storage heaters

[Rockomuir]

Hello all,

I have read many posts on this subject but I just wanted some advice and info about storage heaters as I am only used to gas central heating.
Basically someone has asked for advice about flat conversion with no gas on the premises. They want to have storage heaters installed but i have little knowledge and experience of using them. The flats will be supplied from a landlords cupboard via a submain to the consumer unit . As far as I am lead to believe storage heaters need a second supply due to off peak energy and there own CU. How would this work with a submain from a sfcu? If anyone could give me any info or know where i could get some i would be more than grateful.

 

[Guest123]

Essentially you would run 2 sub-mains, one for off peak and one for 24hr supplies.

In the flat you would have 24hr & off peak CU's. Is E7 available at the premesis currently, if not then a new meter from the DNO would be needed.

 

[telectrix]

you wire each storage heater with FCU on a 2.5mm radial back to a new CU (RCD and MCBs as required. one 16A MCB for each heater) which is then fed by off peak ( this will have to be installed by supplier, either as a dual meter or separate meter. ). If no cable is buried in walls less than 50mm deep, then you don't require RCD.

 

[spud1]

S Heating not the necessarily most economical answer in my opinion. How about panel heaters with central time and temperature control (Via contactor/s), much more modern looking, easily controllable and less obtrusive too? Some good oil filled radiator lookalikes on the market too now.

Spud.

 

[Rockomuir]

Thanks for the posts,

I would rather have panel heaters too. It was just the running off the second submain that I was not sure off. It is a new installation so the dno will be fitting a new meter

 

[SimpleSimon]

You could also run them in a dual RCD CU. One side being supplied with on peak electricity n all your breakers for normal work.

The other RCD can act as the main switch for the heaters so off peak tails can go straight in the RCD. Each heater on a separate breaker 16a on a 2.5 cable fused at the switch.

But I agree with Spud, e7 isn't always best. In this climate it's getting colder throughout the days n e7 doesn't always cover enough heat for the day.

 

[Rockomuir]

What would you recommend as an alternative to storage heaters? If the tariff was off peak in the morning and peak during the day, would you be able to use the duel rcd and one submain

 

[SimpleSimon]

You wouldnt need the submain as the 2nd RCD and those breakers on that side would be the same thing.

That is if the set up goes like this...

From the meter there will be two separate live tails peak n off peak.

From the meter there will be one neutral going into a henley block. Then from the henley block have two separate neutrals one peak n one off peak.

The 2nd RCD twill act as your main switch. The two other tails from the off peak supply will go direct into the RCD.

 

[cside]

not being a domestic spark i have a similar problem, i had assumed E7 would just be one supply just they would charge you less money for use of the electric at night time between the hours, i thought with the sub mains this was just basically because there wasnt enough room for all the radials for the heaters in the main board. i have to install some storage heaters next weekend and was just going to spur off the nearest sockets and put plug in time clocks on them, im guessing now to take advantage of the E7 rates i will have to now install a sub mains and a supply to individual spurs for the heaters??

 

[SimpleSimon]

That's right. Is there e7 in the property already?

 

[glasgowbiker42]

wee note, storage heaters come in these sizes 3.4kw,2.55kw,1.7kw & 0.85kw.
also an alternative to storage heating is an electric wet system, which uses conventional radiators and a 10.5kw boiler.

 

[Wiredspark]

You dont need a second sub main. You can install a separate CU next to the existing one. 16a MCB's for breakers and yes put an RCD on it. 2.5mm2 radials to each point. 13a fcu for 2.55kw S/H and below and 20A DP switches for 3.4Kw heaters. Phone Scottish Power and have them come out and change the meter to an off peak meter.

In addition to this, panel heaters are not cheaper because as soon as you turn them off they omit no heat. S/H's however only charge up to the set point of their thermostat during the night and if the damper flap is adjusted/used correctly will give good heat throughout the day and night.

If you want to know more about this PM me, the company I work for specialise in electric heating.

 

[BigBreakfast]

Hi all,

Here is a link to ROINTE, which is another way to go with built in timers that can control all from one point. Not the most aesthetic heater in the world or the cheapest but could be used as an alternative to storage heating.

 

[Jas0n7]

We always install non rcd boards for the storage heaters and each circuit has its own rcbo. that way if theres a problem with a storage heater it wont trip the main rcd and leave them with no heating.

 

[cside]

That's right. Is there e7 in the property already?

no its being installed this week ready for the storage heater installation, does this make a diffrence? as in do the older style ones have to supplies and the newer ones just one which means one cheaper rate between the set hours