Unconventional Storage Heater

Ch3apAndCheerful

Hi all,

We've recently moved into a flat with Economy 7 meter and two storage heaters. I've done a bit of reading on how to operate them but the trouble is these models don't have an "Input" and "Output" dial. Only an "Input Control" from 1-5 and a "Boost Control" from 1-5.

Any advice on how to get the best out of these? As day rates are massively higher than night and getting this wrong sounds expensive.

Cheers

Ch3apAndCheerful

Posted in wrong form, just ignore

user1977

Aren't those just input and output with slightly different labels? Have you tried using them to find out?

Ch3apAndCheerful

user1977 said:

Aren't those just input and output with slightly different labels? Have you tried using them to find out?

Nah the wee panel below it says "Leave boost control on position one. Boost control may be moved to 5 in the evening if additional heat is required, but move back before retiring". So seems like a genuine boost control rather than an output control.

user1977

Ch3apAndCheerful said:

user1977 said:

Aren't those just input and output with slightly different labels? Have you tried using them to find out?

Nah the wee panel below it says "Leave boost control on position one. Boost control may be moved to 5 in the evening if additional heat is required, but move back before retiring". So seems like a genuine boost control rather than an output control.

I wouldn't assume that's what it means, I suspect it just means it boosts the output of (stored) heat. Does it actually use any power when you turn that up during the day?

Not sure what this has to do with consumer rights anyway!

jimbo6977

There are/were some storage heaters with an additional fan heater attached. If the "boost" is a fan heater, it will certainly boost your leccy bill!

macman

Switch the boost on and it should be obvious if it has a fan heater built in.
Make and model?

Ditzy_Mitzy

HHW_8_-_Using_electric_storage_heaters.pdf (warmandwell.co.uk)  This might help.  The 'boost' control is actually identical to the 'output' dial on other storage heaters.  It moves an internal flap which is supposed to regulate the flow of hot air out of the heater.  As the things aren't fan assisted the effect is negligible.  I spent a few winters in a place with Dimplex storage heaters which had a 'boost' rather than an 'output' control.  Best method for working them was trial and error.  
Some storage heaters do have a genuine boost heater built in, usually a fan assisted convector.  That will be controlled by a separate switch.  If it's a really primitive model it may be run off a separate plug and cable, which you'll have to switch on and off via the socket.  
The storage heating proper should be controlled by the time clocks on the electricity meter.  There's no need to switch them on and off.  The 'input' control regulates how much the heater heats up during the warming phase.  More input gives a hotter heater, initially, but uses more electricity.  The hotter it is the longer it will heat for during the output phase.  

Ch3apAndCheerful

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

  This might help.  The 'boost' control is actually identical to the 'output' dial on other storage heaters.  It moves an internal flap which is supposed to regulate the flow of hot air out of the heater.  As the things aren't fan assisted the effect is negligible.  I spent a few winters in a place with Dimplex storage heaters which had a 'boost' rather than an 'output' control.  Best method for working them was trial and error.  
Some storage heaters do have a genuine boost heater built in, usually a fan assisted convector.  That will be controlled by a separate switch.  If it's a really primitive model it may be run off a separate plug and cable, which you'll have to switch on and off via the socket.  
The storage heating proper should be controlled by the time clocks on the electricity meter.  There's no need to switch them on and off.  The 'input' control regulates how much the heater heats up during the warming phase.  More input gives a hotter heater, initially, but uses more electricity.  The hotter it is the longer it will heat for during the output phase.  

"If it's a really primitive model it may be run off a separate plug and cable, which you'll have to switch on and off via the socket.  " It's a switch on and off at the wall situation so defo primitive. Dimplex to (or DC Dimplex? it's hard to tell, like you said it's an old model). Good to know they run off clocks so there's no need for extra assistance. I'll go through some trial and error with it and see what's up. Thanks for your reply and the linked info

born_again

Ch3apAndCheerful said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

  This might help.  The 'boost' control is actually identical to the 'output' dial on other storage heaters.  It moves an internal flap which is supposed to regulate the flow of hot air out of the heater.  As the things aren't fan assisted the effect is negligible.  I spent a few winters in a place with Dimplex storage heaters which had a 'boost' rather than an 'output' control.  Best method for working them was trial and error.  
Some storage heaters do have a genuine boost heater built in, usually a fan assisted convector.  That will be controlled by a separate switch.  If it's a really primitive model it may be run off a separate plug and cable, which you'll have to switch on and off via the socket.  
The storage heating proper should be controlled by the time clocks on the electricity meter.  There's no need to switch them on and off.  The 'input' control regulates how much the heater heats up during the warming phase.  More input gives a hotter heater, initially, but uses more electricity.  The hotter it is the longer it will heat for during the output phase.  

"If it's a really primitive model it may be run off a separate plug and cable, which you'll have to switch on and off via the socket.  " It's a switch on and off at the wall situation so defo primitive. Dimplex to (or DC Dimplex? it's hard to tell, like you said it's an old model). Good to know they run off clocks so there's no need for extra assistance. I'll go through some trial and error with it and see what's up. Thanks for your reply and the linked info

Any storage heater should have a on/off switch to isolate it from the power supply. As well as most people would use that to turn then off in summer when no heating is required.

So you leave it turned on. The higher the input number the more heat it will store. The higher the output (boost) is the more heat it lets out.
Old or new they work the same.

Sandtree

born_again said:
So you leave it turned on. The higher the input number the more heat it will store. The higher the output (boost) is the more heat it lets out.

Old or new they work the same.

Not how our last wall ones worked... Input Control did control how much it is heated up over night but the Boost dial was more explicitly about a secondary heating element connected to the 24/7 supply so was more (costly) than just about deciding the speed the heat was let out at.

Our last ones actually were in floor and it only had a input control but it had an external sensor too that was used to determine exactly how much it heated the floor over night. The bedrooms and living rooms had boost dials but these activated in ceiling heating... very odd sensation in winter sitting there with the top of your head hot and feet chilly