Dimplex Quantum - New Storage Heating

lstar337

Just stumbled across a video about this on YouTube and was confused why they weren't in the Dimplex site (have been checking regularly because i'm interested in replacing heaters I have), but loaded up the site today and they are now being promoted.

Haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I thought I would post because it will no doubt make for some lively debating.

I don't think there are any wild claims about storage materials or insulation, I think it is just a new control system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWVAUnuTttU

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/products/domestic_heating/installed_heating/quantum_energy_system/index.htm

rogerblack

In principle - sure.
Is it likely to save much over properly operating manual heaters - no.
But it doesn't take many mistakes for it to hit somewhere close to the '20%' figure claimed.
Also - why replace?
A lick of paint can brighten up old heaters considerably.

lstar337

After reading through the whole lot, it is mostly a new control system. It looks like an attempt to modernise a mostly inconvenient heating system.

It looks like a good idea, most of what bugs me about my storage heaters is the lack of control you get. Old storage heaters have always been able to provide heat, and sure you can constantly adjust them to make them efficient, but the selling feature here seems to be that you shouldn't have to.

How well it works remains to be seen, but if the can keep the heat in (well) while you are away, and be programmed to release it when you get home, then it looks like good progress.
The main problem I have with my heaters is the amount of heat wasted when I am not around means that there is not much left for when I get home from work.

Another feature shown in the video which I assume will be supplier dependant, is the ability for the supplier to choose the best time to charge the heaters (like when wind turbines are pointlessly adding extra power to a grid that doesn't require it at that time). This might help suppliers with load regulation and result in a slightly cheaper tariff.

Anyway, these look like the most advanced storage heaters available to buy (not that that is always good *CredaNet*), and a little extra control is what some people are after.

I also note that their site has 'Green Deal Approved' stamped all over it, which is interesting.

rogerblack wrote: »

In principle - sure.
Is it likely to save much over properly operating manual heaters - no.

I think most people would rather spend their time getting on with their lives than constantly adjusting their heaters to get the best economy. I know I would rather put the time to wards my family, much like people with GSH do. Once set up, it looks like the system takes care of itself.

rogerblack wrote: »

Also - why replace?

The heaters I have are beaten up, have difficulty with output controls, and at least one has a broken input charge control. We also have 'Green deal' assessment which recommends new NSH, provided through ECO. If we can get them, we'll take them. Why not?

rogerblack wrote: »

A lick of paint can brighten up old heaters considerably.

Depends on their condition. The heaters I have, have been badly panted before and are riddled with dents. Would have to be some pretty magical paint to sort them out.

rogerblack

lstar337 wrote: »

We also have 'Green deal' assessment which recommends new NSH, provided through ECO. If we can get them, we'll take them. Why not?

Depends on their condition. The heaters I have, have been badly panted before and are riddled with dents. Would have to be some pretty magical paint to sort them out.

Heaters can be repaired - and are not difficult to maintain - dents however may be more tricky.
As to why not the green deal - unless these are being paid for via a grant - you will be signing up to a 7% loan, and in practice - this means it is very unlikely to pay off.

lstar337

rogerblack wrote: »

Heaters can be repaired - and are not difficult to maintain - dents however may be more tricky.

And this is the point. I can easily fix and maintain them, I am an electronics engineer. Sourcing new front panels would be hard though, I don't have the time or inclination to tap out dents, sand, and re-paint something that will never look good even if done perfectly.

rogerblack wrote: »

As to why not the green deal - unless these are being paid for via a grant - you will be signing up to a 7% loan, and in practice - this means it is very unlikely to pay off.

It would be done through ECO, so we were told. I can't say whether it will or wont, but we are at least asking the question. If it wont be done through ECO, we wont be bothering anyway as they say it will require switching to a credit meter, which along with a loan, we do not want.

Anyway, whether or not I update my heaters is irrelevant. This thread was started to discuss this 'new' technology and whether it is a promising addition to electric heating, or just more of the same old same old.

Going by your posts I can guess you are rooted in the 'nothing new here' camp.

While most of it seems to be focused on the timers/digital temperature setting, I do think the ability for suppliers to off-load energy from the grid into heat storage on demand is an interesting prospect. Especially if it results in some competitive new tariffs.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Storage on demand has been debated URL="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/59921129#Comment_59921129"]back~to~the~future[/URL by myself an others in terms of [Giggawatts-Nationally] [E12-Domestic] in the past, in the expectation that smart metering would deliver on time and bring about a one Kingdom wide gigawatt storage of heat & water converted from otherwise wasted electricity generation, it did not, and is no where close yet.

The kit you highlight is all about the stat & controller [comfort] the level of charge taken is determined from a rolling historic analysis of the system behaviour, it is however expensive and holds only an eager promise for a 'show that may never happen' as yet we are no where close, maybe even decades away from URL="http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59767037&postcount=5"]smart meters[/URL two way communicating E12 integration, I applaud as I have done in the past this company for its R&D and its product delivery.

Would I buy the system ?, yes if I had an E7/10 system that did not work at all. If you have the money and just fancy a change as a luxury money irrelevant expedition, you won't go far wrong with it.

Celect - is the generic name for a smart central control electric space heating it uses uses a version of two-way existing mains signalling technology [I've used it for years - CAT6 - computer network] between the heaters and the controller, no need for additional wiring, put simply your existing mains does the job and is already compliant with both SAP & Part L of the current Building Regulations.

____________

As an aside to your specific question, and because the question regularly crops up on an almost weekly basis on this area of the forum, if :

- I lived / moved to a village with no gas and was oil / leccy / LPG only now and the foreseeable future
- and had the money to squander on a sod the price - lets start again drawing board basis
- this product is almost certainly a future proofed starting point, that offers sufficient now without E12
- and if ever SOD [storage on demand] comes to pass, anyone with this system would be a 'leader amongst electric energy equals'