Potterton Performa 24, CH ignition goes on and off in a loop

SEveral people have suggest the minimum burner pressure . This needs to be checked before you spend 90 quid on a board.

Hi namsag,
I don't have any problem in calling someone, but I would like to first be reasonably sure that I need someone. The min burner pressure has indeed been pointed out by several people, however this is still inconsistent with the fact that I am no seeing any flame failure light.

If you can enlighten me as to the reasons why min burner pressure is wrong and I do not get a flame failure light, I will be more than willing to call someone in, as there will be a reasonable level of confidence that the issue can be due to that.
 
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...I have replaced temp sensor & thermostat, with no change in performance.

This is a typical result of replacing parts when people working on the boiler don't know what they are doing.

Hi Ben,
thanks for your compliments. See your own advice below:

...If the temp sensor was faulty (i.e. measuring higher temp than the real temp), the boiler would stop & wait for 3min before restarting again. The issue I have is that it ignites on /off every 10sec or so.
Logically speaking: yes.
The problem is that you can not test the board without a test bench so the only other options are part changing at random or eliminating all other options.

As the sensor & thermostat were also suggested by some people, I was only trying to eliminate possible causes!
 
The problem is that you can not test the board without a test bench so the only other options are part changing at random or eliminating all other options.

As the sensor & thermostat were also suggested by some people, I was only trying to eliminate possible causes!

A breakdown specialist will test all suspect parts if and when needed in stead of replacing them, which is why it is often cheaper to get a good one in, and not just quicker and safer.
The only exception is the board which can not be tested, and will be replaced if suspect and all other possible causes have been ruled out.
 
Hi Henry (CLINT000)

Did you resolve your boiler problem. Reason I ask is I have the same boiler and have then same fault as you DHW works fine but the heating once up to temp goes into this same cycle.

Thanks in advance

Paul
 
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Hi Paul,
I have not resolved the problem fully as of yet.
However, I have been able to make the heating working with a work around solution, which is basically increasing the level at which the minimum flame is set, through the PCB settings.

In order to do so you need to turn a PCB potentiometer clockwise. There are two potentiometers on the PCB which control the flame range, which are labelled "Min G" and "Max R". If you turn the "Min G" clockwise, then the minimum flame will be set to a higher level and, if you problem is really the same as mine, you will be able to have the heating working without continuous switch-on and offs. The downside is that since the lower flame setting is higher than before, it will heat up the water quickly, so you can expect the boiler to stop and wait the 3min intervals more often than before (but this is a much better situation than continuous switch on/off).

I am in the process of replacing the PCB to see if the issue can be fully resolved, however this fix can help you get away with the problem temporarily.
 
FFS just get someone out to alter the gas valve it takes 2 minutes and costs a lot less than a board
 
hello peops. can anyone help.

I have the same boiler and the same symptoms. the boiler is about 9 yrs old and lightly used and running 4 rads in a small 1 bed house. did you fix your performa 24?. if so what was the problem please. also can anyone tell me if the temp sensor is also known as the thermistor.

thanks for any help

albert
 
hi. did u fix your performa 24. my problem was the temp sensor switch. cost me my last 14 quid and had to do it myself.
 
You did not "have" to do it yourself!

You chose not to call an engineer.

In your case you were lucky and it was a simple fault and well within the capabilities of a DIYer.

Some faults are outside the scope of DIY work including some inappropriate suggestions within this thread to make adjustments to gas settings!

Tony
 
albadiy / others,

I am experiencing the same issue with my Potterton performa 24 i.e. boiler igniting on and off in a loop every 10 seconds or so when central heating on (no issue when on DHW mode).

British Gas recently fitted a new thermistor so have ruled that out. You said you resolved the problem on your boiler by replacing the temp sensor switch. Is this the same as the thermistor or something different?

BG are saying that it's probably due to sludge in the radiators and I will have to pay £700 for a power flush of my central heating system. I am a little bit dubious of this advice as the radiators are all very hot with no cold spots and concerned they are just saying this because they don't know what else it could be. So I would appreciate any possible causes for me to ask the BG engineer to investigate before forking out for a power flush. For info, BG also installed a new PCB last week so think rules out that as the problem (it was happening with the old PCB too).

Martin
 
Possible cure .

There is a filter in the return connection ,(righthand pipe) this will be blocked and stopping the water circulating properly around heating thus keeping heat in the boiler and cycling
 
yes the thermistor is just another name for temp sensor switch...

700 quid for a power flush....holy ....

could be one of many things causing it....could even be the thermistor again...

i can only advise you to get more quotes on the jobs that bg quote you...

and if you ever find a very good and honest engineer that knows what he is doing.
pls let me know...
 
The problem is that sometimes the BG engineers dont seem as well able to diagnose faults as one would expect.

Being employees they dont have to be very well up to speed.

An independent who charges a fixed diagnostic fee has to be pretty good otherwise he will be wasting his time.

Although some do, my view is that anyone who charges by the hour to diagnose a fault is benefiting by doing it slowly!

Tony
 
Thanks all.

gas112, is the filter in the return connection relatively straightforward to access / clean out?

Any other suggestions I could mention to BG engineer to investigate (so that they don't take me for a mug). I have a Homecare contract with BG so am hoping they can sort it rather than having to get quotes from others.
 

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