Panel Heater - How do they work

Jmoo

Hi all

My new flat has two panel heaters and a storage heater.

I'm a little bemused by the panel heaters as they seem to have a thermostat knob and two switches and are turned on by the wall. There doesn't seem to be an off/switch other than at the wall, so are these manual and how long should they be on for and do I have to switch on from the wall every time?

At the moment they're smelling a lot presumably from lack of use which sets off the smoke alarm. Is this normal for switching them on after a long period of time?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Jmoo wrote: »

Hi all

My new flat has two panel heaters and a storage heater.

I'm a little bemused by the panel heaters as they seem to have a thermostat knob and two switches and are turned on by the wall. There doesn't seem to be an off/switch other than at the wall, so are these manual and how long should they be on for and do I have to switch on from the wall every time?

At the moment they're smelling a lot presumably from lack of use which sets off the smoke alarm. Is this normal for switching them on after a long period of time?

Telling us the name & model would help alternatively a photo. Its normal for a timer to turn on / off and a 'stat' to turn up / down. They will smell after only one summer of being off but not to the point of setting off a smoke alarm. Open window, close connecting doors, find the OFF switch [in case], turn full on, wait till the accumulated years of dust burns off. Assuming an E7 tariff your NSH will cost less than 1/2 the price to heat an area, ditto your water heating. Best of luck.

Jmoo

To me it doesn't look like there's any kind of timer, so I don't know how I'd manage to get it to work with the Economy 7. I'll take a photograph later.

Farway

Jmoo wrote: »

To me it doesn't look like there's any kind of timer, so I don't know how I'd manage to get it to work with the Economy 7. I'll take a photograph later.

My guess is the panel heaters are just for daytime, non E7 heating top up if needed when stored heat is not sufficient during the day

Richie-from-the-Boro

You probably won't ever get it to work with cheap rate E7. NSH are on a special night-rate 20a ring [along with cheap water heating] and the panel heater will be on an expensive 13a day-rate 'on demand' ring.

The cheap night rate is switched on and off automatically - completely out of your control.

[HT]

consumers_revenge

are these oil filled panel heaters?

Jmoo

I have two of these one in the bedroom one in the hall
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_utf2lKoF2-LVBMSUhraVFWMk0

I have a storage heater in the lounge

consumers_revenge

They look like 'set and forget' to me


once they are on you set the temp and that's it.

molerat

Thermostat knob for temperature control with frost setting. The 2 switches are for one or two elements. The screwed panel will be for the optional timer.

Instructions http://consortepl.com/wp-content/uploads/66000652-Iss-01-PLC050-200TISS-May-15.pdf

Jmoo

When you say 'set and forget' is the intention to turn them off when not in use, or should they heat the room and then become efficient to keep on?

macman

Once the room reaches the set temp, the 'stat switches them off. Once it drops, it switches them back on.
Only leave them on if you want the room at the set temp 24/7.