Electric heater comparison

danrv

Hi
As a temporary measure, I’m after a few electric heaters to use instead of my dated E10 electric warm air system. 
Just wondering if these two heaters would cost the same to run if on the same power setting. 
Any help appreciated.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9190629?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixwlilarp&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:598-923-9094%7Ccid:9568021399%7Cagid:98508744856%7Ctid:pla-888536182700%7Ccrid:423285394244%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:8200110127028101345%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9050372&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9568021399&utm_term=9190629&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=98508744856&utm_custom2=598-923-9094&gclid=CjwKCAiAz4b_BRBbEiwA5XlVVt2wvBDlBLeHLL00Nr7s2R-9XNvIAuwEGoyq4A55oAX03-qYjyFZ7xoC5XUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9224698?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=f44915b0-b246-4f76-a3b4-91c4ff266428&istItemId=ixwlilapq&istBid=t

daveyjp

Both are max 2kw so use 2 units an hour when on full.

Convector will give heat immediately and cool quickly once off, oil filled will take time to heat up, but will give out heat for longer once turned off.

Which to have depends on your expected use.

molerat

The 5 for the price of 1 seems a bit of a no brainer decision to me.  A 2kW heater is a 2kW heater however it is dressed up.

danrv

daveyjp said:

Both are max 2kw so use 2 units an hour when on full.

Convector will give heat immediately and cool quickly once off, oil filled will take time to heat up, but will give out heat for longer once turned off.

Which to have depends on your expected use.

Thanks. It’s oil free although the difference is probably just in the weight rather than performance.
Was thinking the Dimplex for main living area and a few cheap convectors for other rooms (3 bed semi detached).

Talldave

Toolstation do a 2kW oil filled for under £32.98, or with a timer for £4 more.

danrv

molerat said:

The 5 for the price of 1 seems a bit of a no brainer decision to me. 

Yes, agree.
Might go for a few of these. Same price but with added timer.
https://www.toolstation.com/2kw-convector-heater/p98046

danrv

Good heaters. Job lot for just under £100. Just need to get used to the on/off type of heat with convectors.
Lounge is 14m2 and well insulated and I’m using the heater on the 750w setting. It gets the room warm quickly then cuts off. Temperature soon drops again before it kicks in.
Maybe an oil filled type would be better for main living space.

matelodave

An oil radiator will take longer to heat up and then longer to cool down.

Where your convector heats up and cools down quickly an oil rad will produce exactly the same amount of heat for the same amount of energy but be much slower to respond so it will take significantly longer to warm the room and a bit longer for it to cool down again but it will still cost the same. You might find that the temperature fluctuations are a bit less due to its slower response but you'd need to try one to see whether it suits you better.

Mickey666

Electric heaters are basically 100% efficient, as in all the electrical energy is turned into heat (assuming no fan).
Oil-filled electric radiators can't change the basic efficiency and if it uses 2kW of electricity then you'll get 2kW of heat from it.  The oil will take a while to fully heat up when switched on but it will also take a while to fully cool down when switched off, so there will be a time lag for the heat to be released, which may or may not be convenient but it won't change the overall efficiency.
As Scotty would say "ye canna change the laws of physics Captain"

danrv

matelodave said:

An oil radiator will take longer to heat up and then longer to cool down.

Where your convector heats up and cools down quickly an oil rad will produce exactly the same amount of heat for the same amount of energy but be much slower to respond so it will take significantly longer to warm the room and a bit longer for it to cool down again but it will still cost the same. You might find that the temperature fluctuations are a bit less due to its slower response but you'd need to try one to see whether it suits you better.

Thanks. I could easily swap one out for an oil filled rad. I’m using them really as an experiment to see how the costs compare to the warm air system.
I then hope to come off the crazy expensive E10 tariff and move to a cheap single rate one. 

matelodave

If thats your plan then just dont look at costs - you need to know how much you use in kwh, not £££'s.

Read your meters at least twice a day for a few weeks, before you go to bed when most stuff is off and in the morning before you start turning stiff on, so you can get a view of you day/night consumption especially if you've still got your hot water on off-peak. Its the only way you can determine whether a single rate tariff will work for you.

 However  don't be surprised if your electricity bill sky rockets whilst you are using "on-demand" heating on an off peak tariff because peak rates ae generally around twice the cost of the off-peak one although you do have the flexibilty of only heating one room at a time.