Ferroli Optima 701. Work done but still problems!

[iaingray741]

Guys,

I've got a Ferroli Optima 701 which i've been having problems with for about a year.

First i had the issue of the pressure dropping below the minimum, so i read on here to pump some air into the expansion vessel which solved the problem. Excellent, cheers!

Over the past few months my hot water has been intermittant at best. Usually the water would run hot for anything less than 1 minute and then go cold (might be worth noting that when it did run hot the water was quite cloudy). On top of this a lot of the time the central heating would also just go cold, running for a short time then going off.

So at the weekend i replaced the temperature sensors (parts 34 & 42 i believe). Now it would appear that the heating comes on fine, and a lot hotter than before, but i only get hot water when the central heating is running!

It seems to be one thing after another, but I feel like i'm getting somewhere now!!

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Iain.

 

[Agile]

Your boiler is getting quite old now!

What about the diverter valve failing?

Tony

 

[iaingray741]

Not too sure how old it is, i moved into the flat about 2 years ago and it was already installed...so i'm not even sure of it's service history etc.

Sorry, i don't have a great deal of knowledge about combi boilers. What is the purpose of the diverter valve?

Is that something you think i could change myself? Or would you recommend handing it over to a prorfessional?

Thanks for the reply.

Iain.

 

[Agile]

I am sorry, your boiler does not have a diverter valve as it heats the hot water directly in a seperate coil in the main heat exchanger.

You can read all about it here:-

http://www.ferroli.co.uk/product_documentation/DOMESTIC_ARCHIVE/Optima_701_Manual.pdf

It would appear is if the hot water flow switch is failed. It may be possibly to open it and see whats gone wrong.

Tony

 

[iaingray741]

Ah ok,

So the flow control switch allows the boiler to provide the hot water when the central heating is on. Does it still play a major part when the central heating id not on and hot water is requested?

Also could you point out where the flow control switch is? Page 6 of the manual is a diagram of the boiler but i cannot see it listed don there.

Iain.

 

[Agile]

Its part 136 labelled as flow meter to confuse you.

It brings the boiler on in DHW mode !

Tony

 

[iaingray741]

Cheers Tony.

Do you know if there's any way i can test it? Or should i try swapping it out?

Iain.

 

[superdupergasman]

You might be able to get a little AC voltage from it when the water is running as its a turbine sort of thing.... however, 99% sure that is that like agile suggested.

 

[Agile]

Turbines usually become jammed and the rotor does not rotate so the magnet on the shaft does not induce an AC voltage into the pickup coil.

You just take them apart, find no dirt, wash the bits and reassemble and they work again.

Tony

 

[iaingray741]

Excellent, thanks for the help guys.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Iain.