Storage Heaters - turn them off?

Gerry1

tamste said:

Don't think connecting them to a 13A socket (i.e. your ring main) is safe as when they are charging there will be significant load. Normally they should each be connected to their own 20A RCD

I didn't say that.  Didn't you see the bit about the low power 24h control circuit??

Scot_39

From Dimplex install manual

WARNING - The electrical installation of this heater must be carried out by a suitably
qualified or trained electrician, and be in strict accordance with current wiring regulations.
The peak supply must be connected via a switched fused spur with a fuse rated suitably
for the appliances flex, the off-peak supply, via a 20A double pole isolated switch.
In both instances a plug and socket arrangement MUST NOT be utilised. The contact
separation to be a minimum of 3mm.
If the product is installed as a single supply (see page 8, 27 and 37 for more details), a
20A DP switch must be used as the supply is covering peak and off peak loads.
Failure to follow these instructions will mean that the manufacturer’s instructions have
not been adhered to. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
• This heater must be earthed
• Not suitable for connection via a plug top
• Do not locate the heater immediately above, below or in front of a fixed electrical point
i.e. socket outlet.
This appliance is intended for installation to a single phase supply only and is not suitable
for connection to 3 phase supplies

.....

Of course that fused spur - as taking only c1kW iirc - can be tapped off of a suitable local ring main.  IIRC the quote I had - that was the plan - no running new cables back to 24/7 CU.

Phones4Chris

@AquaTactic
As has already been asked, what storage heaters do you have - make/model will be helpful?
Do they have two controls, and Input and an Output? And where have you got each set?
Without this basic information, a lot of comments could be irrelevant or misleading.
Also what E7 tariff are you on from which supplier. Your day rate is unlikely to be as high as a suggested 34p (possibly nearer or less than 30p, all depends on region as well) and the night rate around at least half the day rate.

Switching your storage heaters off is more likely to end up costing you more to keep the same level of warmth as your flat will loose heat at a certain rate and you have to put a certain number of kWh in to get to your desired temperature/comfort level. If you turn off the storage heaters, most of those lost kWhs of heat which were on cheap rate will need to be replace by peak rate to get to the same temperature and end up costing more.
Getting your existing Storage Heaters controlled in an optimum way will reduce the need for a lot of extra heating.