In this paper the author discusses the heat transfer by free convection from electrically heated wires (copper and iron) to distilled water between freezing and boiling, to water boiling at atmospheric conditions and to air at room temperature. The wire surface temperatures needed for the heat transfer determination are calculated from the theoretical temperature distribution in the wire. The experimental results show maximum heat transfer rates of about 2,200,000 Btu/hr, ft2near freezing and 450,000 Btu/hr, ft2near boiling. For boiling water, as the temperature difference between the wire surface and water is increased, the heat transfer coefficient first increases reaching a maximum, then decreases reaching a minimum and increases again (because of radiation) until the wire fails by melting. For copper the maximum film coefficient of 9100 Btu/hr, ft2, °F is observed at 49 degrees temperature difference and the minimum of 136 Btu/hr, ft2, °F at a temperature difference of 690 degrees F. Corresponding values for iron are 12,300 Btu/hr, ft2, °F at a 33 degree temperature difference and 142 Btu/hr, ft2, °F at a 620 degree difference. When air at room temperature surrounds the wire the heat transfer coefficient for copper with an oxide film varies from 0 to 30 and for iron from 0 to 26 Btu/hr, ft2, °F as the surface temperature of the wires is raised until failure occurs.