Economy 7 wiring!

[chrispiner]

Hello all.


I would have thought this would belong in DIY advice since I'm not an electrician but I don't seem to be able to post in there!

I have moved in to a flat with Economy 7 and I can't get my head round how the electrical switch is made when it gets to midnight so I'm concerned that items such as the storage heaters and immersion heater may be coming on during the day and costing us valuable pennies.

Maybe someone can cast a bit of light on how it MAY work, if they'd be so kind?

So, we have a digital prepayment meter:

View attachment 27521

And a unit with some clocks in it:

View attachment 27522


Now, what I can't understand is how the meter has any say on when the storage heaters and water heater start. In fact, I'm almost certain it doesn't. However, those clocks at the bottom are A) 12 hour clocks B) completely different times.

My concern is that when we moved in, and the electricity was off, those clocks wouldn't have been ticking round until we kicked it back off again so am I now charging my heaters at 21p per unit rather than 7p? Has anyone come across something similar and knows how I need to set these clocks to get it all to come at midnight?

Or.. have I misunderstood the whole thing and there's actually a supply for off peak which is linked directly to the off-peak devices and the clocks are red herring?



Thanks in advance and apologies if this is in the wrong area!



Chris

 

[telectrix]

attachments don't work.

 

[Octopus]

You need to start taking daily readings from both meters, BUT, the e7 timer kicks in and makes the e7 circuits live, so in principle you can't be charged the wrong rate.

a couple of years back I was checking an e7 system and realised it was going live at 3pm each day. If the e7 timer is out you could be benefitting from cheaper power than you are entitled to!

 

[chrispiner]

Oh!

Here's the meter:

Unit:

Thanks for your replies - I was just concerned with the small clocks at the bottom of the above image. I was hoping they weren't connected to when the E7 came live.

So the meter IS actually involved in switching it over? The time on the meter is fine and when it gets to midnight, it goes to rate 2?