FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £50 IN THE UK & EU
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £50 IN THE UK & EU
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £50 IN THE UK & EU
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £50 IN THE UK & EU
Infresco infrared heater controllers by United Automation transform standard quartz and halogen heating systems into intelligent, energy-saving assets for commercial and industrial spaces. Commercial outdoor areas, hospitality terraces, warehouses, and factories frequently suffer from high operating expenses, nuisance breaker trips, and premature lamp failure. By eliminating basic on/off switching and mitigating destructive electrical inrush currents, intelligent controllers deliver targeted comfort, reduce operating overheads, and safeguard long-term capital investments.
Operating high-output radiant lamps on standard switches subjects filaments to sudden power surges. Cold quartz elements have an extremely low initial resistance, causing inrush current spikes up to ten times their steady-state operating level. This thermal shock causes frequent lamp failure and trips circuit breakers.
Infresco infrared heater controllers solve these operational challenges by integrating microcontroller-based power regulation:
Selecting the right controller depends on user traffic, installation layout, and zone management requirements. United Automation manufactures single-phase and three-phase units engineered in Southport, England:
| Model | Capacity | Key Operational Feature | Ideal Applications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Infresco-S Protect | 4kW / 6kW | Dedicated soft-start module & zero-voltage switching | Retrofit commercial circuits, automated switched loads |
 | Infresco-T Touch | 4kW / 6kW | Capacitive touch-button with 1–60 min run timer | Hospitality terraces, pub gardens, smoking shelters |
 | Infresco-P Occupancy | 4kW / 6kW | PIR motion sensor (5m / 100°) + ambient temperature cut-off | Workstations, walkways, intermittently occupied zones |
 | Infresco-VR Series | 1.5kW to 6kW | 10-step manual dimming or handheld RF remote | Restaurant patios, alfresco dining, ambient seating areas |
 | Infresco-MZ Hub | 18kW (3x 6kW) | 3-channel independent multi-zone control, BMS-ready | Large manufacturing bays, logistics depots, hangars |
 | Infresco Cabinet | 12kW to 54kW+ | Bespoke, pre-wired turnkey distribution enclosures | Turnkey industrial facilities, multi-phase installations |
In large industrial or semi-exposed commercial environments, conventional convection systems are notoriously inefficient. Warm air rises straight into unused roof space or escapes via open loading bay doors.
Infresco short-wave infrared systems direct electromagnetic radiant energy straight to floor-level occupants and machinery, eliminating air pre-heating requirements and cutting power draw by 20% to 50% in uninsulated zones.
| Feature / Metric | Convection Air Heating | Infresco Controlled Radiant Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Transfer Mechanism | ❌ Heats air volume indirectly via circulation | ✓ Directly warms people, floors, and machinery |
| Air Movement & Draughts | ❌ Heat immediately lost through doors and wind | ✓ Unaffected by wind speed or draughty bays |
| Ceiling Stratification | ❌ High; heated air floats into unusable roof voids | ✓ None; energy remains focused at floor level |
| Power Modulation | ❌ Inefficient binary cycling (100% on / 100% off) | ✓ Variable 30%–100% proportional zone control |
| Startup Element Protection | ❌ None; exposed to breaker trips and surge fatigue | ✓ Integrated soft-start extending lamp life up to 30% |
A 4kW controller handles up to two 1.5kW or 2kW infrared lamps. A 6kW controller safely manages up to four 1.5kW lamps or three 2kW lamps on a single 230V AC supply.
By ramping voltage smoothly during power-up, soft-start eliminates mechanical shock to the tungsten filament. This reduces replacement lamp purchases and labour maintenance cycles by up to 30%.
The Infresco-T relies on user interaction via a tamper-proof capacitive touch button, initiating an adjustable countdown run timer (1 to 60 minutes). The Infresco-P automates activation using a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that detects occupancy within a 5-metre range and includes an ambient temperature threshold to prevent heaters from activating on warm days.
In hospitality environments, patrons frequently leave heaters running when tables are vacant, leading to inflated electricity bills. The Infresco-T (Touch) solves this with a vandal-resistant capacitive touch button and a 1–60 minute countdown timer, letting customers activate heat on demand while ensuring the system switches off automatically.
– Outdoor Hospitality & Alfresco Dining: Pub gardens, restaurant terraces, hotel courtyards, and smoking shelters where comfort is required on demand without leaving heaters running empty.
– Logistics & Warehousing: Packing stations, dispatch bays, and loading docks where open roller doors render traditional warm-air convection useless.
– Manufacturing & Workshops: Production lines, vehicle repair bays, fabrication shops, and assembly benches requiring dedicated spot heating directly on personnel.
– Commercial Agriculture & Equestrian: Milking parlours, stables, and animal care shelters where robust, IP-rated, dust-resistant heating controls are necessary.
– Semi-Covered Transport & Transit Hubs: Bus and railway passenger shelters, covered walkways, and airport drop-off zones where rapid, automated heating is needed.
United Automation manufactures solid-state power systems built to demanding industrial standards. Whether outfitting an alfresco dining terrace or designing a multi-zone warehouse heating scheme, Infresco controllers deliver quantifiable reductions in kilowatt consumption.
Contact our UK engineering team on +44 (0) 1704 516 501 or email enquiries@united-automation.com for system sizing, wiring diagrams, and bespoke control solutions.
Whether you need our proven standard products or a custom control system, United Automation delivers robust and reliable engineering solutions tailored to your industry.
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