Satchwell CH/HW Timer...

Funkyfreddy · 23 Oct 2017

My parents have what you would probably call a vintage Satchwell Central Heating & Hot Water Timer (as per attached picture)

It has 12 available time settings throughput the 24Hr period for CH / HW.

It has, as far as I am aware worked without an issue for a good number of years. They have been away recently leaving the CH to come for an hour or so each morning and evening. Whilst checking in on the house I was puzzled that the central heating was on at times when it shouldn’t and it would seem it randomly resets itself at some point through the day or at certain “trigger” times. I haven't manage to pinpoint a pattern.

Would anybody know of a similar, quite simple in operation dual CH / HW timer that would give similar options through a 24 Hr period – unless I missing something obvious many of the current rimes I have quickly had a look at seem to have far fewer time settings ?

Thanks in advance

stem · 23 Oct 2017

That is a very basic timer. The newer ones will actually have more settings, but far less switches! You would probably find that a modern two channel programmer will replace it, but to be 100% sure it would be necessary to have details of the existing wiring going to it.

The present timer is pretty limited in that it appears from looking at the time selection switches; that you cannot have the central heating 'on' without the hot water also being 'on'. If so, this is typical of older heating systems (Pre 1980's) that were not designed (because of plumbing restrictions) to allow this facility. If your parents system is like this. And most likely it will be if it's as old as the programmer; then you would need to select a new programmer that offers the option of controlling a system with 'pumped heating and gravity hot water'. Most do have this facility, but not all.

Echo the husky · 23 Oct 2017

What an awesome timer! They don't make them like that any more.

ianmcd · 23 Oct 2017

Thanks for the post I havent seen one of them in about 30 years , they were the Mutts Nuts when they came out, as Stem says any programmer that has a Gravity HW setting will replace it, or get a nest and keep @stem busy for the next few months

Funkyfreddy · 27 Oct 2017

ianmcd said:
Thanks for the post I havent seen one of them in about 30 years.......[EDIT]

My Dad suggests it does date back to the previous Boiler so yes a 30+year timescale since original install would probably fit but its been working without fault during that time.

Thanks..

Funkyfreddy · 27 Oct 2017

stem said:
That is a very basic timer. The newer ones will actually have more settings, but far less switches! You would probably find that a modern two channel programmer will replace it, but to be 100% sure it would be necessary to have details of the existing wiring going to it.

The present timer is pretty limited in that it appears from looking at the time selection switches; that you cannot have the central heating 'on' without the hot water also being 'on'. If so, this is typical of older heating systems (Pre 1980's) that were not designed (because of plumbing restrictions) to allow this facility. If your parents system is like this. And most likely it will be if it's as old as the programmer; then you would need to select a new programmer that offers the option of controlling a system with 'pumped heating and gravity hot water'. Most do have this facility, but not all.

Sorry for late acknowledgement – thanks for the input.

Set up is an Ideal boiler with two Boss Therm BZV22 valves - one for CH and one for HW, they in turn switch the boiler on and in the case of the CH the pump too.

Both valve motors have been changed a couple of times I'm sure as the plastic gearing/cams have worn (or broken ?) and resulted in them not turning off the boiler when on. There is something in my mind that the original wiring had powered inputs for open & close whereas recent motors do not..???

Only way you can (could !) get CH on without HW was by turning the HW off completely using the lower right hand switch.

Thanks again for the input – I'll look at some two channel timers but my only concern with newer “Digital” type timers might be not be quite as easy and quick to operate for those of more senior years – a similar “Switch type” would be great but I guess that probably isn't going to be an option.

Cheers
FF

oilhead · 27 Oct 2017

Drayton SM2 gives independent switching for hot water and heating, but you are limited to single times and 24 hours. I find it acceptable for customers of senior years, where every day tends to be the same.

stem · 30 Oct 2017

Funkyfreddy said:
Set up is an Ideal boiler with two Boss Therm BZV22 valves - one for CH and one for HW

In that case you can ignore the comment about the 'gravity hot water' set up. It's 'fully pumped' and capable of independent control of heating and hot water.

Funkyfreddy · 1 Nov 2017

oilhead said:
Drayton SM2 gives independent switching for hot water and heating, but you are limited to single times and 24 hours. I find it acceptable for customers of senior years, where every day tends to be the same.

Thanks Oil.

Funkyfreddy · 1 Nov 2017

stem said:
In that case you can ignore the comment about the 'gravity hot water' set up. It's 'fully pumped' and capable of independent control of heating and hot water.

Thanks again for the input....my Dad has found some of his original paperwork including the Satchwell installation sheet so I have a some stuff to go through.

The timer in question appears to date from 1978 so coming to 40 years service - good until recently !

Boiler is an Ideal RS330 (or 360) with Gravity and Pumped inlet/outlets and by the look of it originally SM3203 Actuator/Valves but these now seem to be BZV22's (or at least the motors from them ?)

The DHW is gravity fed with HW tank upstairs and cold water tank in loft – I've always thought though that the DHW and pumped CH were on two different separate feeds in/out of the boiler.

I was hoping that it might be a fairly straight forward project to replace the timer but the junction/connection box for some of the wiring is just under the kitchen floor with the CH pump but I'm wondering how compatible the exiting wiring will be to a current timer ?

Thanks again,
FF.

JohnD · 1 Nov 2017

oilhead said:
Drayton SM2 gives independent switching for hot water and heating, but you are limited to single times and 24 hours. I find it acceptable for customers of senior years, where every day tends to be the same.

yes indeed. It's action is pretty obvious to people who have used an old timer, and if there are carers coming in, they can have a post-it explaining the "advance" button. I got one for my old mum.

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Satchwell CH/HW Timer...

Funkyfreddy

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