ELECTRIC HEATER OR AUXILIARY HEATER, ESPECIALLY FOR A HEATING OR AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

摘要

The invention relates to an electric heater or auxiliary heater (1), especially for a heating or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. Said heater comprises at least one heating element (2) having at least one PTC element which serves to heat a flowing medium, said PTC element having at least one row that consists of a plurality of webs (4) that are interconnected via at least one connecting zone (6), and the PTC element being electrically connected via contact plates (3) in two opposite edge zones that are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the medium for current lead-in or lead-out. The invention is characterized in that at least one directly adjoining zone of the surface of the contact plate (3) contacting the heating element (2) and at least one directly adjoining zone of the surface of the heating element (2) contacting the contact plate (3) delimit an outer air duct (5a) which is defined by the heating element (2) and the contact plate (3), and in that a plurality of current lead-in and lead-out zones are provided that are separated from each other by said outer air ducts (5a).