Alpha Ocean Boiler 260E problem

RheaAnthony · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:01 am Post Subject: Alpha Ocean Boiler 260E problem

We have this problem with our boiler - sometimes we get hot water, sometimes we can get heating - but mostly we don't. Turning on and off and resetting several times usually yields a result, but of course this is no good for putting the heating on the timer - it only works the first time! We can't get a heating engineeer who can fix it at all! So far we've had a unit with a diaphragm in it replaced, and the ignition unit (pcb) replaced. This last we had to order and do ourselves. After being told it was definitely the problem and that the engineer would return with the part he vanished never to be seen or heard from again. Does anyone have any idea as to what may be causing this heating problem? We're beginning to think that we live in some kind of Bermuda Triangle into which Heating Engineers disappear never to be seen again. Many Thanks in advance.

ChrisR · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:18 am Post Subject:

I would bet 50p it isn't a 260E, cos they didn't make one, but several pounds that it only needs a service and a bit of simple diagnosis.
Intermittent messing-about type faults are impossible to decide on from here, but it's a straighforward boiler. If, that is, it's a 240 or 280

RheaAnthony · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:22 am Post Subject:

Yes, sorry, it's a 280e. Would love to be able to get someone to diagnose the problem. We've been through Yellow Pages, Yell.Com and Thompsons Local. That's how I ended up here. Does this type of boiler have a manual reset button (which I've read about elsewhere on this forum), which you have to press after the boiler has been disconnected from the mains?

ChrisR · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:31 am Post Subject:

Not if simply disconnected from the mains, no. Do you have the manual? If not, put your email addy in your Profile and some kind soul might email it to you.

It'll tell you abou the little (yellow?) light on the front which is probably winking at you..

RheaAnthony · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:13 pm Post Subject:

Well, the little yellow light isn't 'winking' - it just comes on and stays on when the boiler doesn't ignite. I've edited my profile to show my email address, so a link to that information would be good.

Last year when we had the unit with the diaphragm replaced the plumber who first came out asked us if we had the manual for this boiler and we were able to go online, find it and print it out for him. After which he unscrewed a sensor without shutting off the water supply, flooded the whole kitchen, and then charged us £75.00 to replace the diaphragm. Two weeks later we had to call someone else in because it wasn't the diaphragm but the rod which actuates it. So then we replaced the whole unit.

Unfortunately we didn't keep the print-out (it got soaked through when the kitchen was flooded) and the link to where we got it from no longer provides print-outs.

Many thanks in advance.

ChrisR · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:00 pm Post Subject:

Light points to a number of possibilities, which you'll find in the manual.
Come back if stuck.