Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5
years or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and
is delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water.
The boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water
is needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit
temperamental for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW,
sometimes not, but now seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

thanks
Andy

On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:44:57 -0800, andyjd wrote:

Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5 years
or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and is
delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water. The
boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water is
needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit temperamental
for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW, sometimes not, but now
seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

thanks
Andy

1) Don't use that plumber.
I'm always hesitant to suggest problem due to sludge as it's the refuge
of those who can't diagnose the real problem.

2) You should be looking to replace the DHW micro switch. I doubt this
component is over £25 + VAT.




--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

In message
,
andyjd writes
Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5
years or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and
is delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water.
The boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water
is needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit
temperamental for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW,
sometimes not, but now seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

Sounds like the pcb falling apart

.... as they do


--
geoff

On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:26:44 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message
,
andyjd writes
Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5 years
or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and is
delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water. The
boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water is
needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit temperamental
for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW, sometimes not, but now
seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

Sounds like the pcb falling apart


That would be the second choice and the fault would be specifically to
processing of the DHW switch signal.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

On 28 Dec, 12:14, Ed Sirett wrote:
On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:26:44 +0000, geoff wrote:
In message
,
andyjd writes
Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5 years
or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and is
delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water. The
boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water is
needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit temperamental
for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW, sometimes not, but now
seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

Sounds like the pcb falling apart

That would be the second choice and the fault would be specifically to
processing of the DHW switch signal.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is athttp://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ *http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQhttp://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQhttp://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

IIRC the compact combi ues a sub £5 water flow diaphragm

In message , Ed Sirett
writes
On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:26:44 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message
,
andyjd writes
Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5 years
or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and is
delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water. The
boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water is
needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit temperamental
for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW, sometimes not, but now
seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

Sounds like the pcb falling apart


That would be the second choice and the fault would be specifically to
processing of the DHW switch signal.

Its another pcb where connector pin joints crack (surprise, surprise)
and the intermittency is what pointed me in that direction. The fact
that someone came and had a poke around with it and it started working
again is what would point it to me as being choix numero uno


--
geoff

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:30:17 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message , Ed Sirett
writes
On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:26:44 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message
,
andyjd writes
Wondering if anyone can help diagnose a slightly odd, intermittent
problem with my compact 80e (not quite sure how old, but perhaps 5
years or so). The system is firing up fine, apparently working OK and
is delivering central heating with no problems -- but no hot water.
The boiler is seemingly not "sensing" when the tap is on and hot water
is needed, so it's just coming through cold. It's been a bit
temperamental for the past few weeks, sometimes giving me HW,
sometimes not, but now seems to be totally on the blink.

Plumber came and looked at it last week when (ironically enough) it
decided to start working again, so wasn't that helpful, but he thought
system might need flushing out to clear gunk etc, perhaps there was a
blockage somewhere inside, exacerbated by the cold.

Any bright ideas before I start spending money?

Sounds like the pcb falling apart


That would be the second choice and the fault would be specifically to
processing of the DHW switch signal.

Its another pcb where connector pin joints crack (surprise, surprise)
and the intermittency is what pointed me in that direction. The fact
that someone came and had a poke around with it and it started working
again is what would point it to me as being choix numero uno

OK. Agreed.
Again just like I'm prejudiced against the sludge /power flushing as a
diagnosis. I'm similarly disinclined to start with the PCB (unless it's a
Suprima). In this case you are probably right, I'm not sure what the
technology of the water flow switch is. If it's a magnet + hall effect or
magnet + nickel reed technology then these sensors are so reliable the
wiring/pcb/connectors would be moved up the list.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html