Devireg 550 problems

[Llorando]

Devimat initially working for few years then electrical work done in house, long story short, electrician almost burnt my house down (installed downlighting in void only 5” - even I knew that was wrong - 300yr old oak floorboards started smouldering!), made a mess of everything else and lied constantly. Woman alone and suffering depression so difficult to stand up to him. That was 10yrs ago.

It appears that when moving the wiring for Devireg controller he didn’t know how to connect so didn’t bother, just plastered up and left it. (He in fact walked out and didn’t return to do any more work - I had no lighting!). I only give you this background because I know you will ask

So heating mat never worked and I’d like to try to sort it. It has just started flashing 1.6 which I guess is probably the backup battery? Anyway, I don’t trust anyone and a couple of electricians I’ve asked don’t know about underfloor heating. I’m in Kettering.

 

[ericmark]

Which I could say this is unusually, however as a cards in industrial electrician one is looking at around £25 per hour, to pay that the time is likely priced at £40 per hour, and most home owners do not want to pay that fee, and the pay peanuts get monkeys is to some extent true.

Having said that the rule book says 422.3.1 500 mm minimum distance from combustible materials. Which if you look at most homes means you can't fit down lights unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer.

Underfloor heating comes as two types, chemical (self regulating) and resistance wire (needs a sensor). I had latter fitted as at the time could not get the chemical type with built in earth braid. NTC 15kOhm at 25°C is the most common sensor, and the reason UFH failed was the sensor failed, it stuck in the pocket, so to renew would mean lifting the floor, on testing I found the floor did not exceed the required 27°C anyway, so I took a chance and ran it without the sensor, however if it was some one else's home, I would not have taken the chance, so it would have been a lift the floor job.

I would to be fair only bring a supply to the heating mat, I would consider the laying of the mat a specialised job, specially as the first one laid was destroyed by the builder due in the main to using out of date tile cement. With such a easy mistake resulting in the whole lot being scrapped and new laid, I would not want to get involved, only reason I did was it was for my mother.

And after all that, it was a bit useless anyway. Where I use to live there was a specialist firm, Allbrite who specialised in UFH and I would simply go to the specialist. And I would today go for RayChem mat even if it means having to lay an earth mesh, too easy for simple resistance wire to over heat, and for sensors to fail.