Dimplex Quantum Storage Heater

Lisalouise1974

EssexHebridean said:

Big question for me is why you would do all that washing etc during the day when you are on economy 7? Of course there are always times when you have no choice but to use peak electric for stuff of that type, but generally load shifting to thr overnight would save you a fortune over a year! 

As for the Quantums, I reckon just about everyone who has ever had one installed has exactly the same thought that you have - it’s crazy isn’t it that they stay so cool! The report function on the newer models is great - when RedFraggle first mentioned it on here I had quite substantial heater-envy as mine, being an older model didn’t have that level of functionality. 

I only ever ran my appliance at night (always bought appliances with a timer function in-built) but then my electrician said there wasn't any point doing this as my sockets were connected to my day meter/ring main. he said the only appliances that would use the night rate were my storage heaters and immersion. And that in order to take advantage of the low rate I would need sockets that were connected to my my E7 meter/ring main and not just any old sockets in the house. So about six months ago I started to use all my appliances willy nilly through the day! is this not the case? My night rate kicks in at 12.30 until 7.30am but as I said was advised by my electrician that if I used a normal socket at night it would be at the higher rate. It was difficult to track whether this was true, as I don't have a smart meter, and had a proper turbulent time switching to Scottish Power at the same time, I had no E7 supply and took six months to sort out new meters and correct readings etc. Has he ill advised me?

Gerry1

If you are on Economy 7 then all use is at the lower rate at the times when it is active regardless of whether a switched circuit is used.

JSHarris

Normally all energy supplied to the house during the off-peak (night) period by an E7 meter is charged at the of-peak rate.  There is no need for any wiring changes.

QrizB

Gerry1 said:

If you are on Economy 7 then all use is at the lower rate at the times when it is active regardless of whether a switched circuit is used.

However there are some legacy metering arrangements which are billed as though they were E7 but the E7 circuits have a separate meter to the 24h ones, and only the E7 circuits qualify.

OP what sort of electricity meter(s) do you have? Would you be happy to post a photo?

Swipe

Lisalouise1974 said:

Has he ill advised me?

Very likely, but this can easily be checked by switching everything off once you have flipped to off peak and then switching on a fan heater or other high usage device (maybe the kettle) in a general socket and then check to see if your meter's day or night register is incrementing by the expected amount. The day register should not move at all.

JSHarris

QrizB said:

Gerry1 said:

If you are on Economy 7 then all use is at the lower rate at the times when it is active regardless of whether a switched circuit is used.

However there are some legacy metering arrangements which are billed as though they were E7 but the E7 circuits have a separate meter to the 24h ones, and only the E7 circuits qualify.

OP what sort of electricity meter(s) do you have? Would you be happy to post a photo?

Yes, the (now pretty old) original  "white meter" installations from the 1960's and 70's, before the change to Economy 7 and Economy 10.  Not seen one in the wild for many years, though, so I suspect the vast majority of these have been replaced by now.

Gerry1

Lisalouise1974 said:

EssexHebridean said:

Big question for me is why you would do all that washing etc during the day when you are on economy 7? Of course there are always times when you have no choice but to use peak electric for stuff of that type, but generally load shifting to thr overnight would save you a fortune over a year! 

As for the Quantums, I reckon just about everyone who has ever had one installed has exactly the same thought that you have - it’s crazy isn’t it that they stay so cool! The report function on the newer models is great - when RedFraggle first mentioned it on here I had quite substantial heater-envy as mine, being an older model didn’t have that level of functionality. 

My night rate kicks in at 12.30 until 7.30am but as I said was advised by my electrician that if I used a normal socket at night it would be at the higher rate. It was difficult to track whether this was true, as I don't have a smart meter, and had a proper turbulent time switching to Scottish Power at the same time, I had no E7 supply and took six months to sort out new meters and correct readings etc. Has he ill advised me?

Yes, it was very bad and expensive advice.  I hope his electrical skills are better than his knowledge of tariffs !

That said, make sure it really is genuine Economy 7 that you have: SP in particular has several legacy multi-rate tariffs which do have different rates depending on which circuit is used.

Don't assume that your lower rate times are 0030-0730.  The only ways to be sure are to watch the meter on the wall switch over or to have a neon indicator on one of the switched circuit outlets.

Note that the Fire Brigade warn against using washing machines and tumble dryers unattended, especially when asleep; remember Grenfell.

EssexHebridean

Like most in flats we have always had washer dryers - our standard was if using the drying cycle it was always set to run at the very end of the night, at a time when we would naturally be sleeping more lightly anyway, or if possible even already up when the E7 times allowed that. Also working smoke detectors are a must - but even more so for those using appliances overnight. 

Mentioning Grenfell is possibly a little scare-mongery in this setting Gerry - as it was not believed to be either a washing machine or a dryer that caused it. Great advice generally to be aware of the risks however, and yes, the Fire Brigade do indeed recommend not running appliances overnight. 

OP - I agree with those saying to physically check the meter at the relevant time to see which register is updating but I would be relatively surprised if your use in the off peak periods was not all on the R7 circuit.

JSHarris

FWIW Grenfell was started by a fridge/freezer and we always run our washing machine overnight, it has a built-in timer specifically for this purpose.  The risk from a washing machine, especially one running a cool cycle, without a drier, is minimal.  The risk from an always-on appliance, like a fridge/freezer, is probably higher, especially as newer models can use highly flammable refrigerant gases, like propane and isobutane.

Gerry1

EssexHebridean said:

Mentioning Grenfell is possibly a little scare-mongery in this setting Gerry - as it was not believed to be either a washing machine or a dryer that caused it. Great advice generally to be aware of the risks however, and yes, the Fire Brigade do indeed recommend not running appliances overnight.

JSHarris said:

FWIW Grenfell was started by a fridge/freezer and we always run our washing machine overnight, it has a built-in timer specifically for this purpose.  The risk from a washing machine, especially one running a cool cycle, without a drier, is minimal.  The risk from an always-on appliance, like a fridge/freezer, is probably higher, especially as newer models can use highly flammable refrigerant gases, like propane and isobutane.

@EssexHebridean @JSHarris

It's not scaremongering: obviously Grenfell did actually happen and was caused by a cold appliance.

If you use an appliance with a powerful heater and (in the case of a dryer) pipework and a filter than can be clogged with flammable fibres, then I'd imagine the fire risk is likely to be at least equal and may well be significantly higher.