I am not an expert, but here are some details. Economy 7 is seven hours of heating water during night-time hours at a cheaper rate for each kwh or unit than during daytime - it depends on the supplier, sometimes its 6 or 6.5 hours. The consumption needs its own metering and can be combined with the daytime meter in one meter, or sometimes two meters and may be different colour casings or numbers on the reading displays. The night-time one usually provides power for storage heaters or underfloor heating - the heat is 'stored' and used up during daytime, depending on the room temperature and thermostat setting. The daytime power usage is usually for hot water for the kitchen, bathroom, washing machine, etc. and that is what the 'plastic bits' are for so you can select the time of day you want that hot water for. The 'off' setting means the water is not being heated usually, or to isolate the circuit for maintenance/repair, 'on' means it is switched on and actively available. The last switch is probably the one for the electrical circuit for your hot water cylinder [and maybe a shower] and it allows it to be switched off or 'isolated' for maintenance of the system. I think all you need to think about is the times of day for the plastic bits, usually one colour for 'on', one colour for 'off' and you can have two periods each day, so between the 'off' to the next 'on', the system is not using power to heat the water - the digital electronic timers or 'programmers' are more complicated. I hope this is useful, you want to consult an engineer from your electricity supplier who will probably require a call-out charge to be paid, or a local central heating maintenance company may be able to assist for a few pounds.

I have recently moved into a new house. A one bedroom house. It runs on electric only. The system is uses is Econamy Seven. There is an airing cupboard with a water tank, and the house has under floor electric heating to heat the house itself.

Now i am totally confused with that does what and if the heating it put on automatically during the hours of 11pm and 6am etc! Im lost, i dont know what dial/switch is activating what.

In my airing cupboard, i have one large water tank. There are 2 switches and one clock timer (with small plastic bits that can be pushed in or out). the first switch when is connected to the timer. When the switch is turned on the light above it does not light up, but it does come on sometimes (is it when the timers inwards plastic pieces are passing the correct time of day? or is it on only during the set econamy 7 hours..therefor the heating system knows the time in the uk??)

Anyway this time is then connected to the top of the water tank. There is another switch which when turned on the light comes on right away. This switch is connected to the bottom of the water tank?

Also around the house are thermostats to do the heating?

NOW??? please help, i have no idea if i am meant to be setting the clock to the right time? pushing in and out the plastic pins? leaving it all alone to come on when its meant to be cheapest automatically?????????

the timer also has 3 setting, on/off/timer??

Please help?????????? i dont want to be paying over the odds to heat the water or heating to much water for just me in a one bed house... does all this aircupboard business effect the under floor heating????????

Im so lost!