On 16 Feb 2021 at 12:12:47 GMT, "Roger Hayter" wrote:

On 15 Feb 2021 at 14:29:19 GMT, "The Natural Philosopher"
wrote:

On 15/02/2021 14:17, S wrote:
On 15/02/2021 14:16, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Boiler:
Camray 5 circa 2001, oil, non condensing

Symptoms:
It seems to be on, and yet it hasn't fired. Sometimes after tens of
minutes it does, and then works fine.

The flameout/lockout *doesn't* come on. (although it did twice in the
high winds)

There is oil in the tank


http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odds%20and%...Camray%205.jpg

It sounds as though the oil pump and air blower are doing their stuff.
Not sure about circulation pump, but water is cold.

Any ideas?



have you checked the photocell? They can get sooted up and normally get
replaced as a matter of course as part of the annual service.....

Wouldn't that cause a lockout though, as in 'no flame detected' ?

I haven't checked anything yet.

I thought I would ask first...

I had an old Firebird boiler with a Riello RDB burner and most of its faults
did indeed lead to lockout after up to 15sec. They include a capacitor in
the
EHT generator, a motor capacitor and the common one of the flame sensor
getting too dirty to detect the flame.

I afraid my recollection is a bit hazy, but I think I did have one fault that
led to the pump and fan running indefinitely without an attempt at ignition.
This was due to the light sensitive sensor failing iin a "flame detected"
state, so that the controller became confused and never initiated the spark.
I don't remember for sure but I think the sensor is an LDR that goes low
resistance when illuminated and mine had failed in a low resistance
condition.
It is either that or vice versa! Anyway it was the opposite failure to the
normal failure to detect the flame,

However, one would expect the combustion chamber to accumulate kerosene until
the boiler was turned off so the pump/fan stopped. I can't honestly remember
if mine did (I also had a few pump seal failures but these led to kerosene ++
outside the combustion chamber with a working boiler. If my sensor fault
didn't lead to kerosene accumulation it may be because of the confused
controller not opening the solenoid.

TL, DR try a new sensor, possibly after measuring its resistance with the
window covered - I can't remember where I got the spec.

PS. It turns out I have a new spare sensor (and a 530SE controller plus
another 530SE which was old but serviceable after capacitor replacement as I
recollect)[1]. The resistance in room light is about 18k to 26k depending on
how light, and about 380k in the dark. So if it is below, say, 50k with the
window occluded it could cause your fault, IME.

[1] The controllers are probably available for a fairly nominal sum if anyone
needs them. They should have gone on Ebay but I never go round to it.

--
Roger Hayter