An old looking timer

[Dormaus]

I have this timer in my cupboard. The sticker on the side says "This timer is set to work between 7.30pm and 8am, 1.30pm and 4pm, all day Saturday and Sunday."

I have an immersion heater and a storage heater connected to a different meter to everything else in my flat, and I'm assuming that they are/were connected to this timer. The lady at Npower told me similar times to what' what the sticker says, that the meter has a cheaper rate between 8.30pm-8.30am and 1.30-3.30. She didn't mention the weekend.

I've lived here for over 2 years now and to be honest I've only just noticed this was a timer. I'd previously thought it was a leftover old meter (you can see how much I know about electrics!). As far as I can tell, when I switch the heater(s) on, it's on and heating up.

How can I tell if this timer is still working? And how would I use it? [/img]

 

[Lectrician]

How about a wider shot of the meter(s), the timer and the tails that connect everything?

We can tell you your setup then

 

[Dormaus]

Thanks for the fast reply.

Here is a shot of the entire cupboard.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz96/laurajane0/DSC_0088.jpg

 

[333rocky333]

from what i recall that clock sometimes wires direct into the meter.

The meter has two rows of figures for on and off peak
The clock switches between them and an arrow points at the relevant row of figures depending on time of day.

EDIT
Maybe not, now the photos appeared

 

[Dormaus]

And while I'm here, can we settle an argument I'm having with my other half? I told him the RCD units (Volex protector) are fairly new, at least less than ten years old. He said I didn't know what I was talking about!

 

[Spark123]

It appears to be ticking around.
Does the storage heater stay on 24/7 if you switch it on?

 

[Lectrician]

That time clock is switching your storage heater load on and off (or should be). The lower meter records your off-peak usage. Your main circuits in the house DO NOT operate on the off-peak tarriff and are charged at the peak rate at all times. You have what used to be termed as a "white meter" tarriff. Do not confuse it with Economy7 or Economy10 etc.

Can you check your heaters do only come on during the on periods of the timer? Neon for example?

Also, check the timer is at the correct time. They do slip out of time a little even though they do incorporate a spring mech for power failures. If the times are wrong it makes little odds to you - you still get your off-peak periods, just at different times.

 

[Lectrician]

And while I'm here, can we settle an argument I'm having with my other half? I told him the RCD units (Volex protector) are fairly new, at least less than ten years old. He said I didn't know what I was talking about!

They are less than 10yr, but are not likely to comply to the current regs, and are an awful budget make!

Mnay MANY houses still have much older though! Don't panic yourself!

 

[Lectrician]

It appears to be ticking around.

Yep - I can see it ticking around in the pic he uploaded too

 

[Dormaus]

It appears to be ticking around.
Does the storage heater stay on 24/7 if you switch it on?

Yes the water heater will stay on all day if I leave it costing me lots of money and making having hot water in the evening a complete nightmare. It has two switches, one inside the cupboard with a neon light and one on the other side of that wall in the kitchen.

I'm not so sure about the storage heater (this is in the living room), this seems to heat up whenever I switch it on too but as it's a storage heater I can't tell if I left it on 24/7 if it's only drawing electricity during the off peak times.

 

[Spark123]

If you switch the immersion heater on do the needles on the bottom meter move quicker?

 

[333rocky333]

Get someone to watch the meter as you switch it on or off at the relevant times, you will see it speed up.

 

[Dormaus]

If you switch the immersion heater on do the needles on the bottom meter move quicker?

The needles don't visibly move, but there's a disc inside that spins around. Is this what you mean?

When the heater is switched off the disc is stationary (obviously).

When I switch it on now (5pm) then it's spinning really fast.

I was watching it earlier (around 3pm) and the disc was moving very slowly, I almost thought it wasn't moving until I looked closely.

Also, check the timer is at the correct time.

It actually looks more like it's on 6pm-6am ?

(We're havin some trouble with the RCD keep tripping off at the moment, I don't just watch my electric meters for fun.)

 

[Spark123]

Which meter moved more quickly with the heater on?

 

[Dormaus]

Bottom meter