Dimplex DuoHeat 500n - Is the On-Peak heat affecting the release of the Off-Peak heat

Monkey_Joe

Hi,

I recently purchased and installed (via an electrician) a DuoHeat 500n in my living room. Unfortunately, its not heating up my living room.

As you might know, the Duo has two heat supplies:

(1) BACKGROUND - via an of-peak connection and this is the stored heat
(2) COMFORT - via an On-Peak Connection and this is an electric panel on the front of the heater that is meant to provide additional heat in the evenings.

The background heat is released automatically with the help of a room temp sensor.

Each night I set the BACKGROUND HEAT TO MAX (this controls how much is stored over night) and the COMFORT heat to low (2 bars out of 10). When I wake up in the morning the storage heater is very hot to touch (both at the front and the side) but my room is not heated. The heater remains hot throughout the day but does not heat my room. So it looks as if its not efficiently releasing the stored heat.

Therefore, I was wondering if the heat coming from the front "COMFORT" heater is affecting the the temp sensor which controls how much stored heat is released, fooling it into thinking that the room is warm and so no significant heat needs to be released.

Therefore, I was thinking of switching off the ON-PEAK "COMFORT" supply overnight and just leaving on the "OF-PEAK" to see if that works. However, I read somewhere that both need to be on for the heater to work and fear I might destroy the heater.

macman

If the heater is hot then it must be releasing heat. How well is the property insulated?

chris1973

The heater remains hot throughout the day but does not heat my room. So it looks as if its not efficiently releasing the stored heat.

How many heaters are fitted and in what size of room?. I have two storage heaters in my living area in a 1 bedroom flat, they are a 3.4kw model and a 2.55kw model, even with them both on a full input charge of 10, left to charge with the output down at 0, (then output controls turned to 6 - 10 for heat when I get back home from work), they barely serve as little more than background heating at this time of year.

Enter your room dimensions into a room size heat calculator like this one:-

http://www.flickeringflame.co.uk/tech_detail/tech.htm

Then compare the figure that it gives with the total output capacity of your heater model(s)

The output capacity of the heaters should at least match (or ideally exceed) the figure which is shown on the room calculator. However if you have a room whose air space requires 4kw of heat to heat it to a comfortable temperature in mid winter, and have only one heater rated at 1.5KW to provide the main source of heat, then BINGO - there is your problem!.

penrhyn

Chris has found the problem, the Duoheat 500n has a nominal heat output of 1.4Kw, the radiant panel being 540 watts.

Dimplex DUO500N DuoHeat 2.6kW/0.54kW Wall Mounted Radiator in White

• Stylish, slim-line design with concealed outlet grille
• Heat output provided by a combination of off-peak and standard rate electricity sources
• Patented ‘smart’ heat manager automatically controls output level from each heat source,optimising controllability and economy
• Single, simple to use and understand electronic user control, with child lock facility
• Electronic room temperature control allowing user adjustment of heater output
• User configurable electronic automatic input charge regulator
• Compatible with Dimplex 4-zone, wall mounted pilot wire and mains borne signalling multi-heater programmers
• Pre-wired electrical connections
• Simple, secure wall fixings
• Snap fit feet
• Easy-fit front panel connections
• Compatible with all off-peak tariffs
• Energy-efficiency savings of up to 10% compared with traditional off-peak electric heating systems, recognised by SAP2005, the tool for showing compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations
• Nominal Output of 1.4kW
• Charge Acceptance of 18.2kWh
• Background/Input of 2.6kW
• 0.54kW Rating
• 124kg in Weight (Installed)
• Dimensions: 712 x 1060 x 130+10mm (H x W x D)

Monkey_Joe

That makes sense now! As Homer Simpson says.....DOH!!!

I mistook the input for the output. I will return it but out of interest what is the average output for a normal storage heater with an input between 2.5-3kwh?