Storage Heater Timers

[Bob Harris]

I have a dual tariff meter

Image

• Bob Harris
• 21 Aug 2016

Electric meter economy 7

As a result my entire supply is switched at night to Economy 7.
I want to fit a 2.55kw storage heater into my garden outbuilding. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ERSH18M.html
I need a timer, preferably one that can plug into an existing socket.
Can any one recommend a suitable low cost timeswitch?
Would this one be ok for example? https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TCTC24.html

 

[Nozzle]

How do you monitor that your outbuilding heater doesn't get covered and then burns down shortly after your timer energises?

Nozzle

 

[crystal ball]

Probably the same way everyone else with storage heaters does, that timer should be ok, I have seen them used on plenty of storage heaters for years

 

[Bob Harris]

TLC sent me this:

http://www.timeguard.com/products/t...24-hour-segment-timeswitch-with-power-reserve

And this:

http://www.timeguard.com/products/t...pose-timeswitches/7-day-fused-spur-timeswitch

 

[Bob Harris]

Probably the same way everyone else with storage heaters does, that timer should be ok, I have seen them used on plenty of storage heaters for years

Thank you, a lot easiler and cheap than TLC's solution.

 

[JohnW2]

Thank you, a lot easiler and cheap than TLC's solution.

I would say that it's not really desirable to have a storage heater (or any other long-term load that large) supplied via a plug/socket, so I would be inclined to use the wire-in version (similar price) of the plug-in timer you are proposing to use.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Bob Harris]

I would say that it's not really desirable to have a storage heater (or any other long-term load that large) supplied via a plug/socket, so I would be inclined to use the wire-in version (similar price) of the plug-in timer you are proposing to use.

Kind Regards, John

Could you link me please?

 

[big-all]

is the building well insulated ??
if not a storage radiator will be useless as the heat loss will be greater than the output when you need it most

 

[JohnW2]

Could you link me please?

I'm not necessarily recommending Maplin, but the first link I found was this one (click here). There are 'electronic' (rather than 'mechanical') variants as well.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Bob Harris]

I would say that it's not really desirable to have a storage heater (or any other long-term load that large) supplied via a plug/socket, so I would be inclined to use the wire-in version (similar price) of the plug-in timer you are proposing to use.

Kind Regards, John

Thanks foe the link, John. Can i ask why is it not desirable long term?

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks foe the link, John. Can i ask why is it not desirable long term?

When I mentioned a 'long-term load that large', I was talking about a load which drew high currents (i.e. a substantial proportion of the 13A/3kW maximum for a 13A plug/socket) for fairly long continuous periods of time (hours, rather than minutes) - as opposed to, say, electric kettles etc. In that situation, although it shouldn't really happen, one can sometimes end up with heat damage to the plug and/or socket - particularly if the plug is rarely (if ever) unplugged (the 'wiping action' of unplugging/re-plugging tends to remove tarnish on the contacts which can build up over time).

Kind Regards, John

 

[Bob Harris]

When I mentioned a 'long-term load that large', I was talking about a load which drew high currents (i.e. a substantial proportion of the 13A/3kW maximum for a 13A plug/socket) for fairly long continuous periods of time (hours, rather than minutes) - as opposed to, say, electric kettles etc. In that situation, although it shouldn't really happen, one can sometimes end up with heat damage to the plug and/or socket - particularly if the plug is rarely (if ever) unplugged (the 'wiping action' of unplugging/re-plugging tends to remove tarnish on the contacts which can build up over time).

Kind Regards, John

Right, thanks very much.

 

[JohnW2]

Right, thanks very much.

You're welcome.

Kind Regards, John

 

[crystal ball]

I would say that it's not really desirable to have a storage heater (or any other long-term load that large) supplied via a plug/socket, so I would be inclined to use the wire-in version (similar price) of the plug-in timer you are proposing to use.

Kind Regards, John

I agree with John, I would hard wire the heater & timer, but as I said I have known this set up work for years, also got to monitor the timer setting as they can drift a bit over time

 

[EFLImpudence]

It is 'only' a 2.55kW heater.

I agree, though, that using a plug and plug-in timer is not the best solution, not least, because the timer will be down near the floor.