Night storage heaters - how do they know what time it is?

Ray2k

Hi everyone, approaching our first winter in a new flat and trying to get my head round the night storage heaters. I understand how they work, I just don't understand how they know what time it is. They don't appear to have a timer on them and I don't suppose they have an internal, non-adjustable one.
All I can think of is that there are two switches on the wall going to one heater - I understand one is the night one and the other for a 'boost' if needed. Could the night switch be on a separate circuit that's only on during the economy 7 period?
Looking at the fusebox there are actually two fuseboxes, one with fuses labelled for each of the storage heaters and the immersion heater, the other fusebox for everything else. I feel like I've probably just figured out the answer to my own question now but some confirmation would be good if anybody knows. Thanks for any help!
Ray

Premier_2

Ray2k wrote:

...Could the night switch be on a separate circuit that's only on during the economy 7 period?...

That's correct. That is the usual method -they are on a separate electrical circuit that only becomes live when the meter switches to low rate electricity.

Ray2k

Thanks Premier, just what I wanted to hear! I assume the main circuit is also metered on the low rate during the night-time period?

Premier_2

Yes, all electricity used during the low rate time period, whichever circuit it is supplied on, will be charged at the low rate.

Ray2k

Thanks again. Just got to stay up tonight to see what time it comes on - all meters in the apartment block are locked away in the carpark and I don't think maintenance would appreciate me wanting to watch it tick over at 1am in the morning Will have to get the multimeter out.

Anyway thanks again.

Be_Happy

Re watching when they come on, do any of your storage heater wall sockets have a pilot light on them. In all our previous houses one heater in the system has had a red light on the socket that glows when the heater is on its charging period.

Another thing we've noticed is that there is a second or two of dimmed lighting as the night rate comes on or off. We also have a loud click from the meter, but this is in the house, not elsewhere like yours.