New Storage Heater Query

EssexHebridean

The Dimplex Quantums will charge up automatically as soon as they get a feed in via the off peak circuit - which seems to me to be a far better idea than risking manually programing for the wrong times because the user isn't aware of their off peak times, or the off peak times have changed for some reason. They also have the ability to programme specific timeslots for heating during the day - we used to use 6-7.15am and then 5 - 10pm in the evening, with sightly different times at weekends, and that worked well for us. If you come to need to replace your other heater at some stage, I'd suggest looking at a Quantum on the basis that it will almost certainly cost you less to run and keep the place warmer at the times you need it.

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926959#Comment_81926959

ive no idea, technician just seemed to want me to concentrate on getting regular overnight heat into the bricks for a few days b4 starting to look at how to control it.

In other words thats just like how my old basic creda storage heater worked ie set the input dial between 1 & 6. The higher the figure the hotter the heater was and therefore heat lasted longer every day. I rarely used the output switch as i never really seen much difference ie no matter what setting it was between 1 "& 6 i never noticed any significant heat difference. That was the reason for me getting a new modern one?

So looks like to me despite being a new modern heater with more scope to play about with the heat settings im just using it like my old one. Ie a very hot heater in the morning and by 9pm most of heat is lost and room considerably cooler.

I notice tomorrows temps are quite decent so im not sure whether to just switch it off until temps drop again as i already know the living room will be stifling hot when i get up if i have it charging between midnight and 7am .

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927065#Comment_81927065

What makes you say i dont know the off peak times? i have repeatedly stated that the off peak cheap rate time is between 23:00 and 07:30, thats why it has been set up to store heat to come on at midnight and go off at 7 am. The Ecostrad technician says these settings are fine, just keep them at that for a few days till some heat is built up in the system then he will advise regarding more control of when i want to use stored heat

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927044#Comment_81927044

Yes thats what im trying to find out, the best way to do this. Should i just turn it down to 14/15 and then maybe the heater will just be lukewarm for most of the day

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927092#Comment_81927092

I didn't say YOU didn't know the off peak times. I said that it is a massive risk for heaters that require manual programming that users (general, not specific) who don't know their off peak timings could inadvertently programme for the heaters to charge on peak rates. The further risk is that it is not unheard of for off peak timings to change (ours used to move when the clocks changed, for example) and in that case also charging set manually can cross over into peak times.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927101#Comment_81927101

Are you absolutely certain your heater doesn't having programmable timeslots for heating? It seems remarkable that any HHR type NSH doesn't have, to be honest!

QrizB

What makes you say i dont know the off peak times? i have repeatedly stated that the off peak cheap rate time is between 23:00 and 07:30

OK, I'm going to say that you don't know the cheap rate times. Every smart meter has a preprogrammed offset and won't switch on the exact 30-minute point.

The chance of your meter switching exactly at 2300 and 0730 is tiny.

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927131#Comment_81927131

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927131#Comment_81927131

Yes, the Ecostrad Magma HHR storage heater features fully programmable 24/7 time slots

, allowing you to set specific heating schedules for each day of the week. The heater uses a combination of stored heat (from off-peak, nighttime electricity) and a fan-assisted or top-up heating element to deliver warmth at your chosen times.

Im just not sure how to set this up thus me starting the thread and seeking advice from a ecostrad technician

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927187#Comment_81927187

Thats why its set to come on at midnight and go off at 7am .

Its within these times, reccomended to me by the ecostrad technician ?

QrizB

I've lost track of what point you're trying to make here.

The heater should be set to charge for the full duration of your off-peak period, or from 2330 to 0700 if you don't know the exact switching times of your meter.

It should be programmed for the room temperatures you want.

And then you should be able to leave it alone.

My earlier.question re. the claimed £5 cost was because the IHD doesn't always know what your electricity costs. If you want to use the IHD like this, you need to check that it has the correct tariff details.

WiserMiser

The big problem seems to be Ecostrad's atrocious Installation Manual. Sadly they are far from being the only offender.

Many tecchies have poor writing skills, especially when trying to engage with lay people; they wrongly assume that everyone knows what their magic gizmo does and only the fine detail is required. They completely omit any overview of what it is and the principles of how it works; odd terms in the translation from German don't help.

Similarly, many wordsmiths have very limited technical understanding.

The only way the luckless purchaser can get the device to meet their requirements is by reverse engineering, guesswork and trial and error. It seems to me that there are two distinct installation heater modes.

1. The very risky option is where only a single supply cable is available. The Magma must then be internally wired as shown in Figure 6 on Page 14 of the manual. It will charge overnight according to times that the installer or user has to program into it. It's not a user friendly experience and likely to go wrong even if the instructions are understood and followed: the precise switching times can only determined by observation around midnight and very early in the morning when the installer won't be present !
2. A much better option is shown in Figure 7 on Page 14 of the manual. for the Magma internal wiring to be different. There's no risk of expensive peak rate charging, providing that the top-up resistive element is disabled.

The OP needs to be absolutely certain that the installer has wired the Magma as shown in Figure 7 on Page 14 of the manual, i.e. without the red links shown in Figure 6. Then just make sure that the charging times are unrestricted and, as previously advised, then you only have to tell it how warm you want to be and when.