Vaillant Ecotec plus combo -

[gigi75]

Hello,

I've got a Vaillant Ecotec plus combo, not sure about the exact model but hope it's ok. Basically the hot water is working fine but I tried to turn the heating on last night for the first time after a while and it doesn't start up. I increased the water pressure which was a bit low. Turn it on and off but the 'flame' icon didn't appear as it usually does. Is there something else I could try? I haven't turned the central heating on since last winter so I guess there's something I need to do about that?

Don't think there's anything wrong with the boiler considering that the hot water is running perfectly. I hope so

Many thanks for your help. I hope I can fix this problem soon, it's getting colder!

Gigi

 

[Hufty]

Try turning up the room thermostat.

 

[gigi75]

well i did that already. anything else I could try? is there some buttons to press or something?

 

[Hufty]

When you have the timer on and stat up, is there a picture of a radiator on the little screen on the boiler - this means the boiler is recognising a demand for heating. A picture of a tap means it thinks there's a demand for hot water, which takes priority over the heating.

If you press [+] and [-] together on the front of the boiler it should start flashing "SFH" or "SFB" on the screen and will run full power for 10 minutes. This is a test mode for installers - it's quite safe to do. If it shows SFB (Bath) it thinks a hot tap is open, SFH for heating.

If it comes up SFH, the boiler runs, and the radiators get hot, then as you've got a combi, the problem is almost certainly with your controls.

 

[gigi75]

thanks a lot yes I get SFH but now I'd like to reset it so I can adjust the water and heat level.

I've got a vaillant boiler ecotec plus 824 r1

are there any of these I can try or you think I should call somebody to fix it? the boiler seems to be working but I'd need the timer to start working too:


Display Meaning Display value/adjustable value
d.17 Heating flow/return regulation changeover 0 = flow, 1 = return (factory setting: 0)
d.18 Pump mode (return) 0 = return, 1 = nonstop, 2 = winter (factory setting: 0)
d.19 Only in ecoTEC plus:
Operating modes of the two-speed heating pump
0 = pre ignition speed 1, hot water or heating speed 2, overrun speed
1
1 = pre ignition speed 1, hot water speed 2, heating speed 1, overrun
speed 1
2 = like 1, but speed in heating mode dependent on heating part load
d. 0 (if d.0 is below 60% of full load, then pump speed 1, otherwise
speed 2)
3 = always speed 2
(factory setting: 2)
d.20 Maximum set value for target cylinder temperature
(system boilers only)
Setting range: 50 to 70 °C (factory setting: 65 °C)
d.27 Switching accessory relay 1 in the accessory module 1 = Circulation pump (default)
2 = Ext. pump
3 = Storage charging pump
4 = Flue gas flap/extractor hood
5 = External gas valve
6 = External error message
d.28 Switching accessory relay 2 in the accessory module 1 = Circulation pump
2 = Ext. pump (default)
3 = Storage charging pump
4 = Flue gas flap/extractor hood
5 = External gas valve
6 = External error message
d.50 Offset for minimum speed in rpm/10, adjustment range: 0 to 300
d.51 Offset for maximum speed in rpm/10, adjustment range: -99 to 0
d.58 From the third quarter of 2006:
Activation of solar reheating
Setting range: 0 to 3
0 = solar reheating disabled (factory setting)
3 = activation of min. hot water target value = 60 °C for solar
reheating
d.60 Number of safety temperature limiter cut offs Quantity
d.61 Number of lock outs Number of unsuccessful ignitions in the last attempt
d.64 Average ignition time in seconds
d.65 Maximum ignition time in seconds
d.68 Unsuccessful ignitions in the first attempt Quantity
d.69 Unsuccessful ignitions in the second attempt Quantity
d.70 Set diverter valve position 0 = Normal mode (factory setting)
1 = Centre position
2 = permanent heating position
d.71 Maximum setting of heater control knob Adjustment range in °C: 40 to 85 (Factory setting: 75)
d.72 Pump overrun time after warm start (combination boilers
only) or charging an electronically controlled hot
water storage through C1-C2 (system boilers only)
Adjustment range in sec: 0, 10, 20 to 600
Factory setting for combination boilers: 80
Factory setting for system boilers: 300
d.73 Offset for warm start target value (combination boilers
only)
Adjustment range: -15 K to +5 K (Factory setting: 0 K)
d.75 Maximum charging time for a storage without own controller
(system boilers only)
Adjustment range in min: 20, 21, 22 to 90 (Factory setting: 45)
d.77 Storage partial load (storage charging capacity limit,
system boilers only)
Adjustment range in kW: appliance-specific
Factory setting: max. output

 

[simond]

Thanks for the printout, invaluable. Us Vaillant installers have never seen those before.

If you are competent, open the wiring connections and link terminals 3&4.

If the radiators come on, you have a problem with your external controls. If the heating does not come on, it is a boiler fault.

Ps: isolate LX before opening boiler.

 

[gigi75]

thanks.

just got it from the manual:
www.vaillant.co.uk/.../data/.../ecoTEC_installation_and_servicing.pdf

anyway, the external controls seemed to be working (for the water) right before I tried to make the central heating starting (and increased the pressure to 3.4, right before getting to red...). the water heat level was fine. i wondered if I messed around with some of the controls.

IS THERE A EASY WAY TO RESET IT to (factory?) settings

thanks for you valuable tips, probably it's better if I call someone...

 

[Hufty]

You got SFH, but you didn't say if the boiler runs and the rads get hot? Also did you see the picture of the radiator when you have the timer on and the stat up?

What controller do you have - and by the way if it takes batteries have you tried changing the batteries?

It's a bit early on in the process to be linking 3&4 as simond suggested unless you like tinkering - need the answers to the questions above first.

 

[gigi75]

Ok I increased the thermostat temperature on the wall and it seemed to work!

the problem is that the water doesn't get too hot as it used and the controller for both the water and heating don't seem to work. I uploaded 2 picts to show the scenario, thought it's easier that way. there's a small icon on the bottom right which i don't think was there before.

http://www.diynot.com/network/gigi75/albums/10316/38878
http://www.diynot.com/network/gigi75/albums/10316/38879

now, if the controllers were broken, is there a way to increased the heating and water temperature without them? [/img]

 

[Hufty]

Symbols in the first picture:
Flame = boiler is burning gas, flame is present
51degC = temperature of the water leaving the boiler for the rads
Radiator = boiler thinks there is demand for central heating
Circle with arrow = pump is running
Egg timer = Spark ignition is working

Second picture
There is a demand for heat, the pump is running but the boiler is not firing at that precise moment. (Boiler comes on and off - doesn't run continuously)

ie you have a happy boiler. There is nothing wrong with your controller.


Time clock is only for central heating. It's a combi boiler so hot water is controlled by you opening a hot tap.

To increase hot water temperature, turn the top left dial with a picture of a tap next to it. 50-55degC is a good temp but whatever works for you.
If you turn the dial all the way to the right, a "C" will show on screen. This means it is in warmstart mode - RTFM for details but it will make the boiler fire at odd times during the night - turn it all the way back to the left to get rid of it.

To change the temperature of the water in the radiators turn the lower dial. Lower is cheaper if your house insulation is up to it, boiler efficiency tails off after approx 67degrees, crank it right round in in the depths of winter.

 

[Agile]

Ok I increased the thermostat temperature on the wall and it seemed to work!

You were asked a while ago to check the room stat !

If you start with everything cold and run the hot water for about 10 min do any of the rads get hot ?

You seem to be making heavy weather of operating your boiler!

Tony

 

[gigi75]

thanks.

that's exactly the problem! top and bottom left dials don't seem to work. the water one was working til not long ago. is it possible that they both stop working at the same time? or there might be something wrong with my settings?

and Tony, thanks! i tried that and the rads don't seem to warm up. Just to make this straight...the central heating and timer seem to be working fine.

THE ONLY THING I NEED IS TO MAKE THE WATER HOTTER!

Cheers!

 

[Hufty]

If the knobs just spin round and round the spindle behind the knobs might be broken. Probably best to pay for a service engineer to come and sort you out, whatever the symptoms are.

 

[Agile]

thanks.

THE ONLY THING I NEED IS TO MAKE THE WATER HOTTER!

Cheers!

Now is that the hot water from the taps?

Or the temperature of the rads?

As suggested an engineer will be able to sort it out for you!

Tony