Storage Heater with 4 wires

[Sparky_marky2]

My mum bought some storage heaters with in built thermostat and I noticed there were 4 wires, live, neutral, earth and a black cable. I've wired storage heaters before and they didn't have this 4th black cable. How is this 4th cable wired? She has Economy 10 in the house is it possible to wire it direct from fused spur from an Economy 10 socket?
Thanks in advance.

 

[SparkyChick]

Would they be Dimplex?

I've just installed a QRad by Dimplex, the black lead is something to do with their control system. I think it's referred to as the Pilot signal. If you're not using their controls, put it in a terminal as under certain conditions it can rise to 240v.

This is what I can remember from a brief read of the installation manual.

 

[Sparky_marky2]

Would they be Dimplex?

I've just installed a QRad by Dimplex, the black lead is something to do with their control system. I think it's referred to as the Pilot signal. If you're not using their controls, put it in a terminal as under certain conditions it can rise to 240v.

This is what I can remember from a brief read of the installation manual.

She has two Dimplex storage heaters but these have the standard 3 coloured cables, which I connected up easily easily enough. However the other isn't a Dimplex storage heater it has the temperature dial at the top of the heater to adjust the temperature, so I don't quite understand what the black cable is for.

 

[ferg]

As Sc has said it's a pilot wire for the control system.

 

[kenny7askew]

apparently,according to my wholesaler anyway traditional storage heaters are not going to be sold by manufacturers of them after January (euro directive) and new ones will need a permanent supply as well to power programmer and instant heat/fan,dont know how true this is,but they are selling old ones off

 

[davesparks]

Why don't you just open it up and have a look to see what it does?

 

[SparkyChick]

Why don't you just open it up and have a look to see what it does?

Or read the installation manual?

 

[buzzlightyear]

apparently,according to my wholesaler anyway traditional storage heaters are not going to be sold by manufacturers of them after January (euro directive) and new ones will need a permanent supply as well to power programmer and instant heat/fan,dont know how true this is,but they are selling old ones off

those bl**dy euro crouts stick they nose where it not needed.

 

[Sparky_marky2]

Or read the installation manual?

Yes that would help wouldn't it haha I just fitted the two Dimplex ones as they were straight forward and took a look at the third one and told her I'll do it on the weekend once i figured out what the fourth wire was for.
Thanks all!

 

[snowhead]

As above it's the control wire.
Used with a programmer which will need a permanent feed, like this;

http://intelligentheat.co.uk/wp-con...g/ZoneRay PILOT WIRE English instructions.pdf

 

[Sparky_marky2]

As above it's the control wire.
Used with a programmer which will need a permanent feed, like this;

http://intelligentheat.co.uk/wp-content/Downloads/Programming/ZoneRay PILOT WIRE English instructions.pdf

Thank you for that info. So if i'm not intending to use a programmer then i can just connect the black cable to a connector block and leave it unconnected?
Thanks again for the help.

 

[Sparky_marky2]

A little more info mum intends to have it hard wired and spurred off a Economy 10 socket so when that kicks in the storage heater comes on overnight and automatically goes off in the morning. Thanks!

 

[buzzlightyear]

your mum knows best.

 

[davesparks]

A little more info mum intends to have it hard wired and spurred off a Economy 10 socket so when that kicks in the storage heater comes on overnight and automatically goes off in the morning. Thanks!

So exactly the same as the other two you have already fitted then??

 

[davesparks]

I don't understand why it would be for a programmer? It's a night storage heater, the supply to it is already time controlled, what's the point of additional time controls?

 

[ferg]

The installed storage heaters can be controlled from a central point.

So you can put the system into absent mode for a set duration or have the bedrooms on setback.

 

[Sparky_marky2]

Thanks for the info all, much appreciated.

 

[davesparks]

The installed storage heaters can be controlled from a central point.

So you can put the system into absent mode for a set duration or have the bedrooms on setback.

How does a setback work on storage heaters?

 

[ferg]

Sorry Dave I'm typing on a tablet and far too lazy to be accurate and detailed in my posts.

Dimplex Duo heat uses a combination of storage and radiant panel.

Setback basically leaves the background storage heat as is and reduces the output from the panel.

 

[kingeri]

Does your mum not have a gas supply? My memories of storage heaters from when I was a kid are not good! I know they are better now, but I still hate them!