Smart meter for storage heaters

Scot_39

Rosie1001 said:

The off peak has just come on 

I heard a click , checked the meter and IHD and  my heaters are charging 

will check what time it clicks back over , but it looks like I have got economy 10

Great.

Just remember that your heaters also have thermostats - so might not charge for the full 3 hours until you 4pm+10m end of afternoon slot.

Mines are so low on input they seldom charge - even the small ones heating more space than designed for - for more than 1-1.5 hours in each of my 3 charge slots (typically upto 3 or 4 oclock position on input dial - only 6 oclock when subzero - adjustment range about 0/1 oclock position to 11).

And iirc those coloured lights at bottom of IHD on my model actually say they kind of adapt to your usage patterns a bit - so what is currently red might turn to amber for instance or vice versa if like mine.

If you have older model NSH - ones with simple dial control - for input charge - and output - for vent damper control - they may need adjustment.  (In my case Unidare WMS - but others like Dimplex XLSn iirc operated that way - with a semi automatic damper control - based on heat charge and more explicit on unidares - time from last charge )

The primary difference being they will hopefully reheat at 8pm (8:10) - to keep the output going - and so house warm late in evenings / early night.  Which you were concerned about when didn't get the afternoon boost yesterday.

I run my input control - so heat the actual heaters to a lower temperature - as a result of them charging for upto 10 hours - rahter than say your e7 - but split 5+2 iirc - 7 hours would need.

E10 full time at your 6.6 kW from ealrier today - would be  66kWh - at your old 7 hours - 46.2 kWh - thats of course going to be a lot warmer home - that you might actually want and need - but also a risk of that 20kWh - costing a couple - maybe £3+ - of £s a day extra even at the best off peak rates.

I am always looking ahead at the next few days weather forecasts.  A faff but I am used to it after 15+ years of living with them (but I do sometimes wish I'd upgraded to old style Quantums - which I had the folks doing next door quote me quickly for good few years - pre Ukraine energy price hikes.) to adjust settings.

Otherwise I risk getting too cold on a cold day - and too warm - on a warm day - or at least warm enough I wouldnt need to dress for winter - and to me - without medical need for high temps I am aware of - money I don't want to give away to energy companies just yet anyway.

My NSH are and have been off for many days - but will likely need to be on again - looking at mid term forecasts for end of month.  But my living room is just 17C - today even without heat - too cold for many - a potential health hazard for some elderly or frail to sit in as a ambient temperature - so defintiely not a recommended level (NSH for install says 18-21 C for young or old - age UK iirc even higher).

My NSH are also set relatively low cf where they would need to be for E7 times - to supply the same energy.

And by having their temp lifted 3 times per day - do so more evenly through the day - having been boosted not once or twice in your old case - but three times per day.

Once you know your also getting the 8pm slot charge window - if you have old style NSH like mine - you might want to adjust your input and output settings a bit - to reflect your new timings.

Ildhund

Rosie1001 said:

The off peak has just come on ... it looks like I have got economy 10 

That seems to call for
  
 

Scot_39

Ildhund said:

Many customers on E10 use a bit of that late cheaper-rate slot to run, say, a little fan heater for extra comfort in front of the television instead of charging up the storage heaters again.  

I don't do it that way - but to avoid overly heating my rooms - when temperatures flustuating outsdide (in last 2 weeks over 10C up and then down again outside) I tend to set my NSH on the lower side - and then use in my case an oil filled radiator to boost during my off peak slots in afternoon and evening - if in / if required.

That sort of started from when I used to be out all day - as couldnt see the point of having living room at 17-18C when 14C more than enough to keep damp at bay.

The other problem I have is because I dont want as high a room temp - is my NSH on minimum - the 3.6kWh input large one in the living room - is actually too warm - at least for my living room and my target temp.   So a quick half hour - hour with the OFR on low 1kW setting - afternoon and evening in off peak slots - lifts the room enough.

Given @Rosie1001 is still taking a fairly large charge - her heating needs are clearly very different from mine - her OH's age already mentioned above - or in other posts - likely to be a major factor.  I dont really see that being an issue for her

My NSH have been off for days - and my living room was 17C at lunchtime - I can cope with that - even without my winter thermals on.   But for many elderly or disabled - that could prove a real health / life risk - not just feel a bit cold - but actually be too cold. NHS recommend iirc 18-21 - age UK and some disabled orgs - higher still.

QrizB

Ildhund said:

Rosie1001 said:

The off peak has just come on ... it looks like I have got economy 10 

That seems to call for

Definitely time for a celebratory cup of tea and maybe a custard cream 🙂

Scot_39

And in the wider context - perhaps EDF might be an option for other's if their suppliers try to push them off E10.

As EOn Next - my current supplier - have been reported here as doing after a smart upgrade for one user.

I paniced a bit when read that post - and went as far as looking at rates - but never did speak to EDF.

Might have another look at their rates - but last time EOn were marginally better for summer off peak mix - but EDF quite a bit better still for winter - and with my NSH already off - even if not permanently yet - summer mix my current use mix for next few months.

But SNUG might be better yet.

Even if ran out of charge mid exveing after the afternon boost - the current 9p night rate difficult to beat - and even the day rate was around 10% cheaper than their standard e7 in my region (night closer to 30% vs their e7) - a lot cheaper than that than my current 17p on E10.  

But need a new meter - and they seem to be struggling in many regions right now.  Perhaps becuase they are No 2 in Elexons league table of outstanding RTS meters - over 100,000 in Feb reportupdate - but then they do seem to be upsetting a lot of non RTS customers with RTS switch off emails right now too - so who knows if real.

Rosie1001

Thank you everyone , much appreciated 

I just had a email confirmation that I do indeed have eco 10 … woo hoo .. very happy one got the boost again 

One heater is on high and will be staying on that , it’s a very large room with high ceilings , the other heater will be getting turned down I think as this is in the bedroom, smaller room with high ceilings as well , but it’s a newer heater with excellent insulation compared to the other one 

my home is very comfortable at the moment , so I’m a happy Geordie lass today 

The only tariff that is available to me is a standard variable on economy 10 , but I’m ok with that , might not be “cheap “ but that wasn’t my concern , a cold home was 

I appreciate each and every one who has persevered with my multiple /thread etc , I can be very over anxious and I hate change , but you all helped me through it 

so yes time for a celebration and a group hug 🥰 

Rosie1001

Definitely used a lot more today 

was around 44 kWh this time yesterday .. 

washer and dryer been on for  hour and half , that’s the only difference 

This time yesterday off peak was 7 hours , today off peak use 8 hours 

Rosie1001

Well , my usage has jumped up a lot now I’ve got eco 10 

My off peak is usually around 44 kWh per day 

I’m up to 54 kWh today already and that’s without the 2 hours this evening 

As suggested the input on my heaters will have to be dropped as not to overheat my rooms and cost me a fortune either 

my heaters don’t have any timers on them 

But I’m happy … I won’t freeze , I might go bankrupt thou ha ha ha 😝

Scot_39

I hope not - you have managed to navigate and understand a fairly tricky meter upgrade - and a mixed quality of energy suppliers customer support staff whilst doing so.

So hopefully adjusting the NSH to get the balance right - will be a comparitve breeze - although trial and error inevitable - especially with an older basic model.

So slow but sure - often the way to go - and dont forget to factor in the weathers impact as do so.

As above I often regret not getting room temperature controlled quantums - but its almost second nature for me to tweak my heaters periodically now - and their are suitable sized coins - under each of the flaps - ready and waiting.

I think you might have said one was an XLS24n with around iirc a 3.4 kW input - the other ?

Rosie1001

The other is a XT 24 … 3.4 

As you say trial and error , but it’s like the Bahamas in here today .. the cat hasn’t moved all day lol 😝