Storage heating failure

RebTech

I have this horrible centrally controlled storage heating arrangement from Scottish Power called Comfort Control (I think). The charging of the heaters is switched on and off by something called a radio teleswitch, on the meter board. The signal is modulated onto the Radio 4 longwave transmission from Droitwich.

There are three circuits, one standard rate and two cheap rate of which one is centrally controlled, for the storage heaters, and the other is always on, for water and non-storage room heaters.

So yesterday (Tues) morning I noticed the storage heater (I only use one) was nothing like as warm as it should be. I hoped whatever the cause it would fix itself. But this morning it was stone cold.

I checked the consumer unit and none of the circuit breakers have tripped. The devices on the cheap rate non-central control (water and non-storage heaters) are ok. The standard rate supply is ok.

It seems logical that either the teleswitch or the central controller has failed. I've been waiting for a reply on SP's webchat for two hours.

Any suggestions, ideas, other comments?

thorganby

RebTech wrote: »

I have this horrible centrally controlled storage heating arrangement from Scottish Power called Comfort Control (I think). The charging of the heaters is switched on and off by something called a radio teleswitch, on the meter board. The signal is modulated onto the Radio 4 longwave transmission from Droitwich.

There are three circuits, one standard rate and two cheap rate of which one is centrally controlled, for the storage heaters, and the other is always on, for water and non-storage room heaters.

So yesterday (Tues) morning I noticed the storage heater (I only use one) was nothing like as warm as it should be. I hoped whatever the cause it would fix itself. But this morning it was stone cold.

I checked the consumer unit and none of the circuit breakers have tripped. The devices on the cheap rate non-central control (water and non-storage heaters) are ok. The standard rate supply is ok.

It seems logical that either the teleswitch or the central controller has failed. I've been waiting for a reply on SP's webchat for two hours.

Any suggestions, ideas, other comments?

It seems more logical to me that you first try another storage heater tonight and if that works OK, then the one that you normally use has a fault, possibly the thermostat.

Swipe

Also check the storage meter's fuse where the cable goes into the wall box. That might have blown.

Gerry1

Have a look at the teleswitch at the start of the cheap rate period. If it looks like this one, there will be a click and the red lever below '80A' will move to the down position. Note that the changeover can be up to 15 minutes before or after the scheduled time.

captainkirk

Check the thermostat like Thorganby said RebTech, we had one just stop like that and it was the thermostat that had broken inside the heater.

RebTech

Thanks for the comments.

I was planning to try another heater tonight, should have mentioned that. The thermostat was replaced under a year ago but I guess the new one might have failed. It was quite cheap and I had to set it a fair bit higher than the old one for the same effect.

Re the switch, I vaguely remember seeing the timing somewhere, but it was a range of something like 6-8 hours, starting maybe 11pm? Haven't been able to refind that yet. I'm afraid I'm not prepared to get up and check every couple of hours!

RebTech

Swipe wrote: »

Also check the storage meter's fuse where the cable goes into the wall box. That might have blown.

No such fuse in this case, thanks anyway.

Gerry1

RebTech wrote: »

Re the switch, I vaguely remember seeing the timing somewhere, but it was a range of something like 6-8 hours, starting maybe 11pm? Haven't been able to refind that yet.

Check here, and make a free call to 105 if you're still in doubt.

Robin9

RebTech - have you still got hot water ? If yes - it would indicate a fault on the storage heater / circuit

RebTech

Robin9 wrote: »

RebTech - have you still got hot water ? If yes - it would indicate a fault on the storage heater / circuit

Thanks, I know you're trying to be helpful, but I did say that water and everything else is working.

RebTech

Gerry1 wrote: »

Check here, and make a free call to 105 if you're still in doubt.

Thanks. 7 hours between 2200 and 08.30, the widest range of the lot! Not planning to stay up or get up tonight. :rotfl: