Digsy Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 I have a problem with my central heating: When my oil boiler first fires up it is supposed to go through a "purge" cycle for a few seconds where the motor and fan run but no fuel is injected. After this purge, it tires to ignite a flame for a few seconds and if it doesn't see anything via its little photocell thingy it goes into "reset mode". What's been happening recently is that instead of purging it has just been sitting there making a buzzing sound. After about ten seconds of buzzing it tries to fire up but of course doesn't so it goes into reset. I then have to press the button to get it to come on again. I have found that while it is buzzing if I twat it hard with my fist on top of the burner assembly inside the boiler it will usually start working normally. It sounds to me like the motor is sticking, so this could be a problem with: a) The motor. b) The motor start capacitor. c) Something affacted to the motor that makes it stick - either the pump or the fan. As an uneductaed guess I'd say (a) because if the pump jammed I think it would take more than a bang with my fist to free it up. If it was the capacitor then banging it wouldn't make any difference at all. One more thing: It appears (although this is by no means certain) that the hotter I run the burner, the more often this happens. It's been playing up all week but today I have been running it with the front panel off and the internal thermostat turned down half way and it hasn't missed a beat so far. Any thoughts from someone who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Apparently not mate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted February 27, 2006 Author Share Posted February 27, 2006 Ah-ha! But I have found en exploded diagram and parst list for my boiler on the web, and I've posted on http://www.diybanter.com Seems it might just be a £3 capacitor or maybe even just a loose connection. Fingers crossed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 ahh hope it is!!! our "probably a pcb" fault with the boiler ended up needing a new boiler completely. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilman Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It could be the high limit stat cutting it out. Check the temp on the boiler stat and water cylinder stat if you have one. Cheers Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Here is a more appropriate forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 and I've posted on http://www.diybanter.com Only you would be a member on there!! what about http://www.funwithelectronics.com ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Ok Digsy, sorry for the total thread hijack but wanted to ask a quick question or two about oil boilers. We've just bought a run down farm house out in the sticks nowhere near mains gas. We were going for LPG but have been advised that it's mega expensive to centrally heat a house like ours. Have you got any pointers on this kinda thing? Do you have LPG gas fires and stoves or is it all electric with your CH in oil? Any advice appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Lui on the forum is a boiler expert. ...but he aint cheap. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 It could be the high limit stat cutting it out. Check the temp on the boiler stat and water cylinder stat if you have one. Cheers Simon Nope, the high limit stat works fine. The motor is definately trying to start but can't quite manage it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Only you would be a member on there!! what about www.funwithelectronics.com ??? ACTUALLY.... I found it when looking online for a fix for my boiler I doubt I'l post on there again when its all done. I'm having fun with electronics right now... Watch this space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Ok Digsy, sorry for the total thread hijack but wanted to ask a quick question or two about oil boilers. We've just bought a run down farm house out in the sticks nowhere near mains gas. We were going for LPG but have been advised that it's mega expensive to centrally heat a house like ours. Have you got any pointers on this kinda thing? Do you have LPG gas fires and stoves or is it all electric with your CH in oil? Any advice appreciated. I'm afraid I can't help really. I'm all electric apart from the CH and water heater. My folks use mains gas and I believe their heating bills are higher than mine, though. About £200 a year does for me. Then again I'm hardly ever in and the boiler only runs for an hour or so in the morning and 5 hours at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Ok Digsy, sorry for the total thread hijack but wanted to ask a quick question or two about oil boilers. We've just bought a run down farm house out in the sticks nowhere near mains gas. We were going for LPG but have been advised that it's mega expensive to centrally heat a house like ours. Have you got any pointers on this kinda thing? Do you have LPG gas fires and stoves or is it all electric with your CH in oil? Any advice appreciated. Oil will be far cheaper over the long run, also if you have a diesel engine in anything . You could use LPG bottles (47Kg) for cooking if you really want gas cooking. An oil boiler will tend to be more expensive to buy if you need that but as said, overall the costs will be less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 Just because I know you are all losing sleep worrying how this turned out, it did indeed appear to be the starter capacitor. At least I fitted a new one for £13 a week ago and its been running fine ever since. (Queue total central heating failure). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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