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Controls are just the way I like them, straight forward and simple and non digital, just easy to use a foolproof rotary power selection and thermostat that will function trouble free for the life of the heater while being placed safely out of typical harms way on the side of the heater with a bright yellow pilot light on the front to let you know the power is on and it is ready to go.
Setting on a wide flat platform with four grippy feet, the 6201 stays where you put it and runs so smooth there is no humming or buzzing if placed on a counter or tabletop.
Power use and heat output are still good but over the past week continue to drop in both categories.
Power use originally was:
High / 268 degrees at 1468 watts
Low / 248 degrees at 1272 watts
Heat Cast 48 inches in both
Less than a week later:
High / 224 degrees at 1393 watts
Low / 222 degrees at 1126 watts
Heat Cast still 48 inches in both
This kind of change is quite typical of aluminum ceramic heating elements but doesn't usually happen until after 30 days use where they typically degrade in heat output by at least 35%...cheaply made elements commonly degrade in heat output very quickly which usually means a very low quality aluminum was used where higher end elements degrade much less over time.
This heater is made more for use in a small space of 100 square feet or less because the heat stream is so focused, it would be best for working under a car or on a construction job that needed spot heat.
The problem you face with heating a room with a heater like this is it simply moves and upsets too much air which causes dilution and cooling of the air which makes heating a space almost self defeating and very power intense...this is simply the wrong heater for heating a room.
Another BIG problem with heaters this small is the thermostat is to tightly packed with the hot internal components and constantly turns off prematurely because it is is picking up the trapped heat from the electronics inside the heater rather than the air temperature from outside, making the thermostat virtually worthless. A common but rather expensive workaround is to buy a $89.00 external thermostatic power controller which allows thermostatic control to be as much as ten feet away from the heater for much more accurate heater operation.
We have found the power chord to be questionable as well, being that this heater is marketed for Industrial / Construction type use it should first and foremost be equipped with a three pole grounded plug….it is not.
We also question the electric current you can feel running through the metal body of the heater when you run you fingers over it while it is just plugged in and not running and finally although it is marked as a Heater Chord, it gets very warm and soft at low heat and much more so at high heat raising definite safety concerns.
Safety features include Tipover Cutoff, and overload protection fo which both did function.
Packaging for re-shipment is very poor and would require repackaging, it is suitable for display only.
With so many SAFETY related problems, thermostat and particularly the questionable Power Chord we would steer clear of this heater all together until such problems are addressed and corrected by Broan.
Pricing seems to hover at around $59.00 which is this season but should actually be a $19.00 heater.
Very disappointing product from what used to be a reliable and solid American company, but then there is that China connection.
We have spoken to Broan and they say they will look into it.
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