Trying to identify my underfloor heating cold tails

CountryFan said:

I don’t the think I’ve heard electric tails being called cold before.

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That is the normal name.
@flameport has answered most of the rest, there should be a resistance between the cold tails, and also a resistance to earth. The latter above 1 MΩ the former depending on the size of the UFH. It will likely be less than 1 kW, could be as low as 250 watts, so around 200 Ω to 53 Ω this can be measured with a normal multi-meter, the above 1 MΩ needs a meter using at least 250 volts, normal is 500 volts.

I would think a plinth heater would be better. This one, 1.4 kW, it will heat up the kitchen far faster than the UFH so you can use it only when required. And less of the heat is transferred into the ground, and still heats low down and does not sacrifice cupboard space in the kitchen. There are hydronic (water) types which can connect to the central heating.

£398.00!!!!!!
Try this for £85

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HEPFH2400.html

davelx said:

Try this for £85

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That is for an electric fan heater which will chew though expensive electricity.

The Myson item uses hot water from the central heating system.

flameport said:

That is for an electric fan heater which will chew though expensive electricity.

The Myson item uses hot water from the central heating system.

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Ah, I missed that. Still seems expensive for a radiator and a fan!

plenty available around £200-250 but most are only about 500W

This one is 1500W on offer at the moment

They do seem a bit expensive. I got a Smith's Space Saver SS9/5 for £340. If we say £250 difference, that would have bought me 1.7MWh of electricity this heating season. For the whole house I consumed 4.1MWh of gas for heating this season. The plinth heater is 1 of 10 emitters on my gas boiler, but one of the more powerful ones. I am going to guess that it is responsible for 15% of heat output [0.6MWh]. 80% efficient boiler, gas at 5.9p/kWh so I reckon about £45 gas/season for this one emitter.
0.6MWh of electric heat would have cost £90.
At current prices [14.6p/kWh], the gas heater is cheaper after 6 heating seasons.


If I use the 24/25 heating season electricity price instead [19.1p/kWh], it only takes 4 seasons. Eek!