new circuits for storage heaters

[mikel]

I've to do a quote to install some storage heaters that the customer has already obtained, My thoughts were a 16A radial circuit for each one, to a small consumer unit. My problem comes in how the off peak power to the consumer unit will be supplied. Do the new dual tarriff meters have a seperate output for the off peak only circuits or do I need a time clock and contactor to make the storage heaters work during off peak periods. Or does it vary from dno to dno The customer does not yet have an off peak supply.

Hope this makes senseput the kettle on

 

[ProDave]

You install the new CU for the off peak, and the DNO supply the dual rate meter and switching.

Yes the new dual rate meters have internal switching. I didn't believe it when I first saw one, I thought they had fitted the dual rate meter but forgot the timeswitch, but yes, it's all in one now on the modern ones with one permanent output and one switched off peak output.

16A radial for each heater in 2.5mm is normal.

 

[bengie]

its known as a 5 wire meter, L in, N in, N out, L out, then a 5th wire (off peak L) sits in front of the outward tails and you split the N in a henley block normally.

 

[mikel]

Thought thats what happened. Does it cost to get supplier to change meter for a dual rate one

 

[Andy™]

Thought thats what happened. Does it cost to get supplier to change meter for a dual rate one

depends. some will change FOC, some may charge

 

[mikel]

Spoke to customer today, he's not sure he wants to go down economy 7 route and wants them controlled by a single timer for 'heating up' purposes so I'm now thinking of having to install a time clock and contactor to switch them on and off. I know they're normally installed on seperate radial circuits but is there anything in the regs against putting them all one one radial?

 

[Lurch]

I know they're normally installed on seperate radial circuits but is there anything in the regs against putting them all one one radial?

Depends what size they are. If they're all 3.4kW units then it'll have to be a fair sized radial. Usual rules apply about sizing the circuit etc... which could end up meaning it's actually a lot easier and cheaper to just run them in on dedicated radials.

 

[Bez]

As Lurch points out, gonna need some meaty cable for one radial. 4x 3.4kw heaters will pull almost 60A under full load.

 

[bengie]

they'll cost a fortune on peak electric rates.

 

[Apache]

What about a timer on the entire eco 7 CU?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK5732.html

 

[cadspark]

What about a timer on the entire eco 7 CU?http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK5732.html

Maximum load is 16amps so it would be one timer per circuit and rather a large CU to accomodate them.

 

[ProDave]

Spoke to customer today, he's not sure he wants to go down economy 7 route and wants them controlled by a single timer for 'heating up' purposes so I'm now thinking of having to install a time clock and contactor to switch them on and off.

The ONLY point of a "storage" heater is to store up heat at the cheap rate overnight to release during the day.

If you are not using an economy tariff then there's NO point in having a "storage" heater.

If you just want electric heating that you can use at any time of day, fit non storage panel heaters, a lot cheaper and a lot less bulky. You can even get some nice ones now made to look like central heating radiators, for those embarrassed at using electric heating.

I think your customer needs a re think about exactly what they want.

 

[bengie]

a 3kw storage heater will use the same electricity whilst on as a 3kw panel heater but once turned off it will remain hot, unlike the panel heater. how is that not a plus point?

 

[ianmacd]

a 3kw storage heater will use the same electricity whilst on as a 3kw panel heater but once turned off it will remain hot, unlike the panel heater. how is that not a plus point?

Panel heater will be instantly hot unlike a storage heater that will take some time to heat the bricks.

 

[bengie]

you get heat out of a storage heater within 5 mins, not full heat but heat none the less.

 

[Andy™]

What about a timer on the entire eco 7 CU?http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK5732.html

you would need a contactor to go with that if you wanted to switch all at once