Storage Heaters Problem

[sparky_1989]

Hi a friend of mine asked me to have a look at 2 of his storage heaters today when i was at his house as they have stopped working. The small one in the hall stopped working a few months ago then the big one which has 2 supply's stopped working last week. My friend said he was only using the 13a fused spur to control the big one but then that stopped working and wouldn't heat up. So firstly i checked there was voltage at the small one in the halls double pole switch which there wasn't. The bigger one only had voltage at the 13a spur but none at the double pole switch. So i checked the consumer unit which has 3 meters next to it. The consumer unit has 3 split loads one for the sockets etc one for storage heaters upstairs in the bedrooms and a split load for the hall the living room and the kitchen storage heaters. i checked the voltage on this side and it was only getting 8v while the bedrooms side was getting 230v. My friend said hes never used the kitchen one before. So im abit stumped to why this side only has 8v

 

[lister101]

Anyone correct me if I am wrong please;
The idea of storage heaters is that the heat up overnight & are metered on a separate tariff hence more than one meter. The low tariff supply obviously needs to go via some sort of time switch if not already incorporated in the meter if it is electronic & the output from this should not have any voltage during daylight hours. Some storage heaters have 2 supplies as you have mentioned, the second one always live so that you can boost the heat output on colder days.
Hope this helps
.....Andy;~)

 

[MDJ]

Hi a friend of mine asked me to have a look at 2 of his storage heaters today when i was at his house as they have stopped working. The small one in the hall stopped working a few months ago then the big one which has 2 supply's stopped working last week. My friend said he was only using the 13a fused spur to control the big one but then that stopped working and wouldn't heat up. So firstly i checked there was voltage at the small one in the halls double pole switch which there wasn't. The bigger one only had voltage at the 13a spur but none at the double pole switch. So i checked the consumer unit which has 3 meters next to it. The consumer unit has 3 split loads one for the sockets etc one for storage heaters upstairs in the bedrooms and a split load for the hall the living room and the kitchen storage heaters. i checked the voltage on this side and it was only getting 8v while the bedrooms side was getting 230v. My friend said hes never used the kitchen one before. So im abit stumped to why this side only has 8v

 

[HandySparks]

Are you an electrician?

What instrument did you use to measure this '8v'?

 

[Sparkyphill]

Christ almighty I've just read the OP I'm speechless

 

[chrish_1977]

I don't think they know why storage heaters only come on at night! Very simple to check

 

[Benjamiin]

My bet is if you go round soon your 8v will have been building up throughout the day, always doubling, so by my maths and a stab in the dark, it shouldve built up to around 240 volts by midnight!!

Haha joking aside mate, the 8 volt side will be off a different terminal in the meter, coming on at 12 till 7, hence economy 7 and charged at a cheaper rate, my bet is something wrong with the heaters pal

 

[keniff]

If they are not working when the economy 7 kicks in, look for the thermal cutout under the case near where the stats are, looks like a little metal flap that needs pressing down, or if its a melting version replace it. Normally this is the case when they stop working generally someone has tried drying clothes out etc on them

 

[Sparkyphill]

If they are not working when the economy 7 kicks in, look for the thermal cutout under the case near where the stats are, looks like a little metal flap that needs pressing down, or if its a melting version replace it. Normally this is the case when they stop working generally someone has tried drying clothes out etc on them

yep probably thermal link / cutout but I have known it be as simple as input dial turned down to low hence no charge