3 days to end of So Energy contract; only So Flex variable offered/no details

meadowgrass

Yes, you're right; seems no point in seeking single rate when it's that only 10 hours of heating are available. Not sure about HA's advice; they didn't seem to have any clue really, or were continuing the same wrong information. I don't know if others around here have the same issues, but imagine they probably do. I'm a younger person in this sheltered housing area, but there are many older I used to see; housebound now, so don't have contact, but feel sorry for any of the pensioners who've had the same difficulties, as they'll have felt the cold even more.

QrizB

meadowgrass said:

Yes, you're right; seems no point in seeking single rate when it's that only 10 hours of heating are available. Not sure about HA's advice; they didn't seem to have any clue really, or were continuing the same wrong information. I don't know if others around here have the same issues, but imagine they probably do. I'm a younger person in this sheltered housing area, but there are many older I used to see; housebound now, so don't have contact, but feel sorry for any of the pensioners who've had the same difficulties, as they'll have felt the cold even more.

Can you post a photo of your consumer unit (fusebox) showing the labels on all the circuit breakers? We might be able to confirm whether the heat pump is connected to the right part.

If we can see that your heat pump is wrongly wired, and you don't mind the risk of an argument, you can get the HA out and explain to them that your heat pump needs to be connected to the all-day part of your consumer unit (fusebox) not the E10 part.

They can then send their electrician over to do the job properly.

(And someone will need to check all the other ones on your sheltered housing development since if yours is wrong there's a good chance the others are too.)

meadowgrass

Thanks @QrizB Great idea. Very rarely need a photo, so have an old ipad somewhere [found it, but needs charging time], then need to install stuff on linux pc so can read the ipad's photos [edit; just found that this distro already has everything needed installed] ... will take photo of the fusebox where the meter is.

Trying to second guess how HA might respond ... I've not been one to step away from potential fisticuffs in the past, but ill health makes me hope they'll be reasonable about this. Many years since any CAB contact, so am not sure if they would add some background support when approaching HA. Will give that some thought, and post fusebox photo soon.

meadowgrass

Have managed to get a couple of photos:

QrizB

meadowgrass said:

Have managed to get a couple of photos:

Thank you very much for those photos, they're helpful.

Electricity comes in at the bottom of the board, passes through the black fuse holders (intended for three-phase, but you've only got one pahse connected - this is not a problem) then comes out on the brown and blue cables that go to your smart meter. So far, so good.

From the smart meter you seem to have two pairs of grey cables. One pair goes up from the meter; I think these are the always-live pair. Does this pair connect to the consumer unit you've photographed?

The other pair goes off to the left and out of frame, and I think these are the off-peak switched pair (the ones that are only live when E10 is live). Where does that pair go?

meadowgrass

Thanks @QrizB Just a note that it's not a smart meter; I have to provide 2 readings monthly. A couple of the other photos I took may help clarify about the pairs of grey cables. After posting this I'll get a clearer picture of where the grey pair going upwards connect ... yes, they connect to the consumer unit I showed, but I can photo the base of that, showing where the cables are at the base.

This is where the 2nd pair of grey cables branch to on the left:

and a clearer image of that box:

meadowgrass

3 new photos that show the cable connections more clearly:

grey pair that go up to consumer unit ...

clearer photo of connections generally:

showing both grey pairs of cables clearer ...

QrizB

Just a note that it's not a smart meter

Sorry, that's my mistake. I shouldn't assume!

meadowgrass said:

and a clearer image of that box:

^^ This box  -"Off peak supply DB2" - has circuits which are only live during E10 periods. This is where your storage heaters (and the E10 immersion heater) will have been connected.

It looks to me as though it's still live (and, unrelated, is 5 years past the due inspection date). If you lift the clear flap you'll be able to see the individual circuit breakers. Is there one labelled "heat pump"? Possibly a 30A one?

meadowgrass

No worries, you weren't to know.

There was an 'optional' survey accompanied by ofgem to ask opinion on Ecodan but do nothing about problems; that was the visit last November where HA was saying to try single rate to get 24 hours heating.

I've just called the HA about a general electrical check which they said is due next year and they'll send a letter to arrange appointment day. Unbelievably it went out of my head to mention the heating system is due for a check this year and ask what to do about that, or is it energy supplier or ecodan installation company that need to do that check? 

I've got a clear photo of the off-peak box. There's 'water heater' listed at 20A but no heat pump or 30A ...

pochase

You can do a easy test. 

During the E10 hours later today switch the heat pump on. Than switch everything off in the consumer box one by one and check if the heat pump stops, and what breaker disconnects it.

One other thing on the side? Do you have both an electric shower and an immersion heater? Is the immersion heater always on during E10 hours?