Architekt shower valves Q's on plumbing

[El]

I've pretty much got this installed save for reboarding the studwork and mortoring in the pipes in the wall, but want to check a few things before I do that. I've a gravity fed system (tank in loft, HW cyclinder at first floor level) with twin impellor pump fed with 22mm into 15mm flexi's, with 15mm flexi's out continuning in 15mm pipe for a metre or so to the valve inlets (H+C 15mm). Single outlets (15mm) to bath filler and shower.

Q1. Should I expand the shower pipework out to 22mm from the shower outlet, only to reduce again at the head to 15mm for a run of 1.5m with 3 elbows.
Q2. The temperature of the hot is hot enough to the touch but not as hot as I like. It's connected correctly on the valve, the HW cylinder is working ok at 65 degrees. I'm wondering if the Architeckt Avus range have a safety device to avoid scalding? Could I remove this? Does anyone know how to contact the manufacturers as I can't find any info on them?
Q3. Surrey, Warwick flanges. Some invalidate the pumps but with a HW cylinder with a 3/4" top outlet most won't fit. Any ideas? I used a techflow one once but seem to remember cutting a hole in the tank to fit it? Can I avoid doing this as I can't find one samll enough (probably due to restricted flow through the top hole)

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.
El

 

[Gunslinger]

Q1. i'd be tempted to run 22, but as you have 15 mm in other parts of the system and it's pumped, i would say it's not vital. Personally if the pipework is to be hidden and difficult to access later, then i guess you could argue that fitting 22mm could save you trouble later.

Q2. plumbworld.co.uk seems to be the main supplier for that make of shower, and "may" be the exclusive distributor, although i could be wrong, so calling them would be your best bet to get any tech support or literature. However, that said.... the temperature issue you have, might, as with other showers, be down to the initial setup of the thermostatic cartridge, you would need to confirm this, but it could be that the valve was not setup correctly on initial install.

Q3. sorry, not familiar enough with all the various options or makers restrictions to give a useful opinion

 

[El]

Quick update on this and I've managed to answer two of my 3 questions, through trial and error and a spot of luck!

Q1. I re-plumbed the shower feed from the mixer, expanding up to 22mm and the pressure reduction was shocking. Even that short run proved a bad move so after a lot of cursing I've replumbed back to 15mm. I didn't expect that going from small to large to small bore would affect things so much.

Q2. I agree that it looks like Plumbworld are exclusive in Architekt stuff. However, on removing the handle controlling temperature, I discovered a a small pin on the reverse. On the valve, was a black plastic collar with a raised section which acts as a stop, for the pin. After removing and refitting slightly in the wrong position (ie rotated towards the cold feed) the hot water temperature had increased as I'm assuming that now the roation allows more hot flow through the valve. The consequence is that my cold is now not really that cold (the same differential of rotation is maintained, just that the miminum and maximum temperatures have been adjusted, in this case upwards). I'm betting if I remove it altogether then I'll have my cold back to normal and the hot at cylinder temperature.

Q3. Still none the wiser though at present.

 

[Gunslinger]

Q!. Interesting, i'm inclined to think it's less of a pressure issue and more of a flow rate issue, but if 15 works best for you, then you can't argue with practical results

Q2. yeah, that collar, although crude in it's design and implimentation sounds like it is used to set the upper temp of the shower at a safe level to avoid scolding, in the instructions it probably says to set it at a point that gives a certain temperature, i know some that have a 38 degree safety lock need setting up like that at the upper limit if you want the temp lock switch to be affective at the correct 38 degrees.
If you remove that collar completely, you may find that the handle simply spins all the way off ! i had a Trevi one do that because a little piece of plastic had broken off the travel stop part !

 

[phalton]

Hi

I have installed an avus arckiteckt shower and bath filler from plumbworld.
The hot and cold are both at mains pressure with hot from a combi at 60C+.
The hot supplied by the mixer at max is nowhere near the temperature at the adjacent basin. This is OK for a shower but no use for a bath and especially for topping up a bath when you want it at max.
I have done the collar and pin thing but it was close to max when installed.
Trying to contact plumbworld is pretty arduous as they dont publish a phone number they insist on doing everything by email.
I was wondering if this could be a flow issue as the cold flow is obviously higher than the hot.
Any thoughts or experiences appreciated.

 

[Gunslinger]

i'm not sure, your best bet is to keep trying to contact them.

it sure does sound like it is limiting the upper temperature

 

[fatwookie]

Hi

I have installed an avus arckiteckt shower and bath filler from plumbworld.
The hot and cold are both at mains pressure with hot from a combi at 60C+.
The hot supplied by the mixer at max is nowhere near the temperature at the adjacent basin. This is OK for a shower but no use for a bath and especially for topping up a bath when you want it at max.
I have done the collar and pin thing but it was close to max when installed.
Trying to contact plumbworld is pretty arduous as they dont publish a phone number they insist on doing everything by email.
I was wondering if this could be a flow issue as the cold flow is obviously higher than the hot.
Any thoughts or experiences appreciated.

I have EXACTLY the same problem.

Did you solve it and have any lucj getting help from Plumbworld??

Thanks.

 

[Peg123]

I am also having problems witht the temp of my shower. I specifically bought this shower as it should run on a 5:1 ratio - as my cold water does have more pressure.
I had a plumber fit the shower but the temp never gets past that slightly annoying luke warm...ok for a very quick shower, not so good if you are trying to wash hair.
There isn't an issue with the hot water normally, running a bath takes no time and it's scalding.

I am hoping that the issue can be resolved by moving the position of the limiter that has been mentioned on resposnes to Q2.

Is it fairly easy to get to the collar and change the positioning of the pin...when i say easy i mean obvious...i don't want to attempt it and find myself with a totally useless shower.

Is this something a 'normal' person with no real plumbing experience can do? Will i have to take the whole shower (tap section bit) off the wall, or can it be tackled whilst still mounted.

Any advice or an idiots guide as to how to do this would be greatly received.

Thanks

 

[fatwookie]

The temperature control can be accessed by unscrewing the lever, then loosen the hexagonal key bolt inside and pull to remove the collar. The collar fits on the spline of the temp control and you'll notice that the temp valve can be rotated by more than is possible by the range of movement of the lever. Therefore, the temp can be adjusted by removing the lever and collar and re-fitting it at a different position on the spline to allow a new range of movement. Does that make sense?

I've had a pressure reducing valve installed on the cold supply and now the shower seems to work well. Whatever the instructions say, it seems to me that the shower will only work properly when the cold and hot supply pressures are equal. If the cold pressure is more than the hot, it will always reduce the temp of the water at the shower head.

 

[Peg123]

Thanks for that. I think i will just get a valve fitted - it seems to be the only real way to limit the cold coming through. Thanks for replying!