Economy 7 – not automatically heating water Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[Andy_S]

Hi.

I’ve recently been experiencing a problem with my Economy 7 hot water (immersion tank) heating. Basically, this is no longer turning on automatically when the electricity supply turns from 'day' rate to 'night' rate.

However, and this is what’s most confusing, if I flick the switch where the relevant heater is connected to the wall off and on again during 'night' hours, it starts heating straight away

Does anyone have any experience of this happening before? Any suggestions as to possible solutions would be greatly appreciated and please let me know if you need any more information. Many thanks!

[ericmark]

Yes had this with old round time switches. I renewed the time switch but be careful to select on able to handle the current not a central heating one.

[Andy_S]

Do you mean something like the ones found on the uk-plumbing.com site, on the listing page for "Sangamo Round Pattern Time Switches Standard"

If so, I don’t seem to have one of these, just a meter (which switches from ‘day’ to ‘night’) and an immersion tank with two elements, each of which is hard wired into the wall with an on/off switch.

As described above, even when the switch for the Economy 7 element is on, it doesn’t heat the water overnight until the switch is turned off and on again.

Any further thoughts grately appreciated! Thanks again.

[sparx]

Hi sounds like wall sw. has poor connection or failing contact, your action in switching it on load makes contact temp. I would check connections & if tight replace sw.
regards SPARX

[Andy_S]

Hi sparx.

That sounds logical and I've actually just had the same suggestion from an electrician at work, so I'll have a look at the switch and go from there.

Many thanks!

[Andy_S]

Just to say (for the benefit of anyone else who has the same problem), that this seems to have worked perfectly. Many thanks again...