Electric boiler uses off-peak electricity
Faced with one of his winter electricity bills exceeding £1000, much of it for the electric underfloor heating system and hot water, Kevin Collins has installed a Thermaflow electric combination boiler in his bungalow in Hardwick, Bucks. This unit uses off-peak electricity. It has a capacity of 330 l and runs 10 radiators and two towel rails, as well as hot water.
Hot water is provided at taps in under 5 s, and radiators achieve maximum temperature in 3 min. The integration of a stainless-steel internal pre-heat heat exchange and an Alfa Laval brazed plate heat exchanger provides hot water at high flow rates, serving up to three power showers simultaneously without the need for a booster pump.
Kevin Collins and his wife discovered the Thermaflow range, invented by Thermal Innovations (UK), at the EcoBuild exhibition. He explains, ‘We live in a rural area, so there is little chance of being connected to mains gas. The oil and LPG gas alternatives were unattractive and expensive because of the fluctuating costs. I was also very surprised at the figures quoted for heat-pump systems, which were eye-watering.’
George Curtis of Thermal Innovations put them in touch with approved installer Solar Geo, which then installed the system.
Thermaflow boilers are designed to operate on off-peak electricity. Energy availability is controlled by radio signals, and the boiler is hard-wired to a tele-switch via a 2-pole isolator or by the Thermaflow off-peak time control, depending on which tariff is available. The boiler rarely has to operate outside the off-peak electricity periods.
These boilers can accept solar input by adding a solar kit made by Thermal Innovations.
