Home and heating

My old RTS Meter (for off peak heating only) was switched off years ago - anybody in the same boat and waiting for a replacement?

I'd like to install a 22v EV charger and a kiln at home so it’s probably time for 3-phase electrics - but I have solar panels (inherited rental arrangement) - what are the knock on effects of going 3-phase?Here’s my initial thoughts for things to investigate.  What am I missing and what do I need to consider/ask - and who do I need to involve? I’d really appreciate advice so I can go into this with my eyes open.replace current consumer unit replace current smart meter (fairly old) - OVO says they don’t have any 3 phase meters - should I accept this or try to find someone who can do this? replace solar inverter? anything else ref solar panels connections? any rewiring needed in general? - is that likely? install of EV charger install of battery (one day! - not permitted under solar rental agreement) install of kilnanything else?​@Transparent

Hi there, I kindly received an electric blanket from Ovo/Exertis but unfortunately it stopped working after 2 uses. Is there someone to contact for a replacement? Thanks!

Morning Lovely people! I have come to ask for some help, I have recently moved into a house with underfloor heating and Solar hot water (only to reduce the time to heat). I am struggling with setting up the controls dispite reading the guides online. The hot water seems to be working for us just the heating side of it as comes on randomly even if a schedule is set and never to the schedule.I have Honeywell control pannel that offers heating and hot water, plus a second control in each downstairs room. I have added some pictures.  Any help is really appreciated.   

Periodically actual meter readings are issued in time for the billing period to accurately reflect usage (Monthly charges). When estimated readings are used in the charging calculation , there may be a meter reading that is a reduced amount from the estimated reading used the month before. That may mean a “credit” is due to be taken into account in the calculations. Why would the prior months’ estimated usage be used as the starting point in the following month, and not the actual reading issue.

There are 5 meters in this property (3 Phase supplies). Each meter servicing a different potion of the property. (Underfloor heating , Lighting, Utilities and defunct equipment on the property). The billing reflect MPAN numbers for Heating meters (3) and separate meters for Lighting(2). The supplied monthly bills do not detail which meter reading (actual or estimated) relates to which meter. In order to establish reading data to each meter i am keeping a separate spreadsheet. Could these bills not show “Meter - Reading “ for each meter with their MPAN no alongside?

An Air Sourced Heat Pump in useNow having had practical usage of our ASHP (Air Sourced Heat Pump) I thought it might be a good idea to update the story with a look at how it has performed over the months, including the start of the current winter.After the install our heating needs have been well catered for. It is important to understand that a heat pump does not operate like a gas boiler. The ‘instant’ heat does not happen in the same way and therefore it is suggested that any temperature set-back is relatively small. We have a single temperature zone set at 20 deg C throughout the property and set-back to 19 degrees overnight. What this means is that the heat pump never needs to suddenly reheat the whole house by several degrees and in fact, the comfort level in the property

Just to introduce myself.I am a retired electrical and aeromodelling engineer, my wife and I live in west Wales as from 1987, I have worked for most of that time as a self employed electrical engineer working in a variety of industrial settings in a very rural area.I have been encouraged by others in this forum to share my ideas and findings so that others with cranky thoughts and ideas might benefit, also that I might gain a nugget or two of useful know how.Back in 2000, I wound down my electrical engineering due to the enormity of red tape that went with it. My wife and I then deviated into model aircraft kit manufacturing, that had the blessing of no red tape which is rare these days. Anyhow, we did model air trade shows which meant being out in an open field for a good few days totally off grid. This is where I began to use the knowledge gained over the years to facilitate this. I decided to install wet NiCad cells in the caravan rather than use lead a

We're victims of the termination of heatpump plus too. I'm speechless and out of pocket after changing to OVO, getting the Internet connection for the heatpump and, after complaining, a smart meter fitted. Even now this tariff is still being advertised. OVO staff seem not to have been informed of this change, as we were told we could go straight onto the tariff as soon as we had the smart meter. Oh well, off to another energy supplier I suppose. Very disappointing, to say the least.

I had a replacement solar panel generation meter fitted on 5th November. I gather this needs to be registered by OVO before I give the next reading whiich I should do before 31st Deecember. How to I go about this please? Peter

I have solar and battery installed through Ovo currently exporting on the SEG Install Exclusive tariff. I'll be getting a great pink soon and am looking at tariff options. How does the Heat Pump Plus tariff calculate the electricity used by a heat pump if some is generated by solar and not imported? Is it as simple as the 15p/kWh cost being applied to any electricity imported, up to the amount that the heat pump has used? Over what period is this calculated? I’d like to work out the most cost effective way to run the systems if I get paid 20p for export but only pay 15p for import!

my Mitsubishi Ecodan Remote Control box went blank after I knocked it on the floor (yes, I’m old, stupid, and clumsy). I DO NOT LIKE the Ecodan User Interface so tried to get alternative - was told it could not be done, so ended up with quote for £675+vat for the sale & commissioning of a new Mitsubishi Ecodan Remote Control box. strikes me as a bit high. Comments?

I had a email to say battery boost is coming to an end on Feb 1st next year and nothing is coming in its place to allow you to charge your batteries in cheap times! Do you think everyone will look elsewhere for a better service? 

Hi,I have recently had a Vaillant aroTherm Plus heat pump installed, which is eligible for the Heat Pump Plus add on.I have entered all details in the eligibility checker and got a message back saying that OVO will get in touch in the next 5-7 days. It has been more than 3 weeks and I haven't got any correspondence with OVO.I have sent an email to OVO, and also I have been redirected to Heat Pump department but the line just drops after a while.I have exhausted all communication channels to get to some one to no avail.Any recommendations as what to do now? Basically their tariff is the main reason I signed up with OVO but I cannot do a simple thing of adding their tariff.

Is anyone on the Heat Pump Plus Tariff and has solar panels? How does it work? How does the Heat Pump Plus tariff calculate the electricity used by a heat pump if some is generated by solar and not imported? Is it as simple as the 15p/kWh cost being applied to any electricity imported, up to the amount that the heat pump has used? Over what period is this calculated?

We've had updated Dimplex storage heaters (Quantum QM100RF etc)  for 2 months now, and there’s one thing that isn't good. The kitchen has a patio door. In fine weather the sun comes through it in the afternoon and heats up the room a lot for an hour or more. We are on Economy 10, with its afternoon charging time coinciding with the most heat from the sun  to this room. The heater’s smartness seems to decide to stop charging it up with heat for later. I suppose it “thinks” that it's warm weather outside so it won't need to output much heat later.  That’s been OK until recently, when on some days it’s been sunny but very cold outside (freezing yesterday). The result is that the Quantum heater runs out of heat early in the evening.  The other rooms are shaded from the sun, and their heaters’ output fully all evening. Is there any way in which I can influence it to input energy more during this afternoon off-

 Boiler new Aug 2022. Ideal Logic+ Combi CThermostat / programmer fitted May 2023. Ideal Halo RF, not wifi connected.August 2025 weather compensation fitted. Ideal OS2. Straight forward to install the sensor and two core cable connected and run into the house for connection to the boiler. Cable run approximately 5m. Terminal on the sensor are not marked and the boiler weather compensation terminals likewise not marked. All connections made as per the Ideal instructions sheet.Boiler switched on and nothing untoward. The instructions state that the house temperature is now controlled using the boiler flow temperature dial. Turn it clockwise to raise the house temp and anticlockwise to lower the house temp. The screen should indicate a range of 5℃ minimum and 30℃ maximum.When I move the dial it performs as it always did and shows a temperature of the water  flow. Minimum 30℃ and maximum set by myself of 64℃. Previously the minimum flow t

 It seems quite straight forward doesn’t it? You stick a thermostat on the tank. If the water is cold you turn on the boiler/heat pump and heat it back up again. What’s the problem?Well if you know where heat is going and where it is being lost you make changes to reduce your losses.So I have an old (ancient?) 160l copper cylinder with around 1” of crumbly foam insulation. It has an additional insulating jacket and recently I have added further insulation (10cm thick Diall insulation roll – the stuff made from recycled plastic bottles).In June I added four temperature sensors at approximately 1/8, 3/8, 5/8 and 7/8 down from the top (this equates to around 20l, 60l, 100l and 140l of hot water above each sensor). I can also measure the indirect coil flow temperatures in and out, and the temperature of the cold water entering the tank.The first thing to note is that water is actually quite a poor conductor of heat. You need strong convection currents

Hi Had to change to smart meter due to telesignal switch off. Used to have total heating total control. Economy 7 doesnt heat my storage heaters enough. Requested change to single rate and ecaul sent to energised port 5 all the time. Ovo have refused this to send ecaul after changing to single rate. Its cold and don't know what to do next any help would be really appreciated at this time. 

Hi guys,First timer here so thank you for letting me join.I have a condensate boiler with an outside pipe for the waste water. For the last two winters either my outside pipe or the condensate trap under the boiler has frozen. I have double lagged the outside pipe and I have lagged the trap as well. I am still worried that if we get a weeks worth of really cold weather ( like the last two winters ) something will freeze and the heating wont work.We are away from home for 3 weeks in January ( if I was home I wouldn’t be so worried ) and want to know if I could do the following in the basement. There are air bricks and small holes around the room.Could I get a small heater and use it with a thermostat plug so that if the temp drops below 3c or 4c the heater would kick in ?? If this is an idea then what size heater would I need. The room is about 10’ x 8’ and about 7’ high. The heater could sit close to the condensate trap and direct any heat onto it.