storage heaters - confused

roosaaliiee

QrizB said:

roosaaliiee said:

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.

More info is needed, e.g. the model number, your electricity tariff and whether you are an owner or renter.  In particular, you need to understand whether they're the old plain box-of-bricks type or modern fan assisted ones that can top up at expensive day rates if not programmed correctly.

NSHs are the least worst option if you don't have gas and it's not realistic to have LPG, oil or a heat pump, but they'll always be expensive to run.

They are Creda TSR18MW 79354S. Old ones, by the looks of it. I'm on economy 7 (at least, on my elec bill it says 'day rate' and 'night rate'

Like this? (See page 29):

Those are relatively modern, believe it or not!

If your rooms get colder in the evening, the thermostat will increase the heat output to compensate. Is this what you're seeing with yours?

not, they're not like that! They're definitely older.

roosaaliiee

QrizB said:

roosaaliiee said:

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.

More info is needed, e.g. the model number, your electricity tariff and whether you are an owner or renter.  In particular, you need to understand whether they're the old plain box-of-bricks type or modern fan assisted ones that can top up at expensive day rates if not programmed correctly.

NSHs are the least worst option if you don't have gas and it's not realistic to have LPG, oil or a heat pump, but they'll always be expensive to run.

They are Creda TSR18MW 79354S. Old ones, by the looks of it. I'm on economy 7 (at least, on my elec bill it says 'day rate' and 'night rate'

Like this? (See page 29):

Those are relatively modern, believe it or not!

If your rooms get colder in the evening, the thermostat will increase the heat output to compensate. Is this what you're seeing with yours?

No, they're not those

roosaaliiee

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

here's a wee  on how to use storage heaters.

well, yes, thanks. I had already seen this and other videos like this. They don't mention anything about the heaters not being hot in the morning and getting increasingly warmer towards the evening. 

Swipe

roosaaliiee said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

here's a wee  on how to use storage heaters.

well, yes, thanks. I had already seen this and other videos like this. They don't mention anything about the heaters not being hot in the morning and getting increasingly warmer towards the evening. 

You need to monitor your meter when they start to get warmer to make sure they are not using peak rate electricity

danrv

Swipe said:

You could also stay up late and check the meter at the time of switch over and make sure that the heaters are coming on when the off peak circuit goes live.

Yes, good idea to work out when the off peak period starts and ends. You should be able to see which rate is active on the meter.
It’s possible that the timer for the NSH circuit has shifted over the years. My electric warm air storage heater used to charge during the day as the timer had been neglected for years.
When I turned up the room thermostat, the charge used to kick in.

The dual rate meter follows the timer so assures that the heater only charges during cheap rate, whenever that is.
I would have thought the Credas would be wired 
into a switched E7 circuit. 

Swipe

danrv said:

Swipe said:

You could also stay up late and check the meter at the time of switch over and make sure that the heaters are coming on when the off peak circuit goes live.

Yes, good idea to work out when the off peak period starts and ends. You should be able to see which rate is active on the meter.
It’s possible that the timer for the NSH circuit has shifted over the years. My electric warm air storage heater used to charge during the day as the timer had been neglected for years.
When I turned up the room thermostat, the charge used to kick in.

The dual rate meter follows the timer so assures that the heater only charges during cheap rate, whenever that is.
I would have thought the Credas would be wired 
into a switched E7 circuit. 

I would be surprised if the storage heaters weren't wired into an E7 only circuit. Yep, sounds like the timer switch has drifted. That's a nice problem to have if that's the case.

Gerry1

roosaaliiee said:

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.

More info is needed, e.g. the model number, your electricity tariff and whether you are an owner or renter.  In particular, you need to understand whether they're the old plain box-of-bricks type or modern fan assisted ones that can top up at expensive day rates if not programmed correctly.

NSHs are the least worst option if you don't have gas and it's not realistic to have LPG, oil or a heat pump, but they'll always be expensive to run.

I'm on economy 7 (at least, on my elec bill it says 'day rate' and 'night rate'

Never make assumptions: they could be expensive mistakes.  You might be on Economy 10 or some legacy tariff with daytime boosts.  Check the bill carefully and look at the meter to verify the switching times.  Bear in mind that the E7 cheap rate may be interrupted by two hours of peak rate.  You can see the likely switching times here, but it's what the meter actually does that's critical.

Useful operating instructions at https://manualzz.com/doc/23103754/creda-storage-radiators

Also important to make sure that the immersion heater (the lower one if there are two) is switched by the meter and can't come on during the day rate hours.  Make sure the upper heater (if there is one, possibly marked 'Boost') is left permanently off except for very occasional use at expensive day rates, e.g. if you've been away or have messed things up.

[Deleted User]

roosaaliiee said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

here's a wee  on how to use storage heaters.

well, yes, thanks. I had already seen this and other videos like this. They don't mention anything about the heaters not being hot in the morning and getting increasingly warmer towards the evening. 

Hi,

as already said, sounds as though your timer is out.

Do you have photies of you meter/timer set up please?

If your heaters are wired into this type of spur, heaters are charging when lit.

roosaaliiee

[Deleted User] said:

roosaaliiee said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

here's a wee  on how to use storage heaters.

well, yes, thanks. I had already seen this and other videos like this. They don't mention anything about the heaters not being hot in the morning and getting increasingly warmer towards the evening. 

Hi,

as already said, sounds as though your timer is out.

Do you have photies of you meter/timer set up please?

If your heaters are wired into this type of spur, heaters are charging when lit.

Thanks. No, they're either plugged into the wall socket (only one) or they're wired into a thingumny with a switch, like on a normal socket.
I'll try and figure out if the timer is out...

wittynamegoeshere

Don't tell your supplier if it is, keep quiet and consider it a rare bonus, as it means you can get cheap power during the day.