Storage heaters

mjv1986

I moved into my flat in march so this is the first winter using them! I am on an economy 7 tariff!

I have noticed my day units are increasing a lot compared to when the heaters aren't on and the night rate units are only doubled! I would expect the night rate to be a lot higher and the day ones not to increase loads!

Just did an experiment, I stored the last night, then switched the heaters off during the day. I have just switched them back on and the meter is flashing really fast and has used 2.5 day units in 25 mins!

Now is this because the heaters were off and they are using energy to come back "on" or is it actually storing now and something is wrong with how they are connected!

I'm assuming this is something I am "responsible" for and should get an electrician out? Or is there something my energy company can do?

penrhyn

Your storage heaters should be wired to a separate circuit and controlled by either a radio teleswitch or a mechanical clock, the later are prone to failure. Have a look in the meter cupboard.
The storage heaters should only be drawing power for 7 hours over night say between 1 am and 8 am.

PS some modern storage heaters have a separate element to boost its output using day rate electricity, in which case there would be two mains connections to the heater.

lstar337

What make/model are the heaters. Lets make sure they are storage, and that you are using the correct controls.

mjv1986

The Storage Heaters are Dimplex CXLSN in the living room and the bedroom is a Dimplex XT18

They should be using the "night rate" between 00:30 and 07:30 and the night rate does kick in then (the meter clock is about 20 mins slow so it kicks in at about 00:50!)

However, there is a sharp increase in usage in the late evening say around 10pm which is why this has been brought to my attention.

I have just tested an hour ago and with the heaters off, I used 0.4 units in 55 mins, now I am using about 1 unit every 10-12 minutes so will be about 5-6 units an hour!

At the moment I am just switching the heater off at the switch in the morning and then putting it back on when I go to bed. However if I actualy went to bed about 11:30, that means I have an hour or so when the heater is storing and so getting an extra 5-6 "day units" every day which I know is only about 75p or so and the night rate is about half that, so say an extra £35p a day, but over a month that is £10.

Ok its not loads of money, but still its £10 a month more than I think I should be paying!

vickyanne_2

As Istar says they should be wired into a separate circuit and fuse and timer so its impossible for them to come on at that time. Do they feel as if they're heating up? How is your water heated? could it be that? It's very strange if they don't come on in the day as the E7 meter is presumably working ok at that end of the day so surely it should work ok to turn them on. The timeclocks can break, we had one that did so all of the electricity was going through the day one 24/7 - fortunately it was summer and I realised very quickly and they came out and replaced it.

penrhyn

As I suspected, the Dimplex CXLXN is a combined storage heater with a built in convector heater which can be switch on at any time to boost the output.
That is why you are using electricity during the day.

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/assets/kb/operating_instructions/CXLSN_Operating_Instructions_Issue_5.pdf

http://www.alertelectrical.com/prod/1236/dimplex-auto-combination-17kw-storage-09kw-convector

macman

You posted at 11.32pm, so if the E7 timeswitch doesn't cut in until 00.30-00.50, you wouldn't expect them to be drawing at E7 rates at that time anyway.
These 'dual' heaters are more flexible in that they allow you to boost the heat instantly if it falls off in the late evening, but if you use that facility you'll pay peak rate prices for it.

mjv1986

penrhyn wrote: »

As I suspected, the Dimplex CXLXN is a combined storage heater with a built in convector heater which can be switch on at any time to boost the output.
That is why you are using electricity during the day.

http://www.dimplex.co.uk/assets/kb/operating_instructions/CXLSN_Operating_Instructions_Issue_5.pdf

http://www.alertelectrical.com/prod/1236/dimplex-auto-combination-17kw-storage-09kw-convector

Yes I have realised this so about 2 weeks ago I switched the convector heater switch off!

There are two switches on the wall the plain white convector switch and the one with the light in, which I am assuming is the switch to have them store up at night?

mjv1986

macman wrote: »

You posted at 11.32pm, so if the E7 timeswitch doesn't cut in until 00.30-00.50, you wouldn't expect them to be drawing at E7 rates at that time anyway.
These 'dual' heaters are more flexible in that they allow you to boost the heat instantly if it falls off in the late evening, but if you use that facility you'll pay peak rate prices for it.

Sorry, I'm not sure if you are not reading what I put or I am not being clear.

The heaters are storing up heat before 00:30, there is no doubt about that. If my meter is using 1 unit every 10 minutes, and when I switch the heater off at the switch the rate goes right down to less than 1 unit an hour, I can only assume the heater is storing?
so I think there must be something wrong with the timer?

mjv1986

vickyanne wrote: »

As Istar says they should be wired into a separate circuit and fuse and timer so its impossible for them to come on at that time. Do they feel as if they're heating up? How is your water heated? could it be that? It's very strange if they don't come on in the day as the E7 meter is presumably working ok at that end of the day so surely it should work ok to turn them on. The timeclocks can break, we had one that did so all of the electricity was going through the day one 24/7 - fortunately it was summer and I realised very quickly and they came out and replaced it.

Yeah I know about the separate circuit and I think that is what the problem is!

They do feel hot so they must be storing up?

I have stayed up until the "night rate" kicks in and the water only starts then so I think the water tank is working fine in respect to only heating up on the "night rate"

I'm not sure why these heaters do not work the same? Should they be on the same circuit?

lstar337

mjv1986 wrote: »

There are two switches on the wall the plain white convector switch and the one with the light in, which I am assuming is the switch to have them store up at night?

Is the light illuminated during non E7 hours, or does it only light when the timeswitch clicks over?

Or maybe the convector side and the storage side have been wired into the wrong points. Does the convector work during non E7 hours?