Water heater + electrisaver switch

[Iakona]

Hello, first time poster and i'm super confused. I've always had gas+electric but my new flat only has electric.

First up I have some sort of megaflo water tank. It has 2 cables running from the tank to two separate mains powered switches. I have no idea what either or these actually do. Do I need both on? Do they need to be on 24/7? How do they work?

Secondly I have some sort of electrisaver switch in my kitchen which I assume is for the water heater. Again I have no idea how it works? Is this separate from the mains switches? Does it work independently? Does it do anything when the mains are off?(the light still goes on). Should I switch it on at bed time?

I'll post some pics in the post below.

 

[JohnD]

it is likely that the lower immersion heater, and any storage heaters in your home, are powered by cheap off-peak electricity. Sometimes still called "Economy 7" though the cheap hours will be defined in your tariff (contract with supplier)

Turn on the switch connected to the lower heater.

So there may/should be a timer either within the electricity meter or nearby.

That model of timer switch I have not seen before, the common ones indicate with neons how long they are running for (might be 15mins, 30mins, 1hour; or 1hour/2hr/3hr, something like that. It is normally to turn on the higher immersion heater if you run out of stored hot water during the day. This should not often happen because the cylinder is sized so it will provide a day's worth of water after being heated at cheap rate during the night.

Post some photos of your meter(s), consumer unit(s) and all the cables and other devices around them, please.

If you can find an electricity bill, look and see what the tariff name is, and the price(s) per kWh that you are charged. There are likely to be two prices; an off peak and a peak rate.

Are you at home all day? Or out until evening?

 

[Iakona]

Many thanks for your response.

So if I switch on the bottom part of the immersion heater it should automatically heat overnight? Would I be better leaving the mains on all day or just overnight? Trying to be cost effective as possible. I can't seem to see a timer unfortunately.

I believe I'm on SSE THTC tarriff at the moment. But as I've just moved into the property afew days ago I need to speak with SSE about this.

Below is a picture of my meters. Beyond the electrisaver control and the mains switches next to the tank. I don't think there's anything else to control them. Them seem quite basic n old to be honest.

Both residents work mon- fri, 9-5.

 

[JohnD]

So if I switch on the bottom part of the immersion heater it should automatically heat overnight?

Yes.

The "Telemeter" is the timer. It is controlled by a radio signal. In your case the signal may be governed by weather conditions as well as time, it is not often seen. With THTC I would have expected to see two meters. SSE should have a leaflet or webpage to explain it.

If you are on THTC it does not work the same as off-peak tariffs in other parts of the UK, and advice from non-locals may be incorrect.

Your consumer unit(s) are what people used to call a "fusebox"
I would expect your off-peak heaters to be wired to a separate one because your normal sockets and lights need to be on 24 hours a day, not timed, but yours might be different..

Please look for and photograph it/them.

 

[Iakona]

There's the black metre which still spinsand goes up. And also the grey meter next to it.. which seems to go up alot quicker. I'm not sure if the grey one runs alongside or replaced the black one though.

Below is my fuse box

 

[JohnD]

Can you stand back and take a wider pic of the CU please

Also a pic that shows all the thick cables between your meter, teleswitch, big main switch and CU

 

[Iakona]

Hi John, sorry for the delay.