Storage heater wiring questions

MrBrindle

I'm still waiting back from him with solution proposals. If it will be a timer, can that be installed and integrated somewhere by the consumer unit to control both radiators? Sounds just impractical (and annoying) having one for each heater.

Cardew

MrBrindle wrote: »

I'm still waiting back from him with solution proposals. If it will be a timer, can that be installed and integrated somewhere by the consumer unit to control both radiators? Sounds just impractical (and annoying) having one for each heater.

You haven't mentioned an immersion heater.

If you have only two storage heaters, individual timers will easily be the most cost effective solution. You can get 7 day timers so if you are away for a couple of days you can program them to be off when you are away.

Obviously you need to do some research on timers - but they are not expensive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-Programmable-Electronic-Immersion-Heater/dp/B0083S1A0U/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382615804&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=electronic+timer+for+storage+heater#productDetails

The above is for an immersion heater

NOTE
Usually the biggest storage heater is 3.4kW and it is not normal practice for any storage heater to be connected via a 13 amp plug.

muckybutt

MrBrindle wrote: »

I'm still waiting back from him with solution proposals. If it will be a timer, can that be installed and integrated somewhere by the consumer unit to control both radiators? Sounds just impractical (and annoying) having one for each heater.

Cheaper to go the individual timer way ... see post #7 must say though your sparky sounds a bit of a numpty !

MrBrindle

Hi Cardew, sorry I was meant to mention that previously. No we have no immersion. We have a slightly unusal setup. We live in a very small terraced cottage and due to space, what we have is an on demand electrical water heater by Stiebel Eltron. Which we use mainly to wash hands, and have a dishwasher timed to come on during E7 hours. Leccy showers. Our main heat is from the log burner, as being open plan downstairs and only two beds upstairs it warms the place nicely.

The storage rads are mainly for when it gets colder during the winter, to keep the temperature decent and to keep damp from the house. It was built pre 1900s.

I was thinking, can a timer be installed where the consumer unit is to override the two heaters? Would that avoid the hassle of connecting it via a 13amp plug? Or am I talking rubbish?

MrBrindle

Muckybutt,

I'm presuming those timers goes in place of the switch in the wall by the heater? Sounds the best solution at the moment, which I'll suggest to him. Thanks!

muckybutt

MrBrindle wrote: »

Muckybutt,

I'm presuming those timers goes in place of the switch in the wall by the heater? Sounds the best solution at the moment, which I'll suggest to him. Thanks!

Yes, all he has to do is take the switch off the wall and replace with the timer.

muckybutt

MrBrindle wrote: »

Hi Cardew, sorry I was meant to mention that previously. No we have no immersion. We have a slightly unusal setup. We live in a very small terraced cottage and due to space, what we have is an on demand electrical water heater by Stiebel Eltron. Which we use mainly to wash hands, and have a dishwasher timed to come on during E7 hours. Leccy showers. Our main heat is from the log burner, as being open plan downstairs and only two beds upstairs it warms the place nicely.

The storage rads are mainly for when it gets colder during the winter, to keep the temperature decent and to keep damp from the house. It was built pre 1900s.

I was thinking, can a timer be installed where the consumer unit is to override the two heaters? Would that avoid the hassle of connecting it via a 13amp plug? Or am I talking rubbish?

Timers have to be next to the heaters MB, if a timer is put by the consumer unit then all your sockets would be on a timer !

tberry6686

What size are the storage heaters ?

If I am reading this right then you have them on 13amp plugs, very few storage heaters are suitable to be used this way as the will draw too much current for the circuit. Are there 2 cables and the plug in part is powering a built in convector heater ?

MrBrindle

Hi Tberry,

One is 2.5kw and the other 3.4kw. At the moment they are wired directly into the wall, not via a plug, but a panel with a red light and a switch - sorry, no idea what they are called.

There is only one supply to the heaters, but this is where I believe the electrician made another mistake as the switch which is meant to turn the convector on and off doesn't work - but he said he couldn't see any other connections to be made inside the heater. Even though the instructions state the convector works of the normal tariff, so I'm guessing two connections needed to be made.

MrBrindle

I think some people maybe confused here, I'd like to point out that each heater is wired individually into the fuse box and are not connected into a mains socket. Does this help matters in terms of fixing the problem?

(ps, ive just realised this is in the wrong section)