Digital timer for hot water

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Digital timer for hot water - which one?

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#1456791 24-Dec-2015 20:52

$2k for the sparky to do that so you can save how much a year if you're lucky???

I'd be putting that money towards a gas continuous flow system.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#1456793 24-Dec-2015 21:04

MadEngineer: $2k for the sparky to do that so you can save how much a year if you're lucky???

I'd be putting that money towards a gas continuous flow system.

Remind me not to use your electrician @MadEngineer... how would adding a simple timer to a switchboard cost so much? That's more than the cost to replace and rewire the switchboard!

Last time I had a timer put in the switchboard it took around an hour of their time ($60) plus the timer ($100). Plus the electrician I use is my neighbor so I get good deals.

MadEngineer

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#1456800 24-Dec-2015 21:24

timmmay:
mdooher:
timmmay: I have to have the whole switchboard rewired some time before long anyway, it's just old.

Ooohh...Start saving now...It pretty much means having your house rewired too

The house has been rewired, it's just the old switchboard. The neighbor said $1000 - $2000 depending on choices made, equipment used, etc.

thought you meant that was the cost required for this ...

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#1456872 25-Dec-2015 06:31

No that was separate, about replacing the switchboard.

Kickinbac

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#1459301 30-Dec-2015 21:45

I'd get a simple 24 hour mechanical timer, would have to be din rail mounted so would need to be mounted in a box. They are cheap and simple to operate. Because your element is 3 kw you may need a contactor. Do the bypass switch as mentioned earlier. I'd put a little neon light on the bypass, lit when bypassed.

larknz

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#1459309 30-Dec-2015 22:04

Why don't you get a night rate meter put in. I have a dual rate meter fitted and the whole house changes to night rate between 11.00pm and 7.00am. No need for a timer the ripple relay does all of the switching. I don't know about Flick but most other retailers have this option.

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Lemming

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#1459353 31-Dec-2015 07:18

timmmay:

I've seen a reference to someone using something like this, which is $30. Any reason not to use one of those?

The rating is close, but should be fine.. Can also mount on / in the switchboard (depending on type)..

timmmay

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#1459391 31-Dec-2015 08:07

larknz: Why don't you get a night rate meter put in. I have a dual rate meter fitted and the whole house changes to night rate between 11.00pm and 7.00am. No need for a timer the ripple relay does all of the switching. I don't know about Flick but most other retailers have this option.

I have a smart meter and I'm with Flick Electric, so I have that already. It doesn't achieve what I want, which is to do all water heating between 1am and 7am when power is cheapest - it still heats water 24/7. Ripple control isn't reliable, you have no idea when it's turned the cylinder on and off - it probably only disables it during periods of peak load.

larknz

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#1459473 31-Dec-2015 12:25

I wasn't quite clear. The ripple relay in my meter switches the hot water on at 11.00pm and off at 7.00am so it is only heating at night.

timmmay

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#1459526 31-Dec-2015 14:21

larknz: I wasn't quite clear. The ripple relay in my meter switches the hot water on at 11.00pm and off at 7.00am so it is only heating at night.

Ok, but I have ripple control already installed. I asked Flick about ripple control to make it run 11pm to 7am, they said the line company controls it and can't or won't tell them when the power is on or off. Based on what I can see in the Flick console my hot water heats any time it needs to.

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#1459554 31-Dec-2015 15:32

Most power companies have a night heating option. It was originally designed for night store heaters. It may be that Flick don't want to offer it. You could check if other retailers offer it in your area.

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timmmay

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#1459556 31-Dec-2015 15:36

larknz: Most power companies have a night heating option. It was originally designed for night store heaters. It may be that Flick don't want to offer it. You could check if other retailers offer it in your area.

Pretty happy with Flick, getting good savings (25% on average) and getting better as I learn new tricks, this will make it even better. Thanks for the suggestion though.

DarthKermit

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#1459558 31-Dec-2015 15:39

timmmay: Ripple control isn't reliable, you have no idea when it's turned the cylinder on and off - it probably only disables it during periods of peak load.

Sounds like you could do with an indicator light on your fuse board to tell when the HW is on.

timmmay

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#1459560 31-Dec-2015 15:44

DarthKermit:
timmmay: Ripple control isn't reliable, you have no idea when it's turned the cylinder on and off - it probably only disables it during periods of peak load.

Sounds like you could do with an indicator light on your fuse board to tell when the HW is on.

Not really. I'll just put in a timer so it's on when I tell it to be on.

Stan

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#1459678 31-Dec-2015 23:01

Let us know how you get on with this I could also be interested..

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