Gledhill PulsaCoil PCR hot water cylinder

[LikeAPossum]

Hi, I'm trying to find out a reason for very high electricity usage in my flat and I'm suspecting my water heater. It seems to be losing a lot of heat. The cabinet is always very warm and I took off the front panel it turned out there are long stretches of very hot copper pipes completely exposed. It seems bonkers to me, but I'm no expert that's why I have two questions:
1. Will it be ok if I put proper foam insulation on the pipes, or am I risking an armageddon?
2. The water is made extremely hot - much hotter than I need or want. I assumed there would be a way to tune that, but I don't see any control panel. Is it possible?

 

[lame plumber]

if your taking panels off to expose pipes the manufacturers havent insulated, is it wise to go fiddling?. are you on a electric meter or on a card meter,as card meters cost a fortune have a look here for more info on instruvctions etc [DLMURL="http://www.gledhill.net/page/185/PulsaCoil-BP.htm"]PulsaCoil BP - Hot water cylinders | Indirect hot water cylinders | Gledhill cylinders | Pressurised hot water cylinders | Domestic hot water cylinders[/DLMURL]

 

[Centralheatking]

You are using the off peak immersion I hope and not the expensive boost immersion.

 

[LikeAPossum]

if your taking panels off to expose pipes the manufacturers havent insulated, is it wise to go fiddling?. are you on a electric meter or on a card meter,as card meters cost a fortune have a look here for more info on instruvctions etc [..]

Judging from the photos in the manual it was the installer who chose not to insulate the pipes. Also, on page 17 it says "7. DO insulate any exposed hot water pipework in the PulsaCoil BP cupboard and appliance." So, I think I'll go for the insulation.

I'm on a meter. The price is not a problem, but I've been using 14kWh per day in the last two months... We've hardly done any heating as the flat is small and in a newish building. Plus, a lot of the heat is probably courtesy of the water heater.

You are using the off peak immersion I hope and not the expensive boost immersion.

I'm on a flat tariff and I don't think the heater turned on at all when "on peak" was off. I had calculated that I would have to use 70% of electricity during off peak to break even with the standard tariff, which is unlikely, so I would prefer not to switch. I hope there is a way of using this heater on a flat tariff.