating at higher GPM mandate an external plumbed bypass manifold.

• Maximum Working Pressure: 60 PSI (approx. 4.14 bar).

Dimensions, Net Weight & Shipping Weight

• Unit Dimensions: Approximately 19.5" L × 10.0" W × 14.5" H (approx. 49.5 cm × 25.4 cm × 36.8 cm).

• Net Unit Weight: Approximately 46 to 52 lbs (approx. 20.9 to 23.6 kg).

• Packaged Shipping Dimensions: Approximately 22" L × 13" W × 17" H.

• Packaged Shipping Weight: Approximately 58 to 66 lbs (approx. 26.3 to 29.9 kg) in heavy-duty reinforced corrugated carton packaging.

Estimated Temperature Rise Rates

(Calculation: $\text{Rise (°F/hr)} = \frac{40,946\text{ BTU/hr}}{\text{Gallons} \times 8.34\text{ lbs/gal}}$, baseline heat-up rate assuming covered vessel without ambient radiation losses.)