No that’s bolix I haven’t had a single unscheduled network outage in Ireland since 1983. And even then it is was because the overpaid Electricity Supply Board switch flickers went on strike because they felt they weren’t already being overpaid enough.
The ESB are World class and have completed many major projects in over 120 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. I do give credit where credit is due.
Kerry doesn’t count. Nobody has any idea what those coot hoors are up to. They’re probably stealing and selling the copper power cables and then claiming compensation for the resultant power outages. You always count your fingers after shaking hands with a Kerryman
Interestingly, apart from ESB International, Ireland is also now the centre of expertise in building data centres and is building them everywhere at 16% margins when 6% is the building industry norm. Which I say is great as long as they don’t build anymore at home
Yes. Three positions - Off, Automatic (Central position), and On all the time.
The automatic position is designed to limit the functioning of the water heater to the ‘Off Peak’ night rate hours to minimise cost.
The ‘On’ position means the water heater is supplied with electricity all the time and will start working whenever its own thermostat senses that the water in the tank is not as hot as is needed.
No, not at the moment. If you do that then you will run out of hot water again.
When the Linky was installed on Friday the installer probably forgot to connect the ‘signal’ wire from the Linky to the hot water conrols on the distribution board (the big grey one with the two rows of switches).
On Friday and Saturday you used the hot water that was generated on Thursday night, until by Sunday that supply of hot water was exhausted.
The Linky installer needs to come back and connect the signal wire that tells the water heater when to switch itself on and off at the start and end of the cheaper ‘night rate’ (heures creuses) hours.
For the moment just leave the water heater switch in the permanently on position so that you have a supply of hot water. This will increase your electricity bill a little, but at least you will have hot water.
Once the signal wire has been connected to the Linky, then that will be the time to move the switch back to the ‘auto’ position so that hot water is only generated during the cheaper ‘heures creuses’ hours.
Is the little light on the Linky flashing more quickly now ?
Yes the Linky light is flashing regularly now. The Installer didn’t touch the main switch box in my flat at all. He only installed the Linky device in the cave where others are installed. Should he come back and fix the signal wire then? How long normally for hot water again?
Good. Well done. The increased flashing rate indicates that the hot water heater is now working. How long it will take before there is hot water at the tap depends on the size of the hot water tank itself. Even if it is a big tank there should be some hot water after 4 to 5 hours. Certainly there will be hot water for a shower in the morning. Enjoy.
If there is a signal wire (usually a fairly thin black wire) available near to where the Linky has been installed, then yes, the Linky installer should have connected it.
Further investigation is needed by a qualified electrician in view of the fact that you had hot water pre-Linky and not post Linky.
As the switch on your distribution board was set to ‘auto’, (and assuming that said switch is correctly wired) it is probable that there is indeed a signal wire present between that switch and the location of the Linky which the Linky installer should have connected.
Definitely worth complaining to the Linky installer.
Great explanation Robert-making sense for me. Will check next trip to cave to look for that signal wire. Will followup with company to complain also. All this could’ve been avoided imo.
Just to re-cap and aid your understanding.
The three position switch on the distribution board (Off / Auto / On) controls the supply of electricity to the hot water heater. This switch does not actually turn the hot water heater on and off, but rather it enables the hot water heater to turn itself on.
When there is electricity supplied to the hot water heater, and the hot water heater’s internal thermostat senses that the water is not hot enough, the water heater then turns itself on.
Having the switch on the distribution board set to ‘On’ does not mean that the hot water heater is using electricity all the time. The water heater will turn itself off once the pre-set temperature is reached.
Having the distribution board switch set to ‘On’ just means that the water heater will turn itself on at any time of the day or night when it detects that the temperature in the tank has fallen to less than the pre-set temperature. In fact you should have a constant supply of wonderfully hot water with the distribution board switch set to ‘On’.
You are right in that all this could, and indeed should, have been avoided.
Anyway, my ‘night owl’ mode is coming to an end so I’m going back to bed.
An update in the morning as to the hot water situation would be good.
JudyK, just to say that unless you actually use a fair amount of your electricity during the discount periods, washing clothes, heating water etc the the HC/HP may not be good for you as you pay a premium rate outside of the discount periods. Having a flat rate saved us a fair amount of money.
Good news! Hot water now. The Linky light still flashing continuously. Could not see any exposed wires around the device. What would the ‘signal wire’ be called in French? And French for “distribution board”? The co that installed the Linky is to contact me. FYI-I do have flat rate (cheaper plan) to save on my electricity bills. Waiting to hear back from co now.
I haven’t had a single unscheduled network outage in Ireland since 1983. And even then it is was because the overpaid Electricity Supply Board switch flickers went on strike because they felt they weren’t already being overpaid enough.
