New Storage Heater Query

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927202#Comment_81927202

Think im losing track as well ? My old storage heater just automatically came on at approx 23:15 everynight and went off at approx 07:30 am charging up the storage heater. In the morning i noticed on my little black box smart app that this had cost me approx £3- £3:50 at 16p per kwh

When the installer connected the new one because it doesn't automatically come on unless you put actual times in he set it at midnight and to go off at 7am. i assumed that i would use approx the same amount of units that my old one did at night / cheap rate 16p per kwh. However it was showing that i had used more electricity and my Bill for that one night was over £5, (Maybe because it was the first time any heat had been put into the heater bricks ) so im not sure what u mean by checking the the correct tariff details ?

WiserMiser

It'll only be academic if the Magma has both a 24h cable and one switched by the meter and everything has been set up correctly, but I'd bet that your switching times won't be precisely 23:00 and 07:30. Have you observed the meter on the wall switching over at these times?

I wonder whether the installer fully understood what he was doing and was sufficienly diligent. For example, did he ask you to complete in full the customer questionnaire in Section 5.1?

If not, use the questionnaire to help you to program it yourself.

QrizB

i assumed that i would use approx the same amount of units that my old one did at night / cheap rate 16p per kwh. However it was showing that i had used more electricity and my Bill for that one night was over £5

£5 at 16p/kWh is about 30kWh. Per page 8 of the installation manual, that's still within the maximum charge.

Assuming it made a maximum charge on the first night, and didn't use the full charge the following day, it should take much less charge on the second night.

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927252#Comment_81927252

i havent actually observed the meter on the wall switching over but im confident it is close to these times.

The installer is a neighbor a fully qualified electrician for well over 30 years. He has fitted many storage heaters however as he hasnt actually any particular knowledge of the control side of the Ecostrad magma or any modern type storage heater ( he doesnt use this in his own home) he quickly went thro a weekly program for me to follow going by the instructions in the manual. Fitting wise straight forward he said as just using the 2 cables that were already there into the new 3.4kw heater. 100 % confident all is ok here.

He did go thro questionnaire we agreed without wi fi Charging period midnight to 7am Automatically run on a weekly schedule we put 18 deg in comfort mode as a starting point i cant remember last one regarding top up heating element

Since then when my supplier technician dept phoned me today after i asked for assistance we have changed it to fixed temp just for the time being till the heater has had the chance to build up heat over a number of days . Then said he would further assist me regarding programming it daily, different temps if req , boost etc .

So thats where i am at the moment. Still not sure what happens tomrow will prob get to up to a warm house a very warm heater and then without me touching anything the heater will eventually cool & the room will cool in the evening and repeat for the next few days unless gradually the heater remains with more heat retained in it everyday ?

QrizB

Still not sure what happens tomrow will prob get to up to a warm house a very warm heater and then without me touching anything the heater will eventually cool & the room will cool in the evening

By day 2 or 3, the heater should have stabilised and be maintaining a constant temperature in your room throiughout the period (assuming that's what you've asked it to do).

eric4395

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927442#Comment_81927442

Im at the stage im not sure what i have asked it to do. Technician says stick it on for a few days wait till some steady heat builds up & we will take it from there regarding how to monitor & control it properly ?

WiserMiser

Just as I feared, it wasn't installed by an Ecostrad HHR NSH expert.

Are you even sure that your 24h supply and switched off peak supply are correct?

With all due respect, you've been making several assumptions that may not turn out to be correct, and by cutting corners you may find you'll forever be paying more than you need to be colder than you should be. All very expensive mistakes !

Call him back in to demonstrate that he's wired it fully in accordance with Figure 7. Using his voltmeter or his neon screwdriver, get him to prove that the 24h circuit is live but the switched circuit is not live (assuming it's a daytime visit).

However, as he's a neighbour, ideally check the heater connection has become live just after the meter on the wall has switched over. That would also be a good time to check that all four elements are working by measuring the current drawn (should be about 14.17A). Alternatively, this could be checked in the daytime by making a temporary connection.

Once again, STOP setting the charging times. Let it charge as and when it thinks fit; if he's done it correctly (including disabling the top-up resistive heater) it'll be impossible to charge at peak rate.

TBH, you'd probably be better off using an Ecostrad approved installer to check everything, otherwise it might be a case of Penny Wise, Pound Foolish.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit harsh, but sadly that's the way it is: if he couldn't get it right the first time because it's outside his experience, how can you be fully confident that he'll get it right on any of his subsequent attemps?

It's also a bit concerning if he was the same person that couldn't fix your Creda. Box of Bricks NSHs can be kept going virtually forever, unless a part is no longer available and there's no suitable substitute.

eric4395

• I have 100% confidence in him

• He didnt have anything to do with my previous heater. The installation manual tells you to set the charging times according to the homeowners tariff page 20 5-2-3 ? and in the instruction manual page 9 4-1

• and why did technician today tell me to set the charging time at midnight till 7am ?

Ecostrad does not have a nationwide, branded team of "official" technicians

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927526#Comment_81927526

On your third point:

He may have taken the times from what you told him.

He may be assuming based on the off peak times of another customer - their timings may well not be the same as yours though.

He may be assuming based on what he believes the off peak times to be - but that assumption may be incorrect.

He may be working from his knowledge of what the off peak times are likely to be right now - but that doesn't mean they won't change.

I'm still quite shocked that a NSH claiming to be of a modern type doesn't have the option to simply charge when the off peak circuit kicks in assuming that it is connected properly. The manual seems to suggest that this isn't within its capabilities too, rather than it just being an idea that the installer/OP has got. It's pretty appalling - if we were still in a property using NSHs I would be placing Ecostrad firmly on the "not on your life" list! It's something that will unquestionably be costing some users a lot of money.

For anyone who is interested and hasn't found it yet, the user manual can be found HERE

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928209#Comment_81928209

It does have the ability to charge when the off peak kicks in by setting the charge periods to match or overlap the E7/E10 times. If wired correctly, it can only charge from the off peak circuit.