Economy Seven - Complicated and Confused

0tter

Hello there, wondered if anyone could help?

I've just removed two huge and ancient Dimplex storage heaters that were both attached to fused switched spurs. These two heaters were on the Economy Seven tariff and were switched on by a telemeter that would provide them with power over the seven hour nightly period. The power would be switched off to the spurs once the economy seven period was over.

I've now just hung two new modern electric combiination radiators from EHC (http://www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk/ElectricRadiators.asp) and would like to take advantage of the economy seven tariff during the night but also as they've their own timers and thermostats I would also like them to come on when I get home from work in the evening.

Now the question is if I use the convenient fused spurs then there'll be no supplied electricity in the evening (is that true??) and if so could I make it so that these spurs would supply electricity all day (as the spurs are really conveniently positioned for the heaters - with obviously economy 7 tariff during the night as they'll store that heat for the morning).

Also I know this sounds a bit stoooopid but is it only this regulated timed circuit that's on economy seven or is the entire flat on it and this timed circuit is just for the convenience of old fashioned storage heaters that didn't have timers?

Hope that all makes sense?

Any help is appreciated.

Cheers,

0tter

tomstickland

All electricity is econ 7 rates over night.
Ideally you need your meter converted to "on all the time" for the econ 7 parts.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

There is no simple answer to your query as houses with E7 can be wired in many different ways.

Most E7 tariffs provide night rate electricity for the whole house during the 7 hours. This is why people put their appliances on timers(dryer etc) to take advantage of cheap rates.

The majority of storage heaters are wired like yours, so that they only come on for storing heat when you are switched to E7.

Your link doesn't work so it is not possible to see what type of heater you have. If they are like the Dimplex Duoheat they will need both supplies(E7 and normal) there is a thread about fitting these in the Utilities section.

From what you have said you are correct that the 'convenient fused spurs' will not have any electricity outside of the E7 period.

Just a word of warning, there are now very strict regulations about what electrical work unqualified electricians can do - even in their own house.

samtheman1k

We had an E7 tariff, but with two seperate meters so only the SH were connected to the cheap rate. you could combine the supplies by using a timer and a contactor to get your whole house to switch between the two supplies and thus get your heaters to work 24/7 and the rest of the house to utilise the off peak rate. Most likely Part P covered, so you'd need to get it inspected afterwards if you did it yourself.

Cardew

tomstickland wrote: »

All electricity is econ 7 rates over night.

Tom,

Whilst the great majority of houses are as you say, I believe there are some(usually with old wiring systems) where only the storage heaters and immersion heater are on E7 and the rest of the house is on 'daytime' tariff 24/7.

0tter

Thanks for all of that information, I'm overwhelmed by these replies, I suppose I thought I'd be getting emails to tell me once someone had replied and I had little idea about the amount of replies I'd gotten.

Anyway my heaters are at:

http://www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk/ElectricRadiators.asp

I think I have only one meter (the telemeter as mentioned) it really is just a matter to get these fused spurs working all the time.

I do however think now that as you can just simply plug these radiators into standard plugs then the convenience of the spurs might be outweighed by having to get an electrician in, so hoping that all my power is on economy seven, that's spurs and normal plugs, well then I might just opt for this option and plug 'em in, even though this does mean long white leads snaking around the skirting boards.

Thanks for all of the help, any more suggestions eagerly welcomed.

Cheers,

0tter