Dimplex Duo Heat Radiator - Advice

Scottd

Any advice appreciated
Recently moved into house with a couple of duo heat radiators, now the guy we bought the house off said don't switch both power supplies on (the radiators have two power switches, one linked to economy 7 and the other the boost?) only have the economy 7 switch on which kicks in at 12 and goes off at 7am, the radiators will then release the heat throughout the day.
This contradicts the info on the dimplex website - they say both have to be switched on at all times.
Can anyone tell me why?
I've tried leaving only the economy 7 switch on....and like the previous owner said..the radiators are hot in the morning and are still warm well into the evening without having the other power socket switched on, the control panel isn't lit up so there is no power to the radiator - unless I switch the other socket on. What is the point of having the other power supply switched on all day, I don't need to boost the heat and surely all its doing by being switched on is wasting electricity costing me money.
Cant quite get my head around this!

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


You and the previous owner are simply using them as 'conventional' storage heaters; and that is fine if they provide sufficient heat for your purposes.


However the main criticism of 'conventional' storage heaters is that they can run out of heat in the evening - especially if the occupants are in all day. The purpose of the duo heat is to top up that heating, albeit at daytime rates.


As you have recently bought the property - ie in summer, you might find that the storage heating is insufficient in mid-winter and might need to top up in the evening.

molerat

These heaters maximise the convenience of off peak and on peak electricity to maintain heating all day long but this convenience comes at a cost. Many storage heaters lose heat by late evening and these overcome this problem, at a cost, but as yours seem to work without the on peak boost just use them as normal storage heaters.

Alexa10

It wonders me as well why this duo heater has two switches? The other one in bedroom is older model and with no socket but only switch and circuit to off peak tariff. So u definitely recommend switch off socket? My last two month bill is way too High so duo heater must have consumed on peak units!

Richie-from-the-Boro

A Duo has an additional 13a ordinary panel heater, front facing [see below] that uses expensive day rate.



Turning up the 'stored' cheaper night-time delivered heat will increase the night-heat cost but reduce the day-heat quantity needed. Turning off the 13a switch will mean no expensive day rate electricity can be used.