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Economy 7 Problems

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Comments

  • footyguy
    footyguy Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ectophile wrote: »
    A contactor is a high-current relay. The electricity meter sends a signal to the contactor when E7 is on. That allows the heating and hot water to turn on automatically at the correct time.

    That's not something a householder is responsible for. So it's most unusual that a sparky the householder has employed is touching that.

    It's typically part of the metering, so the supplier should be fixing it if faulty.
  • footyguy
    footyguy Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    tjw77 wrote: »
    ... I am not sure whether I need to go back to the supplier, or get the electrician back/find another one

    I'm not sure why you are unsure - see my post#4 :)
    footyguy wrote: »
    ...
    Anyway, I suggest you get him back to have another attempt at identying & resolving the problem....
  • tjw77
    tjw77 Posts: 21 Forumite
    footyguy wrote: »
    That's not something a householder is responsible for. So it's most unusual that a sparky the householder has employed is touching that.

    It's typically part of the metering, so the supplier should be fixing it if faulty.

    The supplier said they wont have anything to do with the contactor, and that it is my responsibility as it is part of my fuseboard. I am going to get an electrician out again and see what their opinion is
  • footyguy
    footyguy Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    tjw77 wrote: »
    The supplier said they wont have anything to do with the contactor, and that it is my responsibility as it is part of my fuseboard. I am going to get an electrician out again and see what their opinion is

    Hmmm.. supplier said that without even looking at your installation? :cool:

    Found a similar thread elsewhere here
    http://www.theiet.org/forums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=205&threadid=61129

    From a post made by user mapj1 there, it would appear there are 2 types on installation (and I've only seen the now less popular type)
    There are 2 common flavours of meter and time switch - either you have 2 fat wires from meter to fuseboard, and a contactor controlled by a thin wire from the time switch that puts the heavy loads on when it's time.

    Or the (now less popular) option where there are 4 fat wires, one pair to the day time fuse board, and another to a board for the heaters, and the power is switched inside the meter.
    So, given your electrician has already replaced the contactor, then it may be an issue with the timeswitch or the signal wire from it (both of which I think the supplier are responsible for)

    Otherwise the thread I linked to may give some hints to your electrician as to what else to investigate :)
  • tjw77
    tjw77 Posts: 21 Forumite
    Thanks Footyguy

    The supplier did come out and change my meter and I still had the problem. That's when they said the problem must be with my fuseboard, which was my responsibility. Now I have had the contactor changed as well, and the problem is still not resolved, which is why I am scratching my head a bit, not knowing what to do next...

    I am going to get an electrician out again, and if still no joy then I think I will have to go back to the supplier
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