Off peak immersion working during the day?

[mrlennie]

Hi guys could I get some advice?

I went to a customers house to change a thermostat in a thermal store (Gledhill pulsacoil 3) and the spur was labelled "off peak water heater".

I isolated supply and replaced stat. However it appears to have a live supply all the time? I used a clamp meter and it is drawing 13 amps. This was around 1pm.

Her consumer unit has a little indicator that flicks from black to red when it is off peak. Could this mean that she always has power to heater but it is cheaper to use at night? Just trying to get her an answer if any of you know?

 

[mrlennie]

That is a 4 pole contactor which presumably switches the outputs of the 3 heater mcbs and should also do the off peak water heater.

Do the heaters work as they should - i.e. come on over night?

Is there a timeclock any where nearby to control the contactor? The mcb top left is marked as contactor.

Great info! Thank you.

No there is no timeclock. It is a high rise in Manchester and there is a room full of meters and some markings to do with radio timers or something? The heaters she has had replaced and they now come on during the day which she has had for years but she swears that the off peak heater used to come on at night only.

 

[mrlennie]

That is a 4 pole contactor which presumably switches the outputs of the 3 heater mcbs and should also do the off peak water heater.

Do the heaters work as they should - i.e. come on over night?

Is there a timeclock any where nearby to control the contactor? The mcb top left is marked as contactor.

Great info! Thank you.

No there is no timeclock. It is a high rise in Manchester and there is a room full of meters and some markings to do with radio timers or something? The heaters she has had replaced and they now come on during the day which she has had for years but she swears that the off peak heater used to come on at night only.

 

[Timbo]

Does the red indicator show during the day, or only during off peak hours?
If you switch off the mcb marked contactor does the contactor clonk out?

 

[mrlennie]

Does the red indicator show during the day, or only during off peak hours?
If you switch off the mcb marked contactor does the contactor clonk out?

Only during off peak hours.
Not sure. Didn't try that. What would it mean if it did?

 

[Timbo]

It would confirm that it is fed from that mcb.