Iona Boiler Lockout

JonathanTaylor · 15 Jan 2013

For the past couple of mornings my Iona Oil boiler has locked out when it first fired in the morning. I've then reset it, and it's then been OK for the rest of the day. Any ideas what might be causing this?

Burnerman · 15 Jan 2013

There could be plenty of speculation here, but if yours has a vertical chimney the air is pretty dense in there on a cold morning, so the burner combustion settings have to be good to allow the purge to commence before the burner is instructed to fire.
Can I ask when the boiler was last serviced, and the oil pressure / flue gases set - and when the internal flue baffles were last cleaned?
One easy task is to withdraw the photocell and see if the end is clean so it can see the flame.
John

leakydave · 15 Jan 2013

Icame across a similar problem just before Christmas. I was a bit stumped as the boiler was fine other than when starting first time from cold.
Keen to have a relaible boiler over Christmas the customer urged me to 'change some bits'. Oil pressure was fine and so I replaced the photo cell, though I didn't believe it was the culprit... boiler started fine from cold next day and has been fine ever since.

Who can explain that to me? Boilerman or Burnerman I suppose...

JonathanTaylor · 15 Jan 2013

Burnerman said:
There could be plenty of speculation here, but if yours has a vertical chimney the air is pretty dense in there on a cold morning, so the burner combustion settings have to be good to allow the purge to commence before the burner is instructed to fire.
Can I ask when the boiler was last serviced, and the oil pressure / flue gases set - and when the internal flue baffles were last cleaned?
One easy task is to withdraw the photocell and see if the end is clean so it can see the flame.
John

It's been some time since the combustion settings were checked (3-5 years I guess) but I cleaned the baffles about a month ago (and they were not really very dirty to be honest) and replaced the nozzle while I was at it.
I've just cleaned the photocell (it was not particularly dirty, but will see).

One other symptom is that it makes a bit of a bang (sounds like the baffles moving) every time it fires - and this is a new symptom, which has only happened since I cleaned it all out a month ago. I was wondering whether I've not replaced the baffles quite right or the electrode is misaligned - I'll have to take it apart and see I guess.

Burnerman · 15 Jan 2013

I've just googled 'Iona oil boiler' and I see there's a pdf courtesy of Trianco - which does have a picture of the baffles.
I would suspect your oil pressure is a bit low, but its a wild guess really and its best not to tamper without the right gear.
John

leakydave · 15 Jan 2013

If there is a bangy baffle noise when it fires, check you have the right electrode settings... gap and diatance forward (or back) of the nozzle spray outlet.

Agile · 15 Jan 2013

I always thought that after changing the nozzle then the combustion performance should always be checked ( with a flue gas analyser ).

With the cost of oil I would have expected having peak efficiency would have well paid for an occasional service !

I would love to have a selection of failed photocells to electrically test to identify the failure mode.

Tony

sherbert · 15 Jan 2013

Hi
With what youve told us,,, Did you fit the correct nozzle would be the 1st question
have you set the oil pump pressure or just assumed its ok for the nozzle... or should I ask have you set it??
and was the boiler last serviced about 5 years ago

My Gut feeling is that youve put the baffles in slightly wrong and are getting explosive igntion at the start due to either incorrect nozzle/pump pressure or the electrodes are a little bit out

JonathanTaylor · 15 Jan 2013

Thanks all, I'll take it apart again tomorrow and check the baffles and electrode alignment.

Agile · 15 Jan 2013

And check the combustion settings with a flue gas analyser?

sherbert · 15 Jan 2013

JonathanTaylor said:
Thanks all, I'll take it apart again tomorrow and check the baffles and electrode alignment.

I suggest you read more carefully what I was trying to get at

Still ........... at least its not to cold yet

JonathanTaylor · 15 Jan 2013

I only ever have boiler problems in freezing weather conditions....seems to be the way it is.

I saw your comment about the nozzle, it is the right one fitted. And also saw the comments about the flue meter, and understand the benefit, but that would mean a full service (which I cannot afford at the moment).

Agile · 15 Jan 2013

You also seem to have ignored the point about the oil pressure.

Although measuring that is less relevant if you are using a flue gas analyser.

JonathanTaylor · 15 Jan 2013

Agile said:
You also seem to have ignored the point about the oil pressure.

Although measuring that is less relevant if you are using a flue gas analyser.

Is there a way to measure that pressure without a meter of some sort?
And is that necessary if the nozzle is the same as the one which was removed?

Boilerman2 · 15 Jan 2013

Agile is a "GAS" Man! - it IS important that the oil pressure is correctly set because just like a Gas Boiler the fuel pressure is the basis of the heat input, once the oil pressure is correctly set a flue gas analyser should be used to trim the air to match the fuel input.

The reason yours is locking out on a cold start are numerous - TOP TIP!
Turn the boiler off before you go to bed, in the morning switch it on and see what happens - you will be in front of the boiler when the fault occurs hopefully, it could be a motor capacitor, poor chimney draught etc etc etc.

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Iona Boiler Lockout

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