Electricaire R10 vs electric rads 8 August 2018 at 12:49PM in LPG, heating oil, solid & other fuels 26 replies 3.2K views

danrv

danrv wrote: »

The whole idea of electric warm air heating in the UK is history unfortunately

Just adding a correction here. Should read ‘domestic’ electric warm air heating as this type of heating is possibly still used in office blocks, high rise flats and the like.

danrv

Cardew wrote: »

With the high E10 tariff prices, I would think a 'normal' 24/7 tariff would be much cheaper to run; even allowing for water heating at daytime rates.

Yes, I can get my meter changed if needed.
With the Electricaire R10/73 being rather old, theres no info or specs on energy use but I do have the original instructions. Ill need to run it and check meter readings.
Im assuming it draws 10kw for 10hrs each day to heat the bricks. This amounts to £11.90 a day on E10 tariff.
I dont know how the Electricaire regulates energy use but I always have the input control at minimum.

Cardew

danrv wrote: »

Yes, I can get my meter changed if needed.
With the Electricaire R10/73 being rather old, theres no info or specs on energy use but I do have the original instructions. Ill need to run it and check meter readings.
Im assuming it draws 10kw for 10hrs each day to heat the bricks. This amounts to £11.90 a day on E10 tariff.
I dont know how the Electricaire regulates energy use but I always have the input control at minimum.

We are at cross-purposes. I was talking about you running 'normal' electric heaters as you suggest in your first post.i

danrv

Yes sorry, I realize that you were referring to 'normal' electric rads hence my reference to changing the meter.
The rest is just speculating on what my current system may be costing.

danrv

Cardew said:

With the high E10 tariff prices, I would think a 'normal' 24/7 tariff would be much cheaper to run; even allowing for water heating at daytime rates.

Thanks, good point. Realize this thread is old now but the situation remains.
My Eon Economy 10 rates are:
Day 20.408p per KWh
Night 12.969p per KWh 
I’ve seen standard tariffs at around 12p per KWh so maybe a meter switch to a competitive standard rate would be a good move.
Also done some sums on estimated power usage from three possible downstairs electric radiators. 
Based on 10hrs usage a day at an average rate of 16.5p, rads on for 20mins each hr (EHE Economiser).
2kw £3.30 per day
0.65kw £1.07 “ “
1.3kw £2.14 “ “
£15.19 a week.
Not sure how relevant the 20mins per hour is. Probably not at all as the initial power would need to be constant to get the room up to temperature.

Gerry1

Why on earth are you choosing to pay such crazy rates?

If you're still planning to use expensive electricity and expensive non-storage radiators then at least get the cheapest single rate tariff you can find.  You won't even need a meter change.

I'm paying 12.11343p per kWh plus a Daily Charge of 13.2825p inc VAT, so my 24/7 rate is less than your so-called cheap rate !

danrv

Gerry1 said:

Why on earth are you choosing to pay such crazy rates?

If you're still planning to use expensive electricity and expensive non-storage radiators then at least get the cheapest single rate tariff you can find.  You won't even need a meter change.

I'm paying 12.11343p per kWh plus a Daily Charge of 13.2825p inc VAT, so my 24/7 rate is less than your so-called cheap rate !

Thanks for the reply.
I’m paying that at the moment because that’s what my heating uses and there’s very limited choice on suppliers that still offer it.
Just hesitating to change as electric rads on standard rate are generally not recommended. Also won’t be able to go back to E10.
They would be heating rooms as and when needed so better in the sense that there’s more individual control. The Electricaire does the whole house although you can shut the room vents.

Gerry1

Perhaps I'm missing something, but if you can't get your E10 so-called cheap rate down below 12.969p per kWh then you'd be better off keeping the Electricaire but changing to single rate, or to Economy 7.  If insufficient thermal storage makes it incompatible then single rate would be cheaper as well as allowing you the freedom to set the on/off times to whatever suits you. 

Presumably you are benefiting from your existing E10 timeswitch having drifted to more favourable daylight hours, but you could find it being reset to the correct schedule whenever the meter reader happens to call?

I'd do some tests before spending £2400 on radiators that look under-dimensioned.  Buy some cheap fan heaters and set them and see how you get on with using them for only 20 minutes out of 60.  I suspect you may get a rude awakening !

BTW,the  Good Practice Guide - Supporting customers with restricted meters says that suppliers should allow customers to move back to their restricted meter tariff if customers find themselves worse off.

danrv

Gerry1 said:

Perhaps I'm missing something, but if you can't get your E10 so-called cheap rate down below 12.969p per kWh then you'd be better off keeping the Electricaire but changing to single rate, or to Economy 7.  If insufficient thermal storage makes it incompatible then single rate would be cheaper as well as allowing you the freedom to set the on/off times to whatever suits you. 

Presumably you are benefiting from your existing E10 timeswitch having drifted to more favourable daylight hours, but you could find it being reset to the correct schedule whenever the meter reader happens to call?

I'd do some tests before spending £2400 on radiators that look under-dimensioned.  Buy some cheap fan heaters and set them and see how you get on with using them for only 20 minutes out of 60.  I suspect you may get a rude awakening !

BTW,the  Good Practice Guide - Supporting customers with restricted meters says that suppliers should allow customers to move back to their restricted meter tariff if customers find themselves worse off.

Thanks, very helpful.
The property is ex rental and I’m sure the heating system charging times have just been left to shift, possibly for decades.
The meter guy did visit to check the readings after I first submitted them. Eon confirmed my original E10 times but have stuck to the favourable shift now. There’s no mention of resetting although Eon said that they could provide quotes for single rate tariff if required.

Ideally I’d like to bypass the Electricaire and have modern electric heating on E7 or a very good single rate deal. Much more choice. 
An electrician has explained how the timer works but don’t think I’ll be able to choose
when the storage heater charges. 
Next door had the same system but did away with it at the first instance and had electric radiators fitted.
Good idea about budget fan heaters to test. Considering the Economisers only because 
of build quality and traditional looks. 

danrv

Gerry1 said:

I'd do some tests before spending £2400 on radiators that look under-dimensioned.  Buy some cheap fan heaters and set them and see how you get on with using them for only 20 minutes out of 60.  I suspect you may get a rude awakening !

They’re certainly cheap. Would have to make sure I use those during the off peak period which finishes mid afternoon which is no good.
I’d need to speak to Eon but I would like to try the cheapest possible standard rate and
see how direct electric heating goes with cheap heaters.
Then see how the bill compares to same time last year.