Creda Storage Heater

CrazeUK · 14 Feb 2014

Hey Guys.
I have 3 Storage heaters in my property.
2 x Creda 79162
1 x Creda 79152.

A few month ago i noticed a burning smell in the kitchen, then realised it was the RCD for the E7. One of the fuses had burnt, and taken the two adjacent fuses out even though the other two connnected Storage Heaters worked fine.
I Call the local Leccy, he replaced the fuses and checked the wiring.
The RCD

A few days ago one of the storage heaters stopped working, so i opened it up and noticed there was a lump of metal that had melted.

I have also noticed that the heaters never seem to cool down, even by the time evening comes. I checked the meter reading and these are quite high.
I called nPower and they said the meter serial number i provided was for a normal meter not an E7 and that they thought i was on a normal meter tariff.
This leads me to think the Storage heaters are never going off.
What controls the Timing of the E7, the Meter or a seperate timer?

This is the meter:

Back to the thermal link....
I think this is a thermal Link.

Anyways i called around to find a supplier no one seems to stock them locally, however a local electrical factor said to use something called a Micro temp. He said the Thermal links are designed to melt at a certain temp, where as the micro temps are designed to fuse.

He also said the thermal link i need is 179C but the micro temp is 184C.

Is it safe for me to use this?

swampy2 · 14 Feb 2014

The big black box(Teleswitch) at the bottom right of picture switches on/off power for storage heating,

Spare parts
http://www.electricairespares.co.uk/79147c79344-79162-c-301_25_70_184_129.html

http://www.storageheater.co.uk/creda-1/79147c-79344/79162-1.html

http://www.storageheater.co.uk/creda-1/79147c-79344/79152-1.html

http://www.electricairespares.co.uk/79147c79344-79152-c-301_25_70_184_120.html

CrazeUK · 14 Feb 2014

Hi. Forgot to mention the bottom meter is not mine. It's for the communal area. As far as I know there is no heating in it just lights.

The top meter is mine. From the wiring I can't see how it goes into the teleswitch. Could this mean my supply to the storage heaters is always live. ?

Also I was trying to source the parts locally as it's freezing right now so I don't have to wait for postage.

planenut · 14 Feb 2014

Do be sure you use the right serial number, then you can order that "fusible link". They are shaped differently for various models.

Replacing is a doddle, (power off), then check all the local connections for tightness. If it's on a timer then you'll probably have to wait for it to come on but I'm pretty sure you can test it in the meantime.

Always bear in mind that the link and or the fuses "go" for a particular reason.

swampy2 · 14 Feb 2014

Never seen that top meter before, its got an extra connection(prob storage live supply) probably a combined storage/normal tariff meter , if you press the blue button do you get different meter readings?.

RF Lighting · 14 Feb 2014

It looks as though you have a dual rate meter, but the controller to turn your storage heaters on and off is missing, so they'll be on all the time, but you will be billed at off peak rates for it.

If you press the blue button on the top right of your meter it should scroll through the displays, and give you a peak and off peak reading.

The missing clock or teleswitch should be in the top right corner of the picture where the brown wire with three brown tie wraps joins onto the grey wire with three brown tie wraps.

Have a look on your burnt circuit breakers for a serial / batch number.

It'll be six letters long and printed on the side of the circuit breaker. Something like "IRSRRA"

Let us know what it says, as many of those circuit breakers were subject to a product recall.

swampy2 · 14 Feb 2014

Teleswitch wouldn`t be beside consumer units?.

AndyPRK · 14 Feb 2014

Interesting post

CrazeUK · 14 Feb 2014

To confirm the meter at the top is mine. And yup the blue button scrolls through two tariffs and the total.

Also I think the rcd blew because there's no thermal protection on them and the constant supply through them will have made them over heat. ? Or am I wrong. ?

flameport · 14 Feb 2014

Those MCBs have failed either due to a loose connection, or they were the defective Electrium ones which were recalled some time ago.

Nothing to do with being on all the time.

CrazeUK · 14 Feb 2014

The mcb that failed was the one in the centre. The heat from the combustion damaged the two outer ones.

They where Sector brand.

Taylortwocities · 14 Feb 2014

Sector is made by Electrium and there is a problem with those
http://www.wfsenate.co.uk/doc/102/Electrium MCB Recall Information.html

The installer should have kept a log and swopped them out some time ago.
Call them up and make them PAY!!

CrazeUK · 14 Feb 2014

Taylortwocities said:
Sector is made by Electrium and there is a problem with those
http://www.wfsenate.co.uk/doc/102/Electrium MCB Recall Information.html

The installer should have kept a log and swopped them out some time ago.
Call them up and make them PAY!!

Ooh I see. But I threw the old fuses away I think.
It did cost me a bit go get sorted though.

Thanks for that.

Any idea if I can use the micro temps recommended by the shop as a replacement for the thermal links. ?

RF Lighting · 14 Feb 2014

You'd be better off using the proper thermal links imo.

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Creda Storage Heater

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