It's usually a Horstmann timer that's used on immersion tanks, they're a fair bit more expensive though, don't often see anything else - http://www.connectstores.com/P.E.D/sp_18461-50.html

My flat has has a huge boiler with what looks like two heating elements in it (one at the top and one at the bottom). Each said element has it's own separate on/off switch.

When i moved in to the flat, there was a crappy and ineffective timer in the kitchen. The actual timer on it seemed to be broken, however, when i wanted hot water, i just pressed the override button, and made sure what i thought was the top heating element in/on the boiler was switched on. After 15 minutes, all was good...hot water was flowing out of my taps.

The said crappy and ineffective timer then broke all together, and I replaced it with a simple L.E.D switch. This was because I didn't really need to have the water heated via a timer... I was just happy to turn the switch on.

Here's the small dilemma. The flat is soon to be inhabited by a tenant, and I'd like to put another timer in there. I've had a look on the ScrewFix website, and they quite clearly sell immersion heater timers, however, when i called to ask if they're the ones i need, all i got back from them was "sorry, we can't advise you on purchases like this...you need to speak to a plumber". :boggle:

Basically, the said timer needs to fit into a wall socket void which is the same size as a regular single power socket.

Here are the sort of things i've been looking at:

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/400147760463?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do?fh_search=immersion+timer&fh_view_size=20

Any pointers would be appreciated.

P.S - The ideal situation/solution would be to replace the boiler with an electric Combi (the property has no gas btw), but for now, it's going to have to stay as it is.

[Edited on 30-10-2012 by Aaron]