Talk to me about......

[slim_boy_fat]

....Dimplex Quantum electric storage heaters.

The local Council are carrying out upgrades to certain properties in the area and mine is scheduled to have a Quantum system fitted, to replace the existing Dimplex XL heaters.

It's claimed the new heaters are up to 27% more efficient, but I'm having difficulty to get any meaningful data like 'base level' criteria used in the comparisons/calculations. I've yet to have the survey meeting with the Contractors at which the installation process/works/schedule will be explained, and I'll be trying to get further info from them - although I suspect they'll be more geared to getting the work done and moving on.

I'm generally quite happy with the existing set-up - the house [one bedroom semi, bungalow style] is always warm and I get four boosts during the day on off-peak tariff, and all water heating is off-peak. As I understand it at the moment, the new system will be on Economy 10 tariff for approximately 90% of requirements depending on user profile, with top-ups in the temp as required from another tariff i.e. read expensive :roll: . As things stand, during the colder months it costs c. £30 a week for all energy costs which is manageable, and I've heard that others with the new system, while being very pleased with the end product, have had nasty surprises when the first quarterly account drops on the mat.

The house currently has a pre-pay key meter which was here when I moved in and having enquired about getting it changed to a 'normal' credit meter and discovering that SSE would charge c. £100 to effect the change, I decided just to live with it after assurances that it was the most economical tariff for my usage.

I'm hoping that someone here will have practical, personal experience of the Quantum system and will post up their findings - please don't post up links to Dimplex's website or Google as I've done that to death.....

Tenants do have to option to opt out of the works and stick with the existing set-up, and when I factor in the upheaval involved in moving furniture, lifting carpets and floorboards to rewire/replumb [although I expect that to be done by the Contractors] I'm minded just to keep the present system.

Over to you, lads.......

 

[dobbslc]

If you want a new meter ring them up saying it's making a buzzing sound sometimes and you're worried about it catching fire. Tell them that you want a new digital one.
I did this when I needed to box in my meter to make a key cupboard and to old one was too big.

 

[Fintray]

It's claimed the new heaters are up to 27% more efficient

You need to ask them what exactly are they "up to 27% more efficient" at doing. Is this convering electricity to heat - highly unlikely, storing the heat for use when you need it - possibly or removing money from your pocket and placing it in the pocket of some corporation - probably.......!

 

[Dee J]

Heat produced from electricity is a very efficient process - after all, what would the losses be? the only ways these heaters can work better is 1) Better energy storage (especially if you want to defer heat output into the evening), and 2)Better control of heat in and out (avoiding overheating of rooms).... I can't see there would be many situations where 27% could come into the picture.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Can't see it being the 'storage' element of the equation, as I understand there's very little by way of 'heat retention material' in them. I think they depend on a fan for output, and I've always understood anything with a motor i.e. fan, was expensive to run.

Time will tell, just have to wait until the meeting with the contractors.

 

[rtbcomp]

Storage heaters are all about heat retention. I've got some fairly old ones that leak heat so after running for 7 hours the bedroom is too hot due to heat leaking out.

Modern storage heaters rely on material that will soak up a lot of heat for its volume and insulation and efficient vents to stop heat getting out until it's needed.

The amount of heat released is proportional to the temperature of the core, so the vents have to be almost closed to start with and open up as the core cools. You will eventually get to the stage where you have to use a fan to extract the remaining heat.

 

[MattF]

I think they depend on a fan for output, and I've always understood anything with a motor i.e. fan, was expensive to run.

That's one thing I've never understood, why people cling to that idea. I've heard it no end of times myself. A fan will add a miniscule amount of current consumption to the setup. Same as when people say that dehumidifiers are power hungry beasts, yet they have a fridge/freezer running day in day out without qualm.

 

[julianf]

I might have posted this before -

If i had the space, id own one of them (or at least the mobile command version)


I read an interview with someone on board K2 once. K2 could go faster, dive deeper, etc.etc. than Nautilus, but leaked radiation. The crew member said that they knew it leaked, so they just drank more vodka to compensate.

 

[MattF]

Was that supposed to be posted in the Russian spacecraft thread perchance, Julian?

 

[colnerov]

Was that supposed to be posted in the Russian spacecraft thread perchance, Julian?

How can you tell?

 

[MattF]

Just a vague, gut instinct.

 

[Fintray]

I might have posted this before -

Yes, but not in response to a question about storage heaters.....
However the money you could save by using these heaters may pay for one of these trucks.