Time Switch Advice

[Michael Smith]

Hi there

We live in a block of flats built sometime in the 60s, which is all electric and has a storage heater in the living room. As to be expected, our electricity bills are a lot higher than properties we've lived in previously which had gas central heating. The day, night and heat rates mean we are limited to Scottish Power, and I'm trying to understand the set up a little better to ensure we're not paying more than we should be.

Our meter is in the landing of the stairwell on our floor, and we have a Sangamo Weston Ltd Time Switch, Spring Reserve in a cupboard in the flat which I assume is responsible for switching between the day and night rate? I've never thought much about it before, apart from it ticks a lot, especially when it seems to change to the night rate in the late evening. I'm a complete novice with this and decided to have a closer look today and realised it seems to be missing it's face. From what I've seen online, this programs when the time should change I think. Should I be concerned about this? I'm worried about it possibly not functioning as it should without which might be contributing to our higher bills.

Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please see the attached photos for an example.

Kind regards

Michael

 

[westward10]

As it stands that time clock will not function without the clock face in place so at present it is either permanently on or permanently off.
It may no longer serve a purpose which would explain the missing parts.

 

[Michael Smith]

As it stands that time clock will not function without the clock face in place so at present it is either permanently on or permanently off.
It may no longer serve a purpose which would explain the missing parts.

Ah, ok. Thank you. It does sound like it is doing something, but cant be sure if that's impacting upon the power we use. Can I ask if you think this is something I should raise with my landlord or my energy supplier? I think Scottish Power have been responsible for the energy here forever due to the type of meter we have.

Many thanks

Michael

 

[James]

I would expect that timer to be running some outside lights and has been frigged to be permanently on.
I doubt it has any impact on your power usage.

Edit, it appears to be in a sealed enclosure, what I have written above could well be both wrong and misleading.

 

[westward10]

If you post a clear head on picture of the time clock we can probably see if the contacts are open or closed through the small circular window.

 

[telectrix]

that knob protruding at 2 o'clock is manual override. press it down and see if the timer changes state. the pointy bit at 8 o'clock is an activator to change state at a specified time. there should be 4 of them, 2 ON and 2 OFF. is clearly been botched up and as James says in post #4, it's probably nothing to do with your heating, but only aa site visit could confirm.

 

[snowhead]

The bottom section of the adjacent consumer unit (grey thing) is switched off and there's an unused fuse on top.
I suspect the Storage heater had been replaced for a modern one with built in timer.

A picture of the storage heater would be useful.
And the Electric meter

 

[picturevalve]

This video shows the missing part and explains the operation - fairly simple.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nquRApNG9BE

 

[Michael Smith]

Hi everyone

Thanks very much for the assistance with this so far. I'm attaching a clearer front view of the Time Switch, a couple of pictures of the outside meter and the storage heater - apologies as we have a guard obscuring the view a little as we have two very young children.

[automerge]1583415536[/automerge]
Hi again

I thought I'd attach a video if it also helps.

Thanks

Michael

 

[Michael Smith]

If you post a clear head on picture of the time clock we can probably see if the contacts are open or closed through the small circular window.

Hi there

Thank you. Please find attached.

Kind regards

Michael
[automerge]1583751409[/automerge]

The bottom section of the adjacent consumer unit (grey thing) is switched off and there's an unused fuse on top.
I suspect the Storage heater had been replaced for a modern one with built in timer.

A picture of the storage heater would be useful.
And the Electric meter

Hi there

Thank you. Please find the images attached. Sorry about the guard in front of the heater, but we have young children.

Kind regards

Michael

 

[OnlQQker]

I've found Scottish Power to be brilliant with advice and even got a Christmas card from them after speaking with the director Lol.

Shoot them an Email, they sent a whole team out over something very similar and I was extremely impressed with them! Never charged a bean either...