Drayton actuator:manual operation?

[keith666]

i need to shut water off from HW tank (taps to change and no local shut offs), there is a drayton actuator on main outlet from tank but not sure if there is a manual override to close?

Any info/guidance appreciated

Thanks

 

[stem]

If you are referring to a motorised valve, it is installed on the boiler pipe system which is a separate circuit and is isolated from the domestic hot water cylinder internally. So it won't help.

If you have a hot water cylinder, there should be a gate valve (usually red, but not always) in the pipe that goes from the bottom of the the feed and expansion tank above, to the bottom of the hot water cylinder. Close this valve and after a brief period of running, water should cease running from the hot taps.

Something like this, although it may be further along the pipe.

Edited to add photo

 

[keith666]

Have had a further look, pipe from middle of tank goes to valve and actuator, pipe from bottom of tank has a valve (no handle) but this when shut dosent seem to shut off water.
May be more in loft, does the expansion tank have to empty as well?

Will investigate in loft shortly

 

[stem]

The Drayton actuator in the middle of the cylinder will be in the pipe from the boiler, it just circulates water around a sealed internal coil and has nothing to do with the hot water going to the taps. The valve will be closed pretty much most of the time anyway, as it will only be open for a short time when the boiler is heating the hot water.

The isolation valve should be in the pipe between the bottom of the feed & expansion tank and bottom of the hot water cylinder, it should be close to the cylinder so as to be readily accessible (ie not in the loft) as its purpose is to allow the hot water to be turned off to facilitate changing a tap / tap washer without the need to empty the tank in the loft. When the valve is closed, the F&E tank is isolated from the hot water cylinder and and remains full. Then after opening a hot tap for a brief period a small amount of hot water will flow out but will soon stop as it no longer has any pressure from the F&E tank to propel it.

If you don't have said isolation valve, then you will need to turn off the cold water main. This will stop the F&E tank filling and then run a hot tap until the F&E tank is empty and can no longer provide the pressure necessary to force the hot water out of the cylinder to the taps. The hot water cylinder will still be full though as the hot water leaves the cylinder at the top.

 

[keith666]

Thanks for the advice again much appreciated