New storage heaters cost help

set

Hi

Hoping someone can help.  We had new storage heaters fitted yesterday. 1 in the living room (1.5KW) and 1 in the bedroom (1KW) we switched it on this morning for the first time at 5am. (economy 7 switched off at 8am) I've put a pic of what our smart meter says.  It didnt cost this much with the old ones! Im not sure whats going on or if we have done something / read it wrong.  Would appreciate any advice.  Just to add this is our tariff.
Electricity day unit rate: 41.14p per kWh
Electricity night unit rate: 21.39p per kWh
Daily standing charge: 47.66p per day

Thank you :-)

MattMattMattUK

set said:

Hi

Hoping someone can help.  We had new storage heaters fitted yesterday. 1 in the living room (1.5KW) and 1 in the bedroom (1KW) we switched it on this morning for the first time at 5am. (economy 7 switched off at 8am) I've put a pic of what our smart meter says.  It didnt cost this much with the old ones! Im not sure whats going on or if we have done something / read it wrong.  Would appreciate any advice.  Just to add this is our tariff.
Electricity day unit rate: 41.14p per kWh
Electricity night unit rate: 21.39p per kWh
Daily standing charge: 47.66p per day

Thank you :-)

What is their storage capacity vs the internal element, can you tell us the actual model so we can look up the spec?

RedFraggle

They take a big charge to begin with as you're heating them from absolutely nothing. 
What type of storage heater are they? 8 to 10 kW isn't a huge amount for a full charge. 

set

Hi, thanks for your replies.
Dimplex quantum QM150RF HHR storage heater & Dimplex quantum QM100RF HHR storage heater

Swipe

I have 4 old Creda box of brick storage heaters in use at the moment. I think their inputs are 3.4KW, 2.1KW 1.7K and 1.2KW and they all draw around 8.4KW when they come on so just add up your input values of your new units and they should match the full draw as per the usage now value on your IHD when they first come on.

According to the dimplex website the input values are 3.3KW and 2.22KW for your specified models. Is that IHD value in your photo amount used today? If so, 8.94KWh sounds about right if they were charging from cold for around 3 hours. I have the same IHD and the value in the photo looks like the current draw at 6:08am

littleteapot

Check the overnight charge timings *actually* match the off-peak period on your meter (check the meter at various times late night and early morning if necessary) and that the thermostat options/temperatures are set correctly on your new heater as per the instructions and any guidance other members of this forum with experience of this particular model give you.

As others have pointed out, the first night heating a new storage heater from cold will use a lot more energy than the nightly re-heat, so it's probably worth measuring its consumption again after another 1-2 nights once the adaptive charge algorithm has settled before drawing any conclusions. 

EssexHebridean

Give it a few days - my Quantum takes a big old gulp of electricity it's first couple of nights on each year - as do the box of bricks type come to that.  The Quantums will also have been "aware" that they had less than half the usual time to get its required charge in so they will have been working at full wallop trying to get as much charge as possible in the time available.  The good news is that assuming the IHD (which is what you have pictured by the way - NOT the smart meter) is set correctly then the heaters are definitely drawing power as they should be on the off peak. 

set

Thanks so much for your replies.  I'm going to keep an eye on the usage over the next couple of days. The cost per hour @ £1.91 horrified me  will see what happens over the next few days.

Thanks again 

set

EssexHebridean said:

Give it a few days - my Quantum takes a big old gulp of electricity it's first couple of nights on each year - as do the box of bricks type come to that.  The Quantums will also have been "aware" that they had less than half the usual time to get its required charge in so they will have been working at full wallop trying to get as much charge as possible in the time available.  The good news is that assuming the IHD (which is what you have pictured by the way - NOT the smart meter) is set correctly then the heaters are definitely drawing power as they should be on the off peak. 

Thanks for your reply. These heaters are new to us. Previously using at least 10-15 year old ones   with regards to the fan at the bottom of the unit, does that go on for a while, is it used for Boost AND to keep the temp to the setting we put in?  I think the noise of the fan is going to take a bit of getting used to.

Gerry1

Does each NSH have one supply circuit or two?

If only one, take great care that they're programmed to your meter's actual E7 times, not what they're supposed to be.

Scot_39

set said:

Hi

Hoping someone can help.  We had new storage heaters fitted yesterday. 1 in the living room (1.5KW) and 1 in the bedroom (1KW) we switched it on this morning for the first time at 5am. (economy 7 switched off at 8am) I've put a pic of what our smart meter says.  It didnt cost this much with the old ones! Im not sure whats going on or if we have done something / read it wrong.  Would appreciate any advice.  Just to add this is our tariff.
Electricity day unit rate: 41.14p per kWh
Electricity night unit rate: 21.39p per kWh
Daily standing charge: 47.66p per day

Thank you :-)

You are quoting the nominal output ratings, not the charge element ratings.

So to give say 1kW all day would need 24kWh energy, charged off peak or from boost element.

The 150 iirc is c3.3 kW main charge elements the 100 will be lower.  If matches output guess 2.2kW.

That's the power they will draw when charging over night. But probably never the whole off peak period after settled - just like the old ones it takes a lot to get them upto temp from cold.

But unless they need that charge - to heat the room - they will adapt their energy  input over time.

If these are not dual connected - to live and your off peak circuits (they can be wired purely off live) - less likely as are nsh upgrades perhaps (that often need the new live spur, reusing old e7 only time switched circuits spur) make sure the charge times are set accurately - to match your exact times (are you sure that's ending 8am - in winter gmt and summer bst for instance ?)

And also be careful - as these are hybrid devices - they actually contain a separate heater element - that can be used to boost heat output using peak rate.  The 150 about 1.1kW iirc., 100 again lower. So can act also essentially like a £20-30 plug in fan heater if insufficient charge.

It's potentially not just the low power fan that's on at peak rate.

These are well insulated and need the fan to circulate the heat - they don't rely on passive radiation and convection like older models.  They just don't leak enough heat to give output rating without it.

I'm not sure if these boosting elements can be on in at same time as charge - again an actual owner might advise. 

As the c9kW displayed more than the 2 charge elements alone - just a potential thought.

But this again should adapt out as learns your needs.

But properly setup - these should be better - particularly on e7 where an old conventional model tends to leak heat perhaps when you don't need it and you get the warm am, cold in evening or too hot am warm in evening problem.

If your struggling post again any Q - owners of them  have been helpful to other new users.

Hope they work well for you.

And post back and let us know how you get on once they settle down.

As someone who may need the same upgrades - always interesting to read feedback from new owners.