Halstead Hero 50 - PCB Replacement query

bassybert · 12 Aug 2017

Hello,

I've been advised by a heating engineer that the reason our Halstead Hero 50 boiler (installed in 2002 but we've been at the property for 2 years) has stopped working is because the PCB has had it, and I've been quoted around £450 to replace the part including labour which is roughly half the cost of a new heat only boiler.

I've been lucky enough to source an updated version of the PCB replacement kit from a seller on eBay - I paid £95 for the kit rather than the normal £215-250 they're selling at retail for.

I feel that I'm a very competent DIY'er, but I'm always suspicious of going anywhere near gas appliances and would rather leave that to the experts.

The question I have though…

the PCB replacement is straightforward - mostly a case of methodically replacing the wiring harnesses and attaching them back into the PCB unit - the kit comes with instructions and having read through them a couple of times there is nothing there that's going to cause any issues. The electrode and leads are the correct type and have obviously been replaced at some point to the more recent version the kit requires.

The thing I'm worried about though is once the PCB has been replaced, does the boiler itself need testing before use again. Obviously I'm not going to be touching any gas related parts just replacing the wiring and PCB, but I'm not sure if the boiler uses an electronic gas flow meter or something similar that may need re-calibrating once the PCB has been swapped.

Thanks a lot,
James

AGAS · 12 Aug 2017

bassybert said:
the PCB replacement is straightforward - mostly a case of methodically replacing the wiring harnesses and attaching them back into the PCB unit - the kit comes with instructions and having read through them a couple of times there is nothing there that's going to cause any issues. The electrode and leads are the correct type and have obviously been replaced at some point to the more recent version the kit requires.

The thing I'm worried about though is once the PCB has been replaced, does the boiler itself need testing before use again. Obviously I'm not going to be touching any gas related parts just replacing the wiring and PCB, but I'm not sure if the boiler uses an electronic gas flow meter or something similar that may need re-calibrating once the PCB has been swapped.

people don't seem to listen but hope you will , u need to complete combustion and other checks when changing this awful boilers PCB and getting a PCB from from someones bedroom is another factor so don't be tight and source an engineer

bassybert · 12 Aug 2017

Thanks AGAS. It's not a cheap PCB though, it's an OEM unit sold by a company that are selling of a lot of older Halstead stuff.

You're right though, it is a crap boiler.

We've had a couple of quotes for a new Vaillant Ecotec combi to replace the current Hero boiler but quotes are all around the £2.8k mark which is way too much at the moment so we have to keep this one going.

just pumps · 13 Aug 2017

Take it you`ve seen the news and pictures of the latest house to go bang!

You want to take that chance?

oilboffin · 13 Aug 2017

Oh what a bang that was,could be a song title.DO not take a chance with gas it'll bite hard.Bob

DP · 13 Aug 2017

Op you are competent, go for it.

Item sourced from eBay could be defective, I have been caught out myself, so now it is from reliable sources only

Last time someone did this to me, never went back to fit the parts. How do you even know the person who looked at your boiler was telling the truth pcb is faulty

Agile · 13 Aug 2017

I agree that the PCB on this model can be somewhat unreliable.

So it is quite possible that it really is the PCB at fault.

However it is somewhat common for some engineers to blame the PCB knowing that the high price they quote is going to cover any repair.

But the boiler is pretty old and replacement would really have been a better solution.

Did you really get at least three comparable quotes for a replacement modern boiler?

But the replace with a heat only boiler would be far cheaper that to convert to a combi.

A nice condensing boiler could save quite a lot on the gas bill.

Tony

AGAS · 13 Aug 2017

Agile said:
I agree that the PCB on this model can be somewhat unreliable.

So it is quite possible that it really is the PCB at fault.

However it is somewhat common for some engineers to blame the PCB knowing that the high price they quote is going to cover any repair.

But the boiler is pretty old and replacement would really have been a better solution.

Did you really get at least three comparable quotes for a replacement modern boiler?

But the replace with a heat only boiler would be far cheaper that to convert to a combi.

A nice condensing boiler could save quite a lot on the gas bill.

Tony

Not everyone can afford a new boiler

And don't bother replying with the savings he will make as that means fook all when they can't afford it in the first place

lightning · 13 Aug 2017

He many not be able to afford a new boiler but what price do you put on it putting your family at risk???

HootingOwl · 13 Aug 2017

Agile said:
A nice condensing boiler could save quite a lot on the gas bill.

No it won't. Never replace a boiler in the belief that you are going to be saving vast amounts of money on your gas bill. It just isn't true unless the rest of your heating system has been designed to work with the lower flow and return temperatures that are required to exploit the potential efficiency of a condensing boiler.

OP - Depending on the relationship you have with your gas engineer, they may be perfectly willing to fit the PCB you have sourced independently. Don't do it yourself because there are numerous checks that need to be made to make sure the boiler is safe. Please remember that the engineer has been straight with you (hopefully) by telling you what was at fault - rather than just giving you a price to repair. When the bill is presented to you, it will include the two visits made to you plus the cost of acquiring that knowledge that the pcb was the fault. If that PCB is a duffer, then there will be a third visit to pay for. And if the boiler packs up again in three months time, it will cost again to get someone out to check it.

Long time since I saw a Hero. On that one, the customer had paid a company to replace the pcb and the fault turned out to be......a defective zone valve.

muggles · 14 Aug 2017

bassybert said:
Hello,

I've been advised by a heating engineer that the reason our Halstead Hero 50 boiler (installed in 2002 but we've been at the property for 2 years) has stopped working is because the PCB has had it, and I've been quoted around £450 to replace the part including labour which is roughly half the cost of a new heat only boiler.

I've been lucky enough to source an updated version of the PCB replacement kit from a seller on eBay - I paid £95 for the kit rather than the normal £215-250 they're selling at retail for.

I feel that I'm a very competent DIY'er, but I'm always suspicious of going anywhere near gas appliances and would rather leave that to the experts.

The question I have though…

the PCB replacement is straightforward - mostly a case of methodically replacing the wiring harnesses and attaching them back into the PCB unit - the kit comes with instructions and having read through them a couple of times there is nothing there that's going to cause any issues. The electrode and leads are the correct type and have obviously been replaced at some point to the more recent version the kit requires.

The thing I'm worried about though is once the PCB has been replaced, does the boiler itself need testing before use again. Obviously I'm not going to be touching any gas related parts just replacing the wiring and PCB, but I'm not sure if the boiler uses an electronic gas flow meter or something similar that may need re-calibrating once the PCB has been swapped.

Thanks a lot,
James

I'm always suspicious of eBay PCBs. Unless it was supplied in original, sealed, Halstead packaging I'd steer well clear. If it says "seller refurbished", run away very quickly. You don't know for certain that any components which might have been replaced during the "refurbishment" are the correct specification for the boiler, or that faulty components haven't simply been linked out. The PCB controls all the safety systems on the boiler, so it's vital that everything is working correctly. It also controls the opening and closing of the gas valve... how do you propose to test that this is operating correctly without the correct tools?

bassybert · 19 Aug 2017

Thanks for the replies everyone much appreciated.

I take the safety side of things seriously hence my post - I understand a new boiler would be the best option but that's simply not an option at the moment but maybe next year. We can't go the whole winter just on the immersion heater though so need to get the boiler fixed.

Regarding the PCB replacement, I did state it earlier in the post but I'll reiterate it again - it's a genuine Dimplex/Halstead replacement part and is brand new, not a refurbished unit - you can see the exact listing at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HALSTEAD-HERO-PCB-988470-GENUINE-PART-BRAND-NEW/162617183514

Thanks again.

muggles · 20 Aug 2017

That one's probably ok then, but you really should get someone who can do the proper tests to fit it for you

bernardgreen · 20 Aug 2017

bassybert said:
it's a genuine Dimplex/Halstead replacement part and is brand new, not a refurbished unit - you can see the exact listing at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HALSTEAD-HERO-PCB-988470-GENUINE-PART-BRAND-NEW/162617183514

Ask the vendor for a scanned image of the invoice he got when he purchased this "brand new genuine Halstead board" If it is a board purchased and then not used he will have ( or should have ) that invoice.

DP · 20 Aug 2017

OP, be advised us in the trade, some of us can book out a PCB from the supplier and then take it back if package not opened- others would have a fight on their hands if they tried returning this component to the supplier.
As a heating engineer, I can accept both scenarios- fit your supplied component (do it regularly) and hope it works. If the system still fails to work and problem remains into the PCB, then I walk and you sort replacement. If I supply then I sort till boiler working.
Ask yourself a question. Someone in similar situation as yourself buys a PCB and fits same. Kills it and now that board is on the eBay. I was caught out like that many years ago and I am a heating engineer.

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Halstead Hero 50 - PCB Replacement query

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