Economy 7 - advice needed on how to use!

lacoste1985_2

Hi, around 2 months ago I moved into a flat with Economy 7 heaters. The main heater in the lounge has 2 controls [an input, output and a convector control] so in addition to being a storage heater it is also a convector heater. Ive worked that bit out but have been leaving the input control on 5 all the time [presumably to charge the bricks to full power] and then leaving the output on * [no setting or OFF technically]. Heat still comes out all day though and lasts all day.
I would like to know do I need to leave the input setting on 5 all the time as technically there are days when I dont really feel like I need the heating on. If this is the case what do I do, presuming just turn the input to * [OFF], and then back on again when whether gets colder. Just dont want to be paying for something that I dont feel like I need all the time.

How much does it cost to charge bricks overnight? Anyone know how much all this costs us?

Also any tips and advice on how to save money using economy 7 tariffs in general would be really helpful.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Can t help with you with instructions on the heater controls. There are some excellent eco 7 tariffs around now on one year fixes. Sainsburys Energy are my tip being good old reliable British Gas. I ve seen their night rate tariff down to around 4p/kwrh last year but it keeps changing.You will have to check the meter at start /finish of the cheap 7 hrs then multiply the units used by night rate tariff and add 5% and a daily standing charge cost (26p a day with BG ) to get a cost of the cheap 7 hrs of all electric used. the old analogue meters are better for this as you can see 10ths of units easily.Digital meters are in one unit increments.
Have a look at the type of meter and get to know how it works.The old analogue meters with a circular 24 hr timerswitch can have the cheap 7 hours coming on at anytime, not just overnight. Others are either radioteleswitch meters ( very accurate ) or digital meters with built in timer clocks. I ve seen a lot of these meters drifting a few hours and would change the cheap 7 hour period.
In my area of S.Yorks the official cheap rate time is 12.30 to 7.30 am