Pilot Light

[dormermike]

Hi

I have a Ideal Mexico Super 2 CF125 and the pilot is on constantly as you'd expect. All good. Except I was thinking wouldn't it be great if - as i'm only using the boiler for an hour a day at the moment - there was some device which replaced the current gas valve and only lit the pilot when a demand for heat was made.. hmm.

I assume no such device exists as a retrofit for old boilers.. it would kill the current boiler market i'm sure.

Technically speaking and in theory, is there any good reason why it wouldn't be possible? Not talking about converting an old cast iron floor standing lump to a combi, but just some bolt-on that would fire up the pilot when the heating demand is on then turn it back off when the demand is over.

Cheers.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Technically it is possible. There is even the stuff readily available to do it.

It is illegal though - modifying an appliance.

 

[dormermike]

Hi Dan

What stuff is readily available - is it a motor on the gas valve or a complete new gas valve?

Appreciate that its currently illegal, just wondering about the technical aspect.

Cheers

 

[Dan Robinson]

Not going to go into it more - forum rules.

But the cost of the bits is far more than you would ever save in gas.

 

[45yearsagasman]

Thats just enough to tease

 

[dormermike]

Not going to go into it more - forum rules.

But the cost of the bits is far more than you would ever save in gas.

What forum rule would that contravene then? Can you PM me?

Thanks for the hint though, I can use Google

 

[Dan Robinson]

The Forum rules that forbid discussing gas related issues like this... if you want to discuss it we can in the Combustion Chamber.... Otherwise I ain't gonna be encouraging you do do this; sorry... I pay a lot of money to hold the certificates I hold...

If you want to know such things I politely (I mean that BTW) suggest you get the accreditation.

Like I said - you will waste several lifetimes worth of Pilot light gas costs trying to do what you want to do, and at the end of it you will have a more complicated boiler with increased chances of failure.

 

[gaswizzard]

 

[OLLIE20]

Ive got a solution all you do is turn the nob on your gas valve to the circle when you're not using it, then when you want it turn to spark symbol, press pizo and hold for 15 secs, then turn to flame symbol, easy it's even got instructions on the flap of your boiler

 

[Phill Peck]

What an excellent idea perhaps you should patent it before posting on an open forum though

 

[Dan Robinson]

Too late - I have already nicked the idea and have registered it

 

[Phill Peck]

Oh and once you've got the patent passed and approved.......

















Can I borrow your time machine? I've always wondered what the 2nd world war was like to live through

 

[OLLIE20]

Dam, I wish I'd of thought of that, I could of been a rich man

 

[gaswizzard]

Ok dormermike lets see 'roughly' how much that pilot light is costing per year.

0.25mm injector @ 22mb.

0.036 x 0.0625 x 0.95 x 5.87 = 0.013 m3/hour.

8,760 x 0.013 = 113 m3/year.

Pilot light usage would be around £30 a year , if your going through thermocouples by the dozen then expect around £60 a year.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I reckon the conversion cost will take around 30 years to pay for itself