Question about Economy 7 hot water cylinders

[jones82]

Hi

I recently replaced the bottom immersion on an economy 7 cylinder. After installing I tried to test the immersion using my multi meter. The fuse spur leading to the immersion has a time clock mounted on the face. I switched this to continuous, nothing.

I removed the face of the fuse spur / time clock and checked for power in the patress box. Nothing.

My thoughts are either the breaker had blown or the fuse spur only comes live during the night, on the cheaper economy 7 rate.

I've recommended the landlord contact an electrician. I'm a plumber, I've done the wet work draining the cylinder and fitting the new immersion.

I've mostly worked on new installations or in-direct cylinders.

Thanks

 

[Taylortwocities]

If its the bottom immersion then it will only come live long after Strictly Come Dancing has finished.

I suggest you leave the top immersion off, if there is one, run the tank full of cold water and then stagger back tomorrow to see if it has heated up.

The other option is the connect up the circuit to a permanent 24hour supply and see if it works then.

 

[telectrix]

the time clock should be powered 24/7. as for the rest, call a local electrician.

 

[buzzlightyear]

E7 will only come on at off peak times or unless is on main peak time
24/7 or unless you have blown the carrier /mcb.

 

[davesparks]

It is unusual to have a timeswitch in an off peak supply, but someone who doesn’t understand how this works may have installed it.

Normally the bottom immersion will have an off peak supply which only becomes live during the off peak billing period (usually around 0:00 - 07:00)

 

[jones82]

Thanks the landlord has already contacted an electrician, he suspects a faulty time clock. I'm just curious.

The immersion had clearly blown and needed replacing.

Its that classic mix of plumber and sparky, like an electric shower.

So if that circuit doesn't come live than how does the time clock get power to click round?

 

[jones82]

Ah I think I understand now, there's no need for the time clock at all?

 

[telectrix]

So if that circuit doesn't come live than how does the time clock get power to click round?

same principal as pi$$ flows downhill........ magic., sorry, could not resist.

 

[telectrix]

So if that circuit doesn't come live than how does the time clock get power to click round?

same principal as pi$$ flows downhill........ magic.

 

[telectrix]

Ah I think I understand now, there's no need for the time clock at all?

should not be there if the supply is off peak.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Ah I think I understand now, there's no need for the time clock at all?

time clock for 24/7 booster for top element .
bottom for off peak.

 

[jones82]

Haha thanks

 

[davesparks]

Ah I think I understand now, there's no need for the time clock at all?

There’s more than one way to supply an off peak immersion.
Normally you have a dedicated off peak supply which is controlled at the electricity meter, in this case the additional timeswitch is not necessary.

Sometimes a single supply for both immersion’s is installed with a specially designed timeswitch which controls the supply to the bottom element and provides a boost function to the top element from the same 24hr supply.

 

[buzzlightyear]

you keep playing with the water Moses, and leave the electrics to others (sparks ).

 

[jones82]

I know, I know Just handy to be able to tell the customer why they need a sparky as well as a plumber!