Adding Timer Switch to Megaflo Cylinder Immersion Heater Circuit All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[jezzer]

Morning all

Not sure whether this should be a question for the plumbers or electricians.

Just had an unvented Megaflo cylinder installed and our hot water system refurbished/pressurised etc. As we're on oil, I'd like to heat our water with the immersion heater rather than the boiler. Unfortunately, the conversation between me and the plumber who installed it all, about connecting it to Economy 7, never happened. Now he's quoting me over £500 to add the element for Economy 7 and connect it to the Economy 7 circuit.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't simply stick a 24-hour timer in the existing immersion heater circuit? It's a simple on/off switch on the wall at the moment. I'd have thought that would be way cheaper - could do it myself. If it needs a boost, I could make sure the timer has a boost button or even resort to the boiler (which I can control remotely with Hive) for a quick daytime boost.

Thoughts welcome.

Jez

[collectors]

1st thing to check is the heater element is going in the bottom of the tank as a top emersion won't / struggle to heat the whole of the tank.
2nd thing to check is whether all of your house is on E7 or if it was for Night storage heaters fitted in the house in the past.
Also, remember that Emersions for this type of tank is different in that these tanks are often stainless & you can't fit a normal emersion as it will create oxidisation.
If the whole house is on E7 you should run the emersion on it own circuit from the fuse board on a 16/20amp supply & fit a timer in line at a convenient place.
£500 is a bit steep as an emersion point with a timer would be around £150ish
& fit an emission about the same. all + vat