Storage Heaters so old I can't find any markings/names or dates

stewie_griffin

Presumably it's the peak unit prices multiplied by 5. Switching times are deliberately staggered as to not overload the grid so 20 minutes earlier than the official time is perfectly fine. Mine should come on at 1am at this time of year but actually come on at 1.15am. OP if you want reassurance take readings as soon as your heaters come on and then an hour later and you'll see all the usage has been recorded on the night rate.

Talldave

I would agree with all the above, but looking at the photo, the contactor is independent of the meter, so is there a possibility that the meter and the contactor can operate independently?

Gerry1

stewie_griffin said:

20 minutes earlier than the official time is perfectly fine.

It was 10 minutes later than the official time, which is within the +/- 15 minutes tolerance.

OpolE

Robin9 said:

Where ae you getting the 71p from ?

My smart meter said 71p per hour while they were both on. I was watching late into the night and saw them drop off after 2 hours
£1.42 just for that and then I woke up in the night and saw they were back at it again.
I'm averaging about £2 day with normal life. The time I left them on one night it was about £4.50+ for the day. So kind of eating myself over the agreed £60 whatever time of the year 

Gerry1

OpolE said:

Robin9 said:

Where ae you getting the 71p from ?

My smart meter said 71p per hour while they were both on. I was watching late into the night and saw them drop off after 2 hours
£1.42 just for that and then I woke up in the night and saw they were back at it again.
I'm averaging about £2 day with normal life. The time I left them on one night it was about £4.50+ for the day. So kind of eating myself over the agreed £60 whatever time of the year 

Two 4kW units with E7 cheap rate at 9p/kWh would cost 72p/hour, so your 71p seems about right.  As previously stated, in the SeeBoard area the cheap rate stops after two hours and then returns after two hours, so that's also correct.  Bear in mind that the NSHs won't necessarily charge up for the full seven hours unless it's very cold.

You also don't understand how Direct Debits work.  All that's agreed are the kWh rates and the standing charges, assuming it's a fixed tariff.  The 'agreed £60' is just a regular dollop into the kitty, which may or may not be sufficient to pay the bills.  It's definitely not an All You Can Eat tariff.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay

[Deleted User]

OpolE said:

My smart meter said 71p per hour while they were both on.

Hi,

do you mean the IHD?

Best to take an actual meter reading tonight before 11.40 then again in morning, see how many units used overnight.

Robin9

OpolE said:

Robin9 said:

Where ae you getting the 71p from ?

My smart meter said 71p per hour while they were both on. .............

That's the IHD (In House Display) that  sits' in your kitchen - the smart meter is what you sent a photo of.

Read the meter - both the on peak and off peak readings - every day for a week. You'll then get a much better view of what you're heating is costing.    Do some simple sums - using the tariff rates from your bill - and don't forget to add standing charges and VAT.

Gerry1

Talldave said:

I would agree with all the above, but looking at the photo, the contactor is independent of the meter, so is there a possibility that the meter and the contactor can operate independently?

Unlikely.  The contactor is slaved to the meter via the thin grey J-shaped cable.

OpolE

Thanks all. You've been helpful. I am going to do some recommended tests.

Dandytf

OpolE said:

A RICS survey said they may be from when the place was build 1992/1993
Attached are pictures of them. 
I believe they may be out of sync with on/off peak and possibly costing me a tonne in winter.
Please help anyone. I may have to get them looked at or even removed and replaced.

Torry_Quine said:

Looks like storage heaters to me, very similar to mine. 

I have straight grill, only difference from OP's curved grill.
Though mines are upto 30 years -got a replacement thermostat/condenser last week, 171 paid inc' supply+install.