Cylinder not plumbed correctly?

[nervous123]

Ever since we moved in a few months ago, the Hot Water button on my Honeywell 9400C programmer turns on the CH, and vice versa. Also, the HW will only come up when both buttons are turned on. Understandably I assumed the problem lay with the electrician who installed it (although he was an English NICEIC-registered chappie who seemed to know what he was doing).

However, I called in a competent electrician who checked it and said it's all been wired correctly. Which I presume would mean it's a plumbing issue...just I don't know what to look for. Is there an obvious explanation? Would I need to call in a plumber or could I handle it myself?

Oh, forgot to mention..it's an Unvented sealed system. Boiler is Vaillant EcoTec 630 (not combi) and cylinder is Telford Tempest.

 

[kevplumb]

"s" plan 2x2 port valves or
"y" plan 1 x 3 port valve

if y plan the valve is the wrong way round or the programmer is set to gravity

 

[nervous123]

"s" plan 2x2 port valves or
"y" plan 1 x 3 port valve

if y plan the valve is the wrong way round or the programmer is set to gravity

Would you mind putting that in (brief) laymen's terms....
Where would I find this valve - on the boiler or the cylinder?
How do i know which plan it has been wired as, or which plan it should be wired as?

Sorry! and thanks

 

[Agile]

Some of what you have said is a little odd.

Whats important is if it ever worked correctly since it was fitted. I would think perhaps not.

If it suddenly stopped working then something has failed but that failure would be most likely to be one that would be an electrical aspect which a competent heating engineer, who can do his own wiring and fault finding, could identify.

For some reason that I can never understand, few electricians can fault find on controls even when they are primarily electrical in their operation.

Based on what you have said so far I would not assume that its even wired correctly unless you can tell me that it used to work OK.

Regardless, it will probably need an experienced person unless you are very competent with a test meter.

Tony

 

[D_Hailsham]

"s" plan 2x2 port valves or
"y" plan 1 x 3 port valve

if y plan the valve is the wrong way round or the programmer is set to gravity

Would you mind putting that in (brief) laymen's terms....
Where would I find this valve - on the boiler or the cylinder?
How do i know which plan it has been wired as, or which plan it should be wired as?

KP is asking if you see anything like either of these on your system?

View media item 5946 View media item 11762

 

[nervous123]

Whats important is if it ever worked correctly since it was fitted. I would think perhaps not.

Based on what you have said so far I would not assume that its even wired correctly unless you can tell me that it used to work OK.

Regardless, it will probably need an experienced person unless you are very competent with a test meter.

Tony

1. It has never worked properly
2. If as you say it's not been wired correctly, the electrician I got in who approved it, must have been mistaken. So...do I get another electrician? Or just a heating engineer? (does he need any specific electricians)
3. No intention of doing it myself!

Thanks

 

[Agile]

Thats what I thought, its never worked properly.

Its easy enough to correct the wiring and you could almost do it yourself with a bit of time.

Very few electricians seem to understand wiring up heating systems. Rather more, but not by any means most, heating engineers understand wiring them.

Somewhat less understand how to diagnose faults but my first guess is that nothing has failed and it just needs wiring properly. Thats rather easier.

Whoever you get make sure you agree a fixed price for the job however long it takes. The more competent the faster it should be. You should not be paying more for a duffer who takes all day.

I would hope to rewire it correctly and test that the whole system including the boiler is all working correctly in about 1.25 hours including coffee break. It could take longer though.

Tony

 

[D_Hailsham]

KP is asking if you see anything like either of these on your system?

View media item 5946 View media item 11762

An answer to this question would be very helpful.

They are normally found near the hot water cylinder.

 

[nervous123]

KP is asking if you see anything like either of these on your system?

View media item 5946 View media item 11762

An answer to this question would be very helpful.

They are normally found near the hot water cylinder.

Finally! Was hoping someone would tell me where to look. Will check tonight after work... thanks

 

[nervous123]

Ok, had a look at my cylinder up in the loft.

Overall view:

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
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Bit closer:

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
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The bottom box is a Siemens 2 port 22mm valve actuator:

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
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it is set to auto

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
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Top 'box' (marked B) says Honeywell where it joins pipework:

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
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also set to auto

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• nervous123
• 3 Nov 2010
• 1

So I assume, based on Kevplumb's post above, I should have S plan (2 x2 valves)...

Is there any obvious solution, based on these pics, to my original query?

(thanks - total novice here)

 

[Axel]

Is that an unvented cylinder??

 

[nervous123]

Is that an unvented cylinder??

Yep...why?

 

[Axel]

Well... there are regulations regarding correct and safe installation of unvented cylinders. There is a special qualification (G3) that plumbers are supposed to have to install or mess with theses things - correct wiring etc is more of a safety issue than with vented cylinders.

 

[mickyg]

who installed that cylinder?? the tprv outlet goes uphill! The feed into the combination valve looks like its teed into the balanced outlet?? !!wtf? more pictures please! all of the cylinder and its pipework. See what else they did wrong. No way was this done by a competent person.

 

[petit_pablo]

Amusingly quite an apt username given that unvented cylinder install. Id be nervous too