Storeage Heaters "Central Control"??

[prb1]

Hi all,

(I am not an electrician)

Problem.

I have night storage heaters (x5). I want something to help control the charge centrally so that I can look ahead a few days (or more) and set the overnight charge length to suite the weather during the next few days. I get fed up changing the "input" of every heater (or even turning off) every night. I dont mind about the hot water charge as I could do that manually if nec. on day tariff. (it lasts a couple of days anyway). I guess what I'm thinking of is a programmer wired to a relay on the feed between the main meter and economy tariff meter which would be programmed to either off or a to run a specified length say between 3am and 7am etc. This way I could look at the weather for the next week and in 3 minutes set the heating for the week ahead (the charge being proportionate to the "on" time). Is there anything out there that a qualified electrician could install? and what sort of price might it be? Any help appreciated.

 

[Guest123]

I don't know of anything off the shelf that would suit your needs, I think it would have to be a bespoke unit which may end up costly.

It couldn't be fitted between the meters, it would have to be between E7 meter & storage heater DB.

Essentially the supply from the E7 meter would have to be diverted via this secondary unit containing a timer & contactor perhaps, before the DB.

Not sure how efficient it would be though, particularly given the accuracy of our meteorologists.

 

[polo1]

Hi all,

(I am not an electrician)

Problem.

I have night storage heaters (x5). I want something to help control the charge centrally so that I can look ahead a few days (or more) and set the overnight charge length to suite the weather during the next few days. I get fed up changing the "input" of every heater (or even turning off) every night. I dont mind about the hot water charge as I could do that manually if nec. on day tariff. (it lasts a couple of days anyway). I guess what I'm thinking of is a programmer wired to a relay on the feed between the main meter and economy tariff meter which would be programmed to either off or a to run a specified length say between 3am and 7am etc. This way I could look at the weather for the next week and in 3 minutes set the heating for the week ahead (the charge being proportionate to the "on" time). Is there anything out there that a qualified electrician could install? and what sort of price might it be? Any help appreciated.

The nearest thing that I am aware of is Pactrol Controls "Weather Watcher" which takes account of outside temperatures to limit the amount of charge taken in by the heaters. It can accommodate Economy 7 and 8hr+ tariffs as well as those which have a daytime bost.

The limitation in terms of what you are looking for is that this control operates on a daily basis, so does not offer the longer term control you were looking for. Sorry, but I don't know what the current costs for the system are.

Regards.

 

[UNG]

I would second the Pactrol weather watcher fitted a few of these. They optimise the heating charge automatically by monitoring the outside temperature

 

[Guest123]

The Pactrol unit is around £150 and is used in conjunction with a contactor. It would certainly be more accurate than using our weather forecasters.:cyclist:

 

[Rockingit]

[talking to the sparks here, not the OP]....what about putting a contactor in circuit between the E7 meter and DB, and using a conventional heating timer to control the coil?

The timer would need feeding off the daytime side, clearly.

 

[dawg25g]

i recently installed din rail heating contactors into t

he off peak consumer unit controlled by old 2 channel heating programmers. the customer had found that his house had become unneccessarily warm during nightime off peak period 11pm-5am and is now able to fine tune individual heating times for each heater in his house, now his heaters only heat from 2am-5am period and in certain areas where the afternoon boost is not required this can save him from getting extorniate bills and trying to heat unnoccupied rooms. costed about £100 for materials and recycled some old stuff!

 

[Knobhead]

You get a “Tony” recycling award! If it’s up to the job and fit for purpose , then reuse it!

View attachment 8572

Sorry if I upset some of the “it’s last years model, throw it away” mob. But after years of trying to keep a plant (museum) going you never throw anything away!