Can you put a gas connection onto an electric/fuel boiler

[FSpirit]

Firstly sorry if this is a stupid question but I am blonde!!

Having been without hot water and heating for 24hrs Fri/Sat, we are trying to take measures to be more comfortable should it happen again. We have oil fired central heating with the boiler being electrically driven - hope that makes sense.

Thus my question is: Can one attach a gas connection to the boiler and then be able to switch to gas should the electric go - powered by a gas bottle?

Thank you in advance for any information.

 

[Dan Robinson]

No.

 

[dcawkwell]

No you need a small generator where you can plug the boiler and central heating into should the power fail. It will continue to use the oil for fuel.
The generator will provide the power to run boiler and pump and provide the heating. Even a generator will be ok. It only need to be about 1.5kW output to cover pump and boiler maybe a bit of lighting.

 

[FSpirit]

Thanks so much dcawkwell, really appreciate it. That was going to be my next question on the electrical part of the forum but you even put the wattage I need so don't have to do that now, will get generator searching instead. Hope you get your kipper, thanks again.

 

[Tipper]

A car battery and an inverter would do the job too.

From memory you only need around 2-300 Watts to run an oil fired boiler and central heating. But as already said a generator would be better as you could also keep your freezer running and a couple of table lamps. Don't backfeed your house wiring though.. could be dangerous and I believe your electricity supplier won't be too happy either if you get it wrong!

 

[FSpirit]

Thanks Tipper. Am in the process of looking for generators now, but will certainly bear the car battery and inverter in mind in the meantiime.

 

[Dan Robinson]

You're welcome.

 

[Onetap]

Thanks Tipper. Am in the process of looking for generators now, but will certainly bear the car battery and inverter in mind in the meantiime.

The output from most inverters isn't a true sine-wave and many electronic devices won't work with an inverter I forget which ones, have a search on the internet. A single car battery wouldn't last very long.

 

[Dan Robinson]

True... I have a cheapy one in the van for FGA and emergency laptop charging.

Cordless battery chargers hate it.