Bromic Heaters Explained: Tungsten vs. Platinum vs. Eclipse
Bromic heaters come in three main families, and the names don't tell you much. Tungsten is the widest range, with gas, electric and portable gas models. Platinum is the slim one, with a ceramic-glass face that gives off less light. Eclipse is a round pendant that hangs from a pole and puts a dimmable LED light ring around the heater.
This guide compares Tungsten, Platinum and Eclipse on heat output, heat area, looks, mounting and wiring. The figures come from Bromic's spec sheets and from the product pages for the models we carry, and every heat area quoted is Bromic's own number.
The short answer
- Tungsten if you want the most heat from one unit, or you need gas, 277V wiring or a heater you can roll around. The largest models reach 43,000 BTU in gas and 6000W in electric.
- Platinum if the heater will sit in plain view or close to your guests and you want as little light from it as possible. The electric models are about 2" deep and can be recessed into the ceiling.
- Eclipse if you want one fixture over a dining table or lounge that both heats and lights. It comes in one size, 2900W, as a ceiling or wall pendant or a freestanding portable.
Tungsten vs Platinum vs Eclipse at a glance
| Tungsten | Platinum | Eclipse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Gas (natural gas or propane), electric, portable gas | Gas (natural gas or propane), electric | Electric only |
| Gas sizes | 26,000 and 43,000 BTU; portable 38,500 BTU | 23,600 and 39,800 BTU | None |
| Electric sizes | 2000, 3000, 4000 and 6000W | 2300, 3400 and 4500W | 2900W |
| Heat area | 65 to 215 ft² | 65 to 215 ft² | 121 ft² |
| Face | Honeycomb mesh (gas and original electric); patterned fronts on the electric Select | Tinted ceramic glass | Round radial ceramic screen with an LED light ring |
| Body | Matte black (gas); black, white or graphite (electric); Coastal model for salt air | 304 stainless steel (electric); 316 stainless on the Marine model | Matte black coated steel |
| Mounting | Wall, ceiling, recessed or suspended; portable on wheels | Wall, ceiling, recessed or suspended | Pendant on one of six poles, or freestanding portable |
| Light | Visible glow; Bromic says the Select reduces glare | Bromic says the electric model gives off very little light | Adds a dimmable warm-white light |
| Best fit | Open patios, bars and restaurant terraces that need the most heat | Covered porches, low ceilings and modern houses where the heater is on show | Dining tables, pergolas and pool pavilions |
Tungsten Smart-Heat: the widest range
Start with Tungsten if you need a lot of heat or an unusual power supply. It covers gas, electric and a portable gas heater. The gas and original electric models put a honeycomb mesh in front of the heating element, and the newer electric Select uses patterned fronts.
Tungsten gas
The Tungsten Smart-Heat Gas 300 is rated at 26,000 BTU and the Tungsten Smart-Heat Gas 500 at 43,000 BTU. Bromic gives them heat areas of up to 160 ft² and 215 ft². Both mount to a wall or ceiling on a pivot arm bracket, so you can aim the heat at the seating.
Each comes as a natural gas or a propane model, and the fuel is set at the factory. They also need a 110V supply, drawing under 2A, for the electronic ignition and the remote switching.
Tungsten electric: original, Select and Coastal
We carry two generations of Tungsten Electric. The original Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric comes in 44" (2000W and 4000W) and 56" (3000W and 6000W) lengths, with an IPX4 water rating. Its two-element models switch each element separately, and versions are listed for 208V, 220-240V and 277V, which suits commercial buildings wired for 277V.
The newer Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric Select keeps the same four outputs in a slimmer, lighter housing: 2000W and 4000W at 45" wide, 3000W and 6000W at 57" wide. The housing is 7" high and 6" deep and weighs 13 to 15 lbs.
The Select has an IPX5 water rating, and Bromic describes its elements as soft-glow with reduced glare. The 4000W and 6000W come in black, white or graphite, and the 2000W and 3000W in black. Each ships with a Diamond-pattern front, and Oval and Triangle fronts are sold separately.
The Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric Coastal is the Select built with marine-grade construction for salt air. It comes in 4000W and 6000W, in black or white.
Tungsten portable gas
The Tungsten Smart-Heat Portable is the one freestanding gas heater among the models we carry from these three families. It is rated at 38,500 BTU with a heat area of up to 215 ft². It rolls on built-in wheels, has a pivoting head, and holds a 20 lb propane cylinder in its base.
A natural gas version connects to a gas line, and a natural gas conversion kit converts the propane model. It has a flame failure device and an anti-tilt switch, and it weighs 123.5 lbs.
Platinum Smart-Heat: slim, with the least light
Platinum puts the heat behind ceramic glass. The gas models have a fully enclosed body, and the electric models are a 304 stainless steel bar about 2" deep with a tinted ceramic-glass face. Bromic describes the electric Platinum as giving off very little light. That matters under a low porch ceiling, or anywhere the heater sits in your line of sight.
Platinum gas
The Platinum Smart-Heat Gas 300 is rated at 23,600 BTU and the Platinum Smart-Heat Gas 500 at 39,800 BTU. Bromic lists the same heat areas as for the Tungsten gas models, up to 160 ft² and 215 ft². The bodies are wider, 22.1" and 29.8", and hold a ceramic-glass screen in place of Tungsten's mesh.
Everything else matches Tungsten gas: factory-set natural gas or propane, a 110V supply for the ignition, a 96" minimum floor clearance and the same optional ceiling mount poles.
Platinum electric and Marine
The electric Platinum comes in three sizes: 2300W at 33", 3400W at 50" and 4500W at 53", with heat areas of 65, 108 and 143 ft². All three run on 208V or 220-240V and come in black or white.
They mount to a wall or ceiling on the included bracket, hang from tube suspension kits, or recess flush into the ceiling with a standard or low-clearance ceiling recess kit. For coastal homes and boats, the Platinum Smart-Heat Electric Marine uses 316-grade stainless steel in the same three outputs.
Eclipse Smart-Heat: heat and light in one fixture
Eclipse looks nothing like the other two. It's a 27.6" round head with a radial ceramic screen in matte black, and a dimmable LED ring runs around the edge. Bromic lists the light as warm white, 3000K. You can use the light on its own or with the heat, and the heater has three settings: 33, 66 and 100 percent.
There is one output, 2900W, with a Bromic heat area of 121 ft² and an IP54 water rating. The Eclipse pendant ships with a 24" twin ceiling pole. Straight poles in 8", 24" and 48", a 24" curved pole and a wall mount pole are sold separately, and the pendant runs on 208V or 220-240V.
The Eclipse Portable puts the same head on a swan-neck arm over a weighted base. It plugs in instead of being hard-wired, but it runs on 220-240V, so it needs a 240V outlet. With its ten 22 lb weights the base comes to 320 lbs, so plan where it will live before it arrives.
Gas: Tungsten or Platinum?
| Model | Gas input | Heat area | Width | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tungsten Gas 300 | 26,000 BTU | Up to 160 ft² | 19.3" | 33 lbs |
| Tungsten Gas 500 | 43,000 BTU | Up to 215 ft² | 25.4" | 44 lbs |
| Platinum Gas 300 | 23,600 BTU | Up to 160 ft² | 22.1" | 33 lbs |
| Platinum Gas 500 | 39,800 BTU | Up to 215 ft² | 29.8" | 44 lbs |
| Tungsten Portable | 38,500 BTU | Up to 215 ft² | Freestanding | 123.5 lbs |
Bromic gives matching Tungsten and Platinum sizes the same heat area, even though the Tungsten burns more gas at each size. So pick the series by looks and by how much glow you want to see, then pick the 300 or 500 by the area you need to cover. A qualified installer has to make the gas and electrical connections on both.
Electric: matching watts to your space
| Model | Output | Heat area | Width | Current at 240V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tungsten Select | 2000W | Up to 65 ft² | 45" | 8.3A |
| Platinum | 2300W | Up to 65 ft² | 33" | 9.6A |
| Eclipse | 2900W | Up to 121 ft² | 27.6" round | 12.1A |
| Tungsten Select | 3000W | Up to 100 ft² | 57" | 12.5A |
| Platinum | 3400W | Up to 108 ft² | 50" | 14.2A |
| Tungsten Select | 4000W | Up to 130 ft² | 45" | 16.6A |
| Platinum | 4500W | Up to 143 ft² | 53" | 18.8A |
| Tungsten Select | 6000W | Up to 160 ft² | 57" | 25A |
For the same floor area, Platinum draws a little more power than Tungsten: 2300W against 2000W for 65 ft². The Tungsten 6000W covers the most of any model in the table, 160 ft². Give your electrician the voltage and current from the spec sheet so the circuit is sized for the heater you choose.
Which Bromic heater fits your space
A covered porch or a low ceiling
Choose Platinum electric. It is the least visible when it's on, and it can sit flush in the ceiling with a recess kit. Electric Tungsten and Platinum need at least 72" from the floor when wall-mounted and 96" when ceiling-mounted, so measure before you choose.
An open patio, bar or restaurant terrace
Choose Tungsten. The Gas 500 and the 6000W Select are the largest heaters in these families, and 277V versions fit commercial wiring.
A dining table, pergola or pool pavilion
Choose Eclipse. One pendant over the table heats the seats around it and lights the table, and you can run the light alone on warm nights.
Near the ocean
Choose the Tungsten Electric Coastal or the Platinum Electric Marine. Both are built for salt air.
No gas line and no new wiring
The Tungsten Portable runs on a 20 lb propane cylinder and needs no wiring. The Eclipse Portable plugs in but needs a 240V outlet.
Installation and controls
- Electric: a licensed electrician installs every fixed electric model to the manual and local codes. The Eclipse Portable is the only electric model that plugs in.
- Gas: the fixed gas heaters need a gas line plus a 110V supply, and a qualified installer makes both connections.
- Clearances: electric Tungsten and Platinum need 72" from the floor on a wall and 96" on a ceiling. The gas heaters and the Eclipse need 96". The manuals list the other clearances.
- Orientation: Tungsten Electric must not be mounted vertically.
- Controls: Bromic's Affinity controls switch the heaters on and off, and the Affinity dimmer varies electric Tungsten and Platinum output from 0 to 100%. Eclipse uses the Affinity Eclipse control. A manual wall switch also works with each family.
Bromic heater FAQs
Can Bromic heaters be used indoors?
The gas heaters are for outdoor use only, in open areas or partial enclosures as the manual describes. The original Tungsten Electric is listed for outdoor and indoor use, and Bromic describes the electric Platinum for outdoor and semi-enclosed spaces. Check the manual for the exact model before you install one inside.
Do Bromic gas heaters need electricity?
Yes. The wall and ceiling gas heaters need a 110V supply, drawing under 2A, for the electronic ignition and controls. The Tungsten Portable uses a 1.5V spark igniter instead.
Which Bromic heater gives off the least light?
The electric Platinum. Bromic says its tinted ceramic-glass face minimizes light emission. The Tungsten Electric Select is Bromic's reduced-glare version of Tungsten, and the gas heaters show glowing burner tiles.
Can I switch a Bromic gas heater between propane and natural gas?
Order the fuel you have. The wall and ceiling gas heaters are set for natural gas or propane at the factory. The Tungsten Portable is the exception, with a natural gas conversion kit for the propane model.
Can I dim a Bromic heater?
Electric Tungsten and Platinum dim from 0 to 100% with an Affinity dimmer. Eclipse has three heat settings and a separately dimmable light. The gas heaters switch on and off.
What about Bromic Cobalt?
Cobalt is another Bromic electric line, with quartz heating elements and a 304 stainless steel body, in 4000W at 44" and 6000W at 56", with an IPX4 water rating.
Still deciding?
See every model, mount and control in our Bromic Heating collection, or compare other brands in Patio Heaters. If you'd like help, contact us with the size of the space, the ceiling height and your gas or electrical supply, and we'll suggest a model.