Is swapping the immersion switch easy?

pjomara

I'm looking to swap from this type of immersion switch from one like this:

to one like this

Is that a straight forward task for a DIYer as both are likely to have the same footprint size?
I'm also thinking of going for one of those digital display ones.

On another topic, my hot tank has a thermostat at the front. Generally that should set the temperature of the water regardless of whether it's the gas or the immersion that's being used to heat the water should it?
It's just that the immersion gives much hotter water than the gas does, regardless of how long either are left on.

cajef

Looking at the instructions it is a straightforward swap, the unit is designed to fit a standard box.

http://www.horstmann.co.uk/downloads/ElectronicDocuments/Electric-Water-Heating/Electrisaver-UserandInstallationGuide.pdf

The thermostat on the cylinder only controls the gas heating, the immersion heater has its own thermostat in the housing, switch the supply off and take the cover off the immersion and you will see the thermostat where you can set the required temperature.

Edit:- Didn't notice that the picture of the existing switch is a dual one, if that is what you have got then as the next posters have stated it will need to be replaced with a dual switch as 'Owain Moneysaver' has shown in his link.

madjay

You can not swap it you have a twin immersion tank and the Horstmann unit is only for a tank with 1 No inmmersion unit up to 3Kw

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes, but that's not what you want. It's just a timer for 1 immersion heater and you, presumably, have two.

If you have economy 7 you want a timer like this
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HOELEC7.html
which will operate the bath heater overnight and give you timed boost for the sink heater.

Owain_Moneysaver

The thermostat on the side of the cylinder controls the boiler hot water only.

The stat for the immersion heater will be under the cover of the immersion heater itself.
http://www.pwatson.org/immersion.jpg
If it is necessary to remove the cover to obtain access to the adjustment knob, live electrical connections will be exposed. Switch off at the mains first.

pjomara

Thanks for all the input.
I'm happy to go without the sink/bath option and don't have any cheaper nighttime rate. I'd just like an immersion (at the bath setting, say) that has a boost option. The one with a timer and digital display is overkill for my needs.
Is this still possible? Could the switch over still happen if a Fused Connection Unit was also implemented (not sure if it'd need the model with or without a switch)?
I guess we're onto electrician territory now rather than DIY.

DVardysShadow

The top switch also functions as a 2 pole isolator. Any timer must be in addition to an isolator, not in replacement.

ukjoel

We switched ours and there is some wiring to move about.

Not rocket science but need to be semi confident with DIY and electricity.

Barneysmom

pjomara wrote: »

Thanks for all the input.
I'm happy to go without the sink/bath option and don't have any cheaper nighttime rate. I'd just like an immersion (at the bath setting, say) that has a boost option. The one with a timer and digital display is overkill for my needs.
Is this still possible? Could the switch over still happen if a Fused Connection Unit was also implemented (not sure if it'd need the model with or without a switch)?
I guess we're onto electrician territory now rather than DIY.

Yes, if you have to ask, then you need to get someone qualified to do it.

southcoastrgi

just a thought, but why are you using the immersion instead of the gas boiler ? the immersion heater is there as back up if your boiler goes down (or of course if you don't have a boiler), it will be much cheaper to use your boiler, immersions cost a fortune to run (unless you have solar PV panels on the roof).

Ben84

keithgillyon wrote: »

just a thought, but why are you using the immersion instead of the gas boiler ? the immersion heater is there as back up if your boiler goes down (or of course if you don't have a boiler), it will be much cheaper to use your boiler, immersions cost a fortune to run (unless you have solar PV panels on the roof).

Yes, depending on the tariff and boiler you should be able to heat the hot water tank any time of day with gas for about 3-5p a kWh. Electric tends to be 2-4 times more expensive. People may however prefer the electric boost as it means people can use it without changing the boiler controls. A few very old (and probably poorly installed for their time) systems for example insist on heating the radiators at the same time as the hot water. There are also some users who find boiler controls difficult to use or regularly forget to switch the hot water off.