Elnur Ecohhr20 balancing element

ouroboruss

Hi

Just fitted this ecombi hhr to replace 40+ year old dimplex. They are running on a single power 24hr/restricted power supply.

I have been experimenting with the settings and set the "max working hours of balancing elements" to 0 but the balancing elements are still coming on during peak times.

Looking at the current status function it says that the balancing element has been on 0000 during the last 24hrs when it clearly has.

Does anyone have experience with these storage heaters? Any ideas why it's behaving the way it is? Or have I just misunderstood the settings?

mmmmikey

I fitted a couple of them earlier in the year but haven't switched them on yet for this winter, will probably do so this evening. When I tested them with the same setting the balancing elements stayed off. My were second hand units so if yours are new might work differently, I did notice that my unit had slightly different menu options than those described in the menu. If you fitted these yourself and are confident in your ability to do it safely, the balancing elements can easily be disconnected internally, but you'd need to consider the implications for any warranty.

Edit: as an afterthought, check that the timing schedule set on the heater matches your restricted circuit on/off times. These aren't used to control the main charging elements in a dual supply configuration but my recollection is they still effect the operation of the balancing elements.

mmmmikey

Something else to check....

Is it definitely the balancing element that is switching on? If it's the main charging element then failing to remove the internal link between the restricted and unrestricted supplies will lead to unpredictable switching times.

Not sure if this is making sense to you?

Scot_39

ouroboruss said:

Hi

Just fitted this ecombi hhr to replace 40+ year old dimplex. They are running on a single power 24hr/restricted power supply.

I have been experimenting with the settings and set the "max working hours of balancing elements" to 0 but the balancing elements are still coming on during peak times.

Looking at the current status function it says that the balancing element has been on 0000 during the last 24hrs when it clearly has.

Does anyone have experience with these storage heaters? Any ideas why it's behaving the way it is? Or have I just misunderstood the settings?

When I suggested maybe years ago now in a thread on tge ECombi  setting the default max balancing from 5 to zero, might be a way of preventing peak use, an owner posted that was a bad idea as it would stop the adaptive / learning of charge amount taken from operating as well.

So iirc the minimum setting of 1 not zero was suggested.

And iirc you can see from the entry in status how much total charge was taken.  And if changing from default iirc 80%.

Which again iirc is an installation manual variable parameter like the 5 hr balancing.

Also what if anything as experienced users - did you do with the gmt/bst on off switch.  And how does that match your meter - as my off peak times stay fixed gmt year round.

Scot_39

mmmmikey said:

I fitted a couple of them earlier in the year but haven't switched them on yet for this winter, will probably do so this evening. When I tested them with the same setting the balancing elements stayed off. My were second hand units so if yours are new might work differently, I did notice that my unit had slightly different menu options than those described in the menu. If you fitted these yourself and are confident in your ability to do it safely, the balancing elements can easily be disconnected internally, but you'd need to consider the implications for any warranty.

Edit: as an afterthought, check that the timing schedule set on the heater matches your restricted circuit on/off times. These aren't used to control the main charging elements in a dual supply configuration but my recollection is they still effect the operation of the balancing elements.

I have always interpreted tge wording in the installation manual, re tgd charge time parameters p01-->p04 that they had to be set regardless of wiring  - but I have always  just assumed this was to control the charging as well.

Are you saying like the Dimplex in dual wired mode they auto detect restricted ( but in the Dimplex case they still charge from user settings as are master  if set non 0000 by user, those charge times overrides their auto detection)  - and will charge if restricted live regardless of those parameters  ?

Oh and as actual Elnur users can you guys have a look at tge recent post by @Shrubery here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81095433/#Comment_81095433

ouroboruss

Out of interest, when the fans turn on, does that mean the balancing element is on? Or does it simply use the fan to distribute the stored heat? How will I know if the balancing element is on?

ouroboruss

Also, in regards to heater placement

I have a double patio door at the far end of my living room and I have 2 places where the heater would fit. So would it better to place the heater at the far end going across the patio door? Or at the other end of the room opposite the patio door?

mmmmikey

ouroboruss said:

Out of interest, when the fans turn on, does that mean the balancing element is on? Or does it simply use the fan to distribute the stored heat? How will I know if the balancing element is on?

The fan comes on to distribute the stored heat even without the balancing element on. I'll have a play with my heater tomorrow to see if there's an easy way to see if the balancing element is on - in my case I have an energy monitor so can tell that way. As far as placement of the heater is concerned it's difficult to say without knowing the layout of the whole house, what other heaters there are, whether there are any cold spots, etc. I'd focus on where you want the heat and what you find most comfortable You could maybe just put a fan heater in each of the locations for a day or so and see which feels best?

mmmmikey

Scot_39 said:

mmmmikey said:

I fitted a couple of them earlier in the year but haven't switched them on yet for this winter, will probably do so this evening. When I tested them with the same setting the balancing elements stayed off. My were second hand units so if yours are new might work differently, I did notice that my unit had slightly different menu options than those described in the menu. If you fitted these yourself and are confident in your ability to do it safely, the balancing elements can easily be disconnected internally, but you'd need to consider the implications for any warranty.

Edit: as an afterthought, check that the timing schedule set on the heater matches your restricted circuit on/off times. These aren't used to control the main charging elements in a dual supply configuration but my recollection is they still effect the operation of the balancing elements.

I have always interpreted tge wording in the installation manual, re tgd charge time parameters p01-->p04 that they had to be set regardless of wiring  - but I have always  just assumed this was to control the charging as well.

Are you saying like the Dimplex in dual wired mode they auto detect restricted ( but in the Dimplex case they still charge from user settings as are master  if set non 0000 by user, those charge times overrides their auto detection)  - and will charge if restricted live regardless of those parameters  ?

Oh and as actual Elnur users can you guys have a look at tge recent post by @Shrubery here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81095433/#Comment_81095433

I can't really remember exactly what impact the times have, I'll have a play tomorrow