How do I what time storage heaters come ON?

MrPoor

Switching from SE "Daytime and Off Peak" plan to their cheaper Eco 7 plan. This involves switching from my two meters to a single meter (with two readings).

Currently the storage heaters are set to come on at 1.30am and end at 7.30am. Whereas the new Eco period is 12.30 to 6.30am. As you can see I have a big problem.

I asked SE and they said that the engineer can do nothing with that :S

penrhyn

What is your problem?
Your storage heater circuit is switched on via a radio signal at the appropriate time.
Presumable your existing system has some sort of mechanical timer, when they upgrade you this will be replaced by a radio teleswitch, or at least they will if you have asked them too.
I cant find a picture of a modern set up but this is what they used to look like:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_teleswitch

spiro

penrhyn wrote: »

What is your problem?
Your storage heater circuit is switched on via a radio signal at the appropriate time.
Presumable your existing system has some sort of mechanical timer, when they upgrade you this will be replaced by a radio teleswitch, or at least they will if you have asked them too.
I cant find a picture of a modern set up but this is what they used to look like:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_teleswitch

They may not change the switching method at all. Radio teleswitching is only used for 'dynamic' tariffs, a bog standard E7 will probably still be clock switched but with modern meters the clock is built into the meter.

I agree heating should be on a 2nd curcuit which will only be active during the 'night' period. Things like immersion heater may have a timer that needs changing depending on how it is wired up.

Be_Happy

Are you sure this isn't just simple confusion over winter time and summer time. Your current setting will be on summer time ie 1 hour ahead. Perhaps when you were told the new time they were quoting winter time by mistake?

Premier_2

On Economy 7, you have 7 hours of cheap rate electricity per day.

How are your storage meters controlled? Often they are wired to a circuit that only becomes live when you are receiving cheap rate electricity. In which case you have nothing to worry about.

Otherwise, they will need to be controlled by their own timer. You'll need to adjust the timer to the time you receive off peak electricity.