You're looking at adding 12+kW based on your assessment of 8 radiators. You'd need to calculate the real heating need to confirm that, there are online calculators that will help determine your needs based on parameters such as room size, aspect, insulation levels, etc..
Standard supply capacity in Ireland is generally 12kVA or 16kVA, so those radiators will consume much of that on their own. You'll certainly need to apply for an upgraded supply, there'll be a cost associated. You will also very likely need a new consumer unit, and will definitely need to run new cables to supply the rads. Just plugging these in to existing sockets will at best just trip the circuit or fry some cables.
Running costs I'd imagine would be the main disadvantage but if you can afford that then why not! I put lovely fancy electric rads into a small extension where it wasn't practical to extend the central heating to, imported from UK with timers etc. Cost a fortune to run, electricity bill went up dramatically, so basically have disconnected two of them in case anyone turns them on by mistake, left the bedroom working on a timer.
A house with 3 bedrooms and 3 other rooms and you are spending €330 per month on heating !!!
Just get a oil fired burner, even if you were robbed every year it would be cheaper.
After 10 years with pellets I'm looking for something low maintenance. I don't mind spending a bit more for that. I am away from home 2-3 days per week, and I need something that my wife can manage without having to have a degree in engineering.
After 10 years with pellets I'm looking for something low maintenance. I don't mind spending a bit more for that. I am away from home 2-3 days per week, and I need something that my wife can manage without having to have a degree in engineering.
After 10 years with pellets I'm looking for something low maintenance. I don't mind spending a bit more for that. I am away from home 2-3 days per week, and I need something that my wife can manage without having to have a degree in engineering.
I don't see why she would need a degree - most new builds are using them now, they can't be that complex. I can't see that electric will be anything but more expensive than oil or gas if you're using it to heat rads directly, using a heat exchanger can multiply the efficiency. There was an article in the IT about them last week:
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-...y-theme-but-will-save-you-thousands-1.2789810
Or look at converting to a gas tank - gas is harder to steal
Calor have some sort of "free boiler" offer if you switch to them.
You're looking at adding 12+kW based on your assessment of 8 radiators. You'd need to calculate the real heating need to confirm that, there are online calculators that will help determine your needs based on parameters such as room size, aspect, insulation levels, etc..
Standard supply capacity in Ireland is generally 12kVA or 16kVA, so those radiators will consume much of that on their own. You'll certainly need to apply for an upgraded supply, there'll be a cost associated. You will also very likely need a new consumer unit, and will definitely need to run new cables to supply the rads. Just plugging these in to existing sockets will at best just trip the circuit or fry some cables.
I some more checking on this too.
I have 4 socket circuits, 2 up, 2 down. Each is 20A rated, which apparently can tolerate 4KW current. That's 16KW total, whereas I hope to install 10KW of space heating. You obviously need to check that your sockets are evenly distributed around your circuits, particularly in rooms that would generate more current than others (eg Kitchen). You should get an electrician to confirm this, particularly in older builds, but in general, provided your wiring was done professionally to being with, you should be able to use 8-10 of these rads in a standard 3-4 bed house.
That said, I am not an electrician. I plan to get an electrician to confirm that I will be able to use these rads.
That's what I was getting at. Radial socket circuits are designed to have the capacity to handle your regular appliances. Everyone's use will be different, Given your current spending on fuel, I fear you may need to go for the largest electrical rads available to match your current heat output. What's the kWh output rating of the pellet boiler?
3 of the 1500W rads will exceed the total capacity of a single radial circuit, drawing 20.45A assuming a fully resistive load. 3 of the 1000W ones will draw 13.64A, so with those you'd need to be careful there are no other heavy load items on the circuit. Even using a vacuum cleaner at the same time the heating is on would likely trip the circuit. For the kitchen circuit, using the kettle alone might be enough to trip the circuit with a single radiator on. It's for this reason storage heaters are wired into dedicated circuits, and not simple plugged into sockets.
10 of the bigger rads on at the same time would consume almost the entire capacity of a typical domestic 16kVA supply, and trip a 60A main breaker, that's before you switch on a single light.
3 of the 1500W rads will exceed the total capacity of a single radial circuit, drawing 20.45A assuming a fully resistive load. 3 of the 1000W ones will draw 13.64A, so with those you'd need to be careful there are no other heavy load items on the circuit.
10 of the bigger rads on at the same time would consume almost the entire capacity of a typical domestic 16kVA supply, and trip a 60A main breaker, that's before you switch on a single light.
I have an oil central heating system with 3 heating zones, nothing special or anything.
Zone 1 heats downstairs.
Zone 2 heats upstairs.
Zone 3 heats the hot water.
I use "Solo" radiators (which have a fan that throws out the heat) in all the rooms, except the bathrooms. I find the rads fantastic, extremely economical and use just a little more that 1 fill of oil per year to heat a 2,500 sq ft 2 storey house, average insulation and 16 years old. (TOTAL 1,200 LITRES) Check out the rads on the internet, you'll never look back, believe me.
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