Storage Heaters, Tariffs & Control

[Moxi]

I might be able to answer that question once I get a bill later this month, I have been on the OG tariff since Sunday, suiting our usage very well at the minute and already above expectations.

Moxi

[cycling_mike]

Pretty simple to put a timer and contactor in the CU.

Alternatively you can have your SH CU permanently powered and have timed FCUs (such as this one: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMFST24.html) but that is a total faff IMO.

Thanks all for the comments, helps me with the unknown unknowns, to me at least.

So if I am going to switch my storage heater consumer unit using a timer and contactor arrangement what would I be expecting an electrician to fit? While this may be simple to some, it is not in my orbit so safest to leave to the experts to do, that said I do like to understand (validate) what the electrician is telling me.

My storage heater CU has a 80A RCD with 6 off 16A MCB's what sort of contactor or contactors would be appropriate to this?

[Stinsy]

Pretty simple to put a timer and contactor in the CU.

Alternatively you can have your SH CU permanently powered and have timed FCUs (such as this one: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMFST24.html) but that is a total faff IMO.

Thanks all for the comments, helps me with the unknown unknowns, to me at least.

So if I am going to switch my storage heater consumer unit using a timer and contactor arrangement what would I be expecting an electrician to fit? While this may be simple to some, it is not in my orbit so safest to leave to the experts to do, that said I do like to understand (validate) what the electrician is telling me.

My storage heater CU has a 80A RCD with 6 off 16A MCB's what sort of contactor or contactors would be appropriate to this?

What brand is the CU and does it have any spare ways?
What is the actual power rating of the SHs?

Timer would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html
Contactor would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/C ... ash20.html

If there isn't room in the CU the spark can rejig the MCBs. There's no way each one needs its own 16A MCB, 2x big 1500W SHs will fit easily on a single 16A MCB and you could get 3x small 900W SHs on a single 16A MCB (4 at a push). Assuming it is wired in 2.5mm² T+E then they can be swapped for 20A MCBs with 3 on one and 3 on another. Alternatively, the spark might choose to put the timer and contactor in a separate mini-CU nearby, or might choose to put it all in a new CU.

Basically loads of options. Depends what you want...

[cycling_mike]

Pretty simple to put a timer and contactor in the CU.

Alternatively you can have your SH CU permanently powered and have timed FCUs (such as this one: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMFST24.html) but that is a total faff IMO.

Thanks all for the comments, helps me with the unknown unknowns, to me at least.

So if I am going to switch my storage heater consumer unit using a timer and contactor arrangement what would I be expecting an electrician to fit? While this may be simple to some, it is not in my orbit so safest to leave to the experts to do, that said I do like to understand (validate) what the electrician is telling me.

My storage heater CU has a 80A RCD with 6 off 16A MCB's what sort of contactor or contactors would be appropriate to this?

What brand is the CU and does it have any spare ways?
What is the actual power rating of the SHs?

Timer would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html
Contactor would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/C ... ash20.html

If there isn't room in the CU the spark can rejig the MCBs. There's no way each one needs its own 16A MCB, 2x big 1500W SHs will fit easily on a single 16A MCB and you could get 3x small 900W SHs on a single 16A MCB (4 at a push). Assuming it is wired in 2.5mm² T+E then they can be swapped for 20A MCBs with 3 on one and 3 on another. Alternatively, the spark might choose to put the timer and contactor in a separate mini-CU nearby, or might choose to put it all in a new CU.

Basically loads of options. Depends what you want...

I was thinking of a new CU while it was being redone, the old plastic one does not feel solid. Each spur is wired with 2.5mm T+E. I have 3 large Shs each with a 3Kw input rating each and 3 medium heaters with a 2Kw input rating each

I was thinking two 40A contactors something like https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/C ... ash40.html each switched with a shelly switch like https://shellystore.co.uk/product/shelly-pro-1/

Will that work? is this over specified?

[Stinsy]

Thanks all for the comments, helps me with the unknown unknowns, to me at least.

So if I am going to switch my storage heater consumer unit using a timer and contactor arrangement what would I be expecting an electrician to fit? While this may be simple to some, it is not in my orbit so safest to leave to the experts to do, that said I do like to understand (validate) what the electrician is telling me.

My storage heater CU has a 80A RCD with 6 off 16A MCB's what sort of contactor or contactors would be appropriate to this?

What brand is the CU and does it have any spare ways?
What is the actual power rating of the SHs?

Timer would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html
Contactor would be something like this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/C ... ash20.html

If there isn't room in the CU the spark can rejig the MCBs. There's no way each one needs its own 16A MCB, 2x big 1500W SHs will fit easily on a single 16A MCB and you could get 3x small 900W SHs on a single 16A MCB (4 at a push). Assuming it is wired in 2.5mm² T+E then they can be swapped for 20A MCBs with 3 on one and 3 on another. Alternatively, the spark might choose to put the timer and contactor in a separate mini-CU nearby, or might choose to put it all in a new CU.

Basically loads of options. Depends what you want...

I was thinking of a new CU while it was being redone, the old plastic one does not feel solid. Each spur is wired with 2.5mm T+E. I have 3 large Shs each with a 3Kw input rating each and 3 medium heaters with a 2Kw input rating each

I was thinking two 40A contactors something like https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/C ... ash40.html each switched with a shelly switch like https://shellystore.co.uk/product/shelly-pro-1/

Will that work? is this over specified?

That is a huge amount of SH capacity. 105kWh with the full 7hr of charging!

Sure, new CU makes for a neater job. There was a time when we fitted sturdy metal CUs, then we fitted flimsy plastic ones that caught fire all the time for a decade or so, now we're back to metal ones...

I'm a big fan of Shellys got a bunch of them in my house! If you go for the https://shellystore.co.uk/product/shelly-pro-2/ it can control the 40A contactors separately if you want to do some zoning.

The contactor you linked to is a 3-phase one.

I like Fusebox branded CUs, have a look here: https://www.fusebox.shop/

[AGT]

Another Shelly fan!!
Great kit

[cycling_mike]

I have dipped my toe in the Shelly world.
The functionality is terrific, some users seem to have reliability problems but so far so good for me.

[Stinsy]

I have dipped my toe in the Shelly world.
The functionality is terrific, some users seem to have reliability problems but so far so good for me.

They like a good wifi connection. And the UI isn't as good as a few smartplug brands, but you're not supposed to use the Shelly UI you're supposed to integrate them into the smarthome system of your choice...

[dan_b]

Octopus have a storage heater tariff - don't know if useful?

https://octopus.energy/smart/snug-octopus/

[Stinsy]

Octopus have a storage heater tariff - don't know if useful?

https://octopus.energy/smart/snug-octopus/

It is pretty much the same as vanilla Go IIRC.