What the Plug N Glow 2 is
The Advance Appliances Plug N Glow 2 is a small stainless steel electric flow boiler. It has 22mm connections and a 13 amp plug, which the installation guide says is enough to drive the boiler and a heating pump of up to 300 watts. It can be programmed to come on twice a day, with a week and weekend option, and the temperature is set from 30 to 80°C on the dial or by an external thermostat.
It mounts upright only, works on pumped sealed systems up to 3 bar, needs no servicing and carries a 2 year guarantee.
What it is for
- Boosting an existing gas or electric system after an extension, in place of changing the boiler.
- Underfloor heating in a conservatory of up to 20 square metres, with a pump and room thermostat.
- A small office or garage workshop; Advance says it will run a couple of radiators.
- Frost protection for a greenhouse or an empty holiday home, switched by a frost thermostat.
- Caravans, narrow boats and towel rails all year round.
- Drying new screed, using the version on a pre-plumbed manifold.
For more output, the guide says you can link several in series, each on its own socket, never on an extension block.
Why it will not run a hot tap
Advance does not recommend it for a hot tap because its output is low, and its product page says it is not suitable for direct connection to hot water outlets. For scale, Advance points out that a typical gas combi is more than 30kW, over ten times the Plug N Glow's 2.7kW.
For hot water from electricity, Advance makes the ECO ECB 210 electric combi, which stores heat and gives mains pressure hot water for a bath and a shower.
Where it does help with hot water
The exception is secondary circulation. Fitted with a potable pump on a secondary return loop, the Plug N Glow keeps heat pump cylinders and thermal stores at properly stratified temperatures. The guide also lists thermal disinfection and cylinder de-stratification among its uses.
Installing it
- Fill the circuit and purge all the air before switching on; a dry pod voids the warranty.
- Running on its own dial and timer, it must have a pump connected or it will burn out.
- On a sealed system, add an expansion vessel or the sealed system kit.
- Fit 22mm isolation valves in case it ever needs removing. To hard wire it, use a 13 amp switched spur.
- Keep the commissioning document and receipt for the guarantee.
- The Plug N Glow 2 is a 2.7kW electric flow boiler that plugs into a 13 amp socket.
- It boosts existing systems, heats conservatories up to 20 square metres, small offices and workshops, and gives frost protection.
- Advance does not recommend it for running a hot tap, because its output is low.
- It can serve secondary hot water circulation loops on heat pump cylinders and thermal stores.
- It must be full of water, air free and pumped before it is switched on.
Managing Director, Advance Appliances. 20+ Years experience