Electric Heater Question

[sean.mackay]

Hello all,

A strange question about a wall mounted electric heater. Have just been using it and all OK. Have turned it off at the wall, and both dials down on the actual heater and now, 3+ hours later it is still quite hot, not as hot as when it is fully on but still pretty hot. So now I have turned off the master switch for all the heaters on the fuse board for incoming electricity and it is still hot. I am a handy DIY guy but I do not understand How it's still hot if it definitely doesn't have power. Unfortunately the heater doesn't have an on and off Light but it seems really strange to me! Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance, Sean.

 

[steptoe]

have you recently moved in here?

it sounds very much like a storage heater, and is designed to heat up overnight and disperse heat during the day, so will remain hot for quite some time after you turn it off,

 

[ProDave]

I would agree with that diagnosis

Are there any model numbers or markings on the heater.

What are the labels on the two dials?

If it does turn out to be a storage heater, then there might be something wrong with the wiring in your house as normally they are only energised at night.

One further question, how many cables from the wall into the heater?

 

[apprentice87]

Ah yes, storage heaters. The biggest load of stupid crap that has EVER been "invented" Had then in my school when i was a kid. Spent all my childhood years frozen. Almost as clever as the "experts" that decided the best place to put radiators and stuff is under windows...

john...

 

[sean.mackay]

Thanks for all your replies. This makes a much more sense now. I have heard of storage heaters but never had the 'pleasure' of using them! There is only 1 cable from the heater to the wall switch, however there is another wall switch next to it but no visible cable from the heater into this. I have recently moved yes and was advised by the landlord that both those switches affect the heater. There are only 2 controls on the heater, 2 dials. The first is labelled 'room temp boost' and a dial from 1-9 which says 1 = no boost, 2 = late boost 9 = late boost. The other dial is labelled 'room temp automatic input' and the dial is from 1-9 again and is labelled 1/4 = low, 4/7 = medium & 7/9 = high. It is a dimplex, model number XLS18N. Thanks for all the replies. Greatly appreciated in helping work these things out. I only wanted a little bit of heat in the evening! Thanks again, Sean

Sorry. 9 = early boost. Thanks

 

[apprentice87]

Nah, forget electric heaters, what you need is one of these!!!!!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/stunning-rachel-riley-tells-people-4466510

john...

 

[Blue Duck]

Just dont let Kerch know

John... I also agree with your opinions on storage heaters, I remember staying at my dads place and being burnt alive at night and freezing during the day. What a load or carp.

 

[ProDave]

Okay some basics of storage heaters.

They "charge up" over night when electricity is cheaper, typically from midnight to 7AM but the times vary a bit from region to region. the heat is stored is some high density bricks. this heat is then released slowly throughout the day and evening before the next charge.

Typically the right hand control is the "input" setting and determines how hot the bricks heat up to over night. the left hand control is a boost control that opens a flap to let the heat out faster or slower.

In your case your heater is one that tries to be clever and anticipate how much charge it will need (hence the term "room temperature automatic input") don't be under any illusions, this is NOT a room temperature control.  It merely puts more charge into the heater if the room is colder over night.

Storage heaters work best in well insulated houses that are occupied during the day. they work worst in poorly insulated houses that are only occupied in the evenings and at night.

Whatever you do, leave the boost control at minimum and only turn it up late in the evening if you are too cold, and return it to it's lowest setting before you go to bed.

The reason you have two switches on the wall is probably because the house was wired with an off peak and a normal supply. There are some storage heaters available that have a convector heater built in. but of only one of the switches has a wire connected then only that one switch is in use.

What is worrying me a bit is what time of day did you turn this heater on?  If it was say early evening, the heater should not have done anything. It should only charge up over night.  there are a couple of ways this can be arranged, but if your heater accepts a charge and heats up in the evening, then something is wrong because that will be peak rate electricity it's using, not the cheap overnight off peak.  So if that's the case tell us more as you might need things checking out or else you could end up spending more than you have to.

 

[NozSpark]

Is there a chance that it's wired in 5 core?

A friend has got me putting in supplies for some storage heaters... They're Dimplex Quantum ones... TBH they seem to be very good, the outside is only warm to the touch and the room seems to be reasonably warm (they only have it set to a low temperature)