EDF storage heaters night rate not activating.

Gerry1

For future reference, replace the off-peak spur outlet with one that has a neon indicator.  Then you'll never be in any doubt whether power is available and you can see at a glance when the E7 circuits are active, allowing you to use the tumble dryer etc at cheap rate.

ArbitraryRandom

OpolE said:

Ok I see both of them now.

Any other checks needed or is it looking like I need an electrician?

You see both of them, but can you confirm if they are both increasing as power is used during the day and at night. 

i.e. Take a reading from them both now, and then tomorrow take another reading from each. 

Even if your heaters aren't working overnight, your fridge will keep using power, so we just need to see if it's recording that on the night rate or if it's all going on day rate. 

lohr500

It would also be worth watching the meter again close to when the off peak rate is due to kick in.You said you could hear a click around the correct time. That suggests to me that the meter is trying to energise the Economy 7 circuit.

Next check is to determine if the meter itself clicks or the larger white relay box located at the bottom right, or both.
Both should make a click if the system is working correctly.

If something clicks around the time that the Economy 7 is supposed to start then I think the fault is either with the relay in the meter or the larger relay in the white box.

Scot_39

OpolE said:

Ok I see both of them now.

Any other checks needed or is it looking like I need an electrician?

Are both rates still incrementing - check the displayed rate 1/2 readings before 10:30 - and again tomorrow to check which rate is which.

Or alternatively if get monthly bills - and last during the period you have been having problems with heaters - just check a recent bill - if marked actual / smart reading against current.

As perhaps (on my part perhaps overly simplistic view) only the readings in kWh changing will confirm that both rates are still active in meter configuration.

If they are - and your supplier will not send someone to check - then ii suspect you (or an electrician - at least initially at your cost) may need to do more testing of your end - to force the issue.  Perhaps suppliers should be more like say BT - whos standard approach to line faults after a quick auto check is to say will charge for the visit if not their fault.

Not actually sure what their service obligation actually says about suspected meter faults - anyone ?

Just remember to try and make sure you actually consume 1kWh plus between attempting readings - a 20 min heat boost on hot water immersion tank heater element - typically 3kW plus - should clear that upto 1kWh threshold quickly - if want to take readings even faster (some meters show to a finer resolution - others do not - well not on standard display ).

OpolE

1. I get this if I press A when checking "B rate 02" (night)? If nothing wrong I will check the numbers tomorrow eve


Rate 01 Day as follows





Rate 02 night.

sebtomato

gambleruk said:

Just for info my timers change when the clocks went back so I was on 10:30-12:30am and 2:30-730am and now I am on 9:30-11:30 and 1:30-6:30am 

I don't believe the off peak times have changed, it was always 22:30 to 00:30, and 02:30 to 07:30 GMT

OpolE

So today's readings. I personally turned on my water heater for shower and storage heater with the any time of the day heat between the hours of 10:30-00:30

OpolE

I still can't tell if its EDF or me thought. Still looks like I will need to get an electrician round

OpolE

ArbitraryRandom said:

OpolE said:

Ok I see both of them now.

Any other checks needed or is it looking like I need an electrician?

You see both of them, but can you confirm if they are both increasing as power is used during the day and at night. 

i.e. Take a reading from them both now, and then tomorrow take another reading from each. 

Even if your heaters aren't working overnight, your fridge will keep using power, so we just need to see if it's recording that on the night rate or if it's all going on day rate. 

Done, pics above

QrizB

Yesterday: rate 1 06585, rate 2 16287.

Today: rate 1 06588, rate 2 16294.

You'v used 3kwh on rate 1 and 7kWh on rate 2, so it seems your meter is still working in dual-rate mode.

I don't think your meter has an LED to show when the ALCS is active, and there isn't an LED on your contactor either.

Ive been looking at this (lengthy) manual for your meter:

https://www.smartme.co.uk/documents/D000058620 E470 Series3 SMETS2 User Manual and Functional Description ISSUE 1_2.pdf

It says at section 14.9:

The customer menu is accessed by >2s press of the B button from the credit mode status screen.

and then, at 14.9.4:

From the customer menu if the user selects the A button four times they are directed to the ALCS display; selecting the B button will enable the testing of the ALCS setting.
Selecting the A button will direct the user to the Exit Menu where they can be directed back to the credit mode status display.
Test ALCS – on access to the test ALCS display the user is presented with a yes and no option, selecting the A button will exit the function, selecting the B button a change to the ALCS state will be applied for 5 minutes, after activation the user is directed back to the customer menu.

Does this work for you? Can you use the customer menu to manually activate the ALCS for 5 minutes?If you can, do you hear a clunk from your E7 contactor and does the impulse LED on the meter start flashing faster?