3-port valve 'clicking' on and off repeatedly

[PHickman]

I have hunted thru the FAQ, and all posts in this section but can find no relevance to my specific problem. I am hoping some of the more knowledgeable DIY'ers can help me with a problem... before I call-out British Gas costing over a hundred quid.!



1) Boiler make / model (gas or oil)
Boiler is a GlowWorm Ultimate 40 BF (gas).

2) What is / is not happening
When signal is received from thermostat that central heating is needed the electronic "switch" (3-port valve?) located under my hot water tank powers-up and then fires back off... repeatedly... about once per second. The firing back off is a very loud pinging.

3) Has ANYTHING else been done / changed recently
Turned off the entire house mains via the fuse box. I fitted new plug sockets and boiler / oven switches, no major re-work. All done. Power back on.

4) When did it (problem) start
CH pumped cold water in the morning.

5) When does it happen? eg, heating coming on or going off
When the CH is on (at the correct time, and when thermostat says we need heat).

6) Anything else you feel may be of relevance
The pump (Grundfos Circulating Pump) is working fine... but is pumping around cold water instead of hot water.

 

[clf-gas]

Change sincron motor (head)

 

[nickso]

2) What is / is not happening
When signal is received from thermostat that central heating is needed the electronic "switch" (3-port valve?) located under my hot water tank powers-up and then fires back off... repeatedly... about once per second. The firing back off is a very loud pinging.
.

the gears on the valve or the motor are probably worn or out of place.

 

[corgiman]

Change sincron motor (head)

is it a honeywell three port valve

cos this happens to them alot if the arms are out on sync

 

[PHickman]

the gears on the valve or the motor are probably worn or out of place.

Is there a way for me to put the gears back into place? --- or is that something only a trained engineer can do for me (at a price)..?

If I move the motor (on top of the valveway) at different angles the firing off becomes intermittent... sometimes only once every two seconds instead of once per second.

I cannot understand how turning power off to the house, and then turning power back on can cause issues to the central heating system!?!?! Perhaps just a nasty coincidence.

 

[nickso]

you should be able to see the wear on the little gear wheel that sticks out of the motor.....sounds like you have it apart already so have a check.

as said above change the syncron motor and it usually sorts it.

 

[PHickman]

is it a honeywell three port valve

cos this happens to them alot if the arms are out on sync

I found a "HoneyWell three port valve" on eBay but that does not look like the valve I own.

 

[PHickman]

you should be able to see the wear on the little gear wheel that sticks out of the motor.....sounds like you have it apart already so have a check.

as said above change the syncron motor and it usually sorts it.

No, I do not have it apart already. I was gonne power down the house when the kids go to bed and take the valve off and have a poke about. I will check this out later and report back.

 

[nickso]

what colour is the head of the valve?

 

[PHickman]

Actually - something that is relevant.

I just ran the bath for the bairns. Now the "clicking" has stopped --- presumably the switch is locked into a new position? I never noticed until I came back on here to see if there were any new posts.

When I turn the thermostat on the HW tank down... the "clicking" starts again from the valve. When I turn the thermostat back up on the HW tank the clicking stops.

Does that change anyones analysis?

The pump is pumping cold water thru the radiators when the clicking is off. When the clicking is on, the water being pumped is hot.

 

[corgiman]

Actually - something that is relevant.

I just ran the bath for the bairns. Now the "clicking" has stopped --- presumably the switch is locked into a new position? I never noticed until I came back on here to see if there were any new posts.

When I turn the thermostat on the HW tank down... the "clicking" starts again from the valve. When I turn the thermostat back up on the HW tank the clicking stops.

Does that change anyones analysis?

The pump is pumping cold water thru the radiators when the clicking is off. When the clicking is on, the water being pumped is hot.

Is it a silver coloured head??

 

[PHickman]

Is it a silver coloured head??

I have tried to find a picture of anything that looks similar but to no avail. It is a dark gray, cube of ~2 inches, with rounded edges. A fastening clip on each side with a yellow "tightener" for each clip. The top of the back edge is perforated - presumably for ventilation since the damn thing is very hot!

 

[corgiman]

Ahhh

its either a danfoss on a sunvic

My advise is change the head (actuator)

 

[PHickman]

Ahaaa... a little bit of mirror-reading and I found a label on the underside... Siemens (Landis & Staefa) --- Part: RMH

Here is a link to the exact model... http://www.heatingcontrolsonline.co.uk/siemens-landis-staefa-rmh-motor-p-46.html .. I Googled it.


When the HW thermo is turned down, then the "clicking" stops but the CH is pumping cold water around the radiators. When the HW thermo is turned up, the "clicking" comes back... but hot water is pumped around the radiators. Can anyone put into idiot terms for me what is actually happening here? --- this would be handy if others are in my situation and would like to understand their problem.

 

[corgiman]

well thats me shown aint it

I humbly bow at