"Andy Wade" wrote in message
...
endymion wrote:


It's highly unlikely that a storage heater will fail in such a way as to
draw too much power. That would need a partial short-circuit in one of
the elements, which, if it did happen, would rapidly lead to self
destruction of the element, ending either in an open-circuit condition, or
a dead short across the supply (or to earth) and a blown fuse. It's
possible that the input charge thermostat could stick closed but you'd
notice that by a rise in the room temperature, or if the heater core
became too hot the overheat trip would operate, cutting off power to the
whole appliance.

Most storage heater faults are "not working" or "low-output" due to
open-circuit elements or operation of the overheat trip.

In an earlier post you said

If I extrapolate the figures for 90 days that would give a night
usage of 18473 units

That's an average of 205 kWh/day, or 8.5 kW continuous (24 hr) loading, or
29 kW loading (120 amps!) over 7 hours. There's no way on earth that a
single faulty storage heater could account for consumption like that.

Well, sorry but it must have done. I dont know how. I can only quote the
fact. I had one heater running to keep the sitting room warm. I have now
switched it off and isolated it. It did show signs of overheating I have to
admit. It was discoloured and I even changed the plug on it a few months ago
when it shorted out and burnt. OK I should have known then. I ignored it.

Since switching that one heater off I am now using on average 3. 5 units of
electric during the day ( same as before ) and 7 units at night. I do have
an emersion heater running and a dishwasher that cuts in to wash up at 4.00
am each night which makes that figure up. I sometimes also run my washing
machine at night too

Whilst I cannot disprove what you suggest. Something was wrong and whatever
it was got put right when I turned off that one heater

I have ordered a Robinson Willey auto storage heater for no other reason
than its the only one which is small enough to fit the space it has to go
into. The new heaters are longer than my old one. Its a good price. I
will let you know whether its any good once I have had it and fitted it.