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View Full Version : central heating timer help needed


sarah
13-06-07, 10:35 PM
i think my central heating timer thingy has died. how easy is it to replace?

Dan
13-06-07, 10:38 PM
Very straightforward. Normally live/neutral/earth in and live/neutral/earth out for most boilers. Depends on the system but not usually difficult.

sarah
13-06-07, 10:42 PM
Very straightforward. Normally live/neutral/earth in and live/neutral/earth out for most boilers. Depends on the system but not usually difficult.

cool, i reckon i could probably cope with that.

just got to pick a timer now.

Baph
13-06-07, 11:25 PM
My brother did his a while back, think it cost him something like £12 for the timer. As WRC, he had +ve, -ve & earth wires with screw on connector jobbies.

Demonz
13-06-07, 11:41 PM
Got a free one somewhere in my shed if you want it... digital, programable etc - didnt have the heart to toss it. Works fine still.

sarah
14-06-07, 08:49 AM
Got a free one somewhere in my shed if you want it... digital, programable etc - didnt have the heart to toss it. Works fine still.

that would be fab. is it for a combi-boiler though?

Stingo
14-06-07, 08:51 AM
Are you sure it's dead? Mine takes batteries!! So I have to change them annually...:smt035

sarah
14-06-07, 09:00 AM
Are you sure it's dead? Mine takes batteries!! So I have to change them annually...:smt035

hmmm, i dunno. i turned the boiler and timer off a few weekends ago when i was going to be away for a while and when i switched it back on again only half of the display was working and now the display is totally dead

Stingo
14-06-07, 09:19 AM
On mine, (digital clock and buttons) the front part is removable - two AA batteries go in the back. To get the front off - there is a clip on the top which you push and then you pull the front off...it's an oblong affair...can't remember the make tho'...I'm at work at the min...

sarah
14-06-07, 09:30 AM
On mine, (digital clock and buttons) the front part is removable - two AA batteries go in the back. To get the front off - there is a clip on the top which you push and then you pull the front off...it's an oblong affair...can't remember the make tho'...I'm at work at the min...

i'll have a look when i get home. thanks for the tip.

tigersaw
14-06-07, 03:16 PM
hmmm, i dunno. i turned the boiler and timer off a few weekends ago when i was going to be away for a while and when i switched it back on again only half of the display was working and now the display is totally dead

Mine used to do that... You had to prod the tiny reset buttons with a biro and it came back to life.

Rich
14-06-07, 03:35 PM
If you get the same clock then it's easy to change, all you do is undo the screws underneath the timer, or unclip it from the backplate holding it to the wall. All the wires are on the backplate so all you do is put the new clock on replace screws or clip back on and bobs your uncle.. Don't forget to isolate the power though!!!

If your changing it for a different clock then you'll need to do some wiring, there will be live, neutral and earth ofcourse but also there might be hot water on, heating on and off!! it all depends on the boiler and the clock, the easiest way around it is to get the same clock.

If you do get around to changing it and your unsure then send me a pm and i'll try and help all i can!!!

HTH Rich :)

sarah
14-06-07, 03:44 PM
If you get the same clock then it's easy to change, all you do is undo the screws underneath the timer, or unclip it from the backplate holding it to the wall. All the wires are on the backplate so all you do is put the new clock on replace screws or clip back on and bobs your uncle.. Don't forget to isolate the power though!!!

If your changing it for a different clock then you'll need to do some wiring, there will be live, neutral and earth ofcourse but also there might be hot water on, heating on and off!! it all depends on the boiler and the clock, the easiest way around it is to get the same clock.

If you do get around to changing it and your unsure then send me a pm and i'll try and help all i can!!!

HTH Rich :)


my current plan is to see if i can prod it into working tonight and if that doesn't work i'm gonna replace it with one that gmonsta has offered me, i have no idea if it is the same or not though.

i may well need some help if it looks complicated! actually i may need help even if it is simple!!

i had thought about isolating the power. presumably i can just switch off the switch on the wall that's right next to it.

Rich
14-06-07, 03:46 PM
my current plan is to see if i can prod it into working tonight and if that doesn't work i'm gonna replace it with one that gmonsta has offered me, i have no idea if it is the same or not though.

i may well need some help if it looks complicated! actually i may need help even if it is simple!!

i had thought about isolating the power. presumably i can just switch off the switch on the wall that's right next to it.

Yeh switching it off at the walls fine just remove the fuse to save any accidents ok!!!

sarah
14-06-07, 03:52 PM
Yeh switching it off at the walls fine just remove the fuse to save any accidents ok!!!

what fuse where?

Rich
14-06-07, 03:54 PM
what fuse where?

The main switch for the boiler should be a fuse spur with an on and off switch. It's in the little box at the side of the switch for the boiler, all you do is switch the switch off and take out the fuse. Make sure its a 3 amp fuse too. ;)

sarah
14-06-07, 04:00 PM
The main switch for the boiler should be a fuse spur with an on and off switch. It's in the little box at the side of the switch for the boiler, all you do is switch the switch off and take out the fuse. Make sure its a 3 amp fuse too. ;)

what's a fuse spur?

edit: just googled fuse spur. i know what you mean now. i don't remember seeing the fuse bit next to the switch (i will check when i get home)

Rich
14-06-07, 04:07 PM
what's a fuse spur?

edit: just googled fuse spur. i know what you mean now. i don't remember seeing the fuse bit next to the switch (i will check when i get home)

Ok don't worry if it hasn't but it's against legislation not to have one really. If you don't have one just switch the mains off, or if on the mains bored theres a seperate fuse for the boiler there just switch that one off. Try testing the boiler when you've switched it off, if it's off then it won't work so it'll be safe to play!!!

sarah
14-06-07, 04:12 PM
Ok don't worry if it hasn't but it's against legislation not to have one really. If you don't have one just switch the mains off, or if on the mains bored theres a seperate fuse for the boiler there just switch that one off. Try testing the boiler when you've switched it off, if it's off then it won't work so it'll be safe to play!!!

cool. i'll have a play tonight when i get back from the pub!

stupid boiler overheats all the time too. well, either that or the overheat switch thingy is knackered and keeps kicking in. did replace that but it's still happening. argh. i hate stupid boilers.

Rich
14-06-07, 04:18 PM
cool. i'll have a play tonight when i get back from the pub!

stupid boiler overheats all the time too. well, either that or the overheat switch thingy is knackered and keeps kicking in. did replace that but it's still happening. argh. i hate stupid boilers.

How high are your thermostats for the hot water and heating. If you turn them down that should stop it from overheating, depends on what level you have them on and how old the boiler is, could also be the pump not working properly. I'll pinch you a new one from work and come and fit it :lol: .

sarah
14-06-07, 04:22 PM
How high are your thermostats for the hot water and heating. If you turn them down that should stop it from overheating, depends on what level you have them on and how old the boiler is, could also be the pump not working properly. I'll pinch you a new one from work and come and fit it :lol: .

replaced the pump too so it shouldn't be that.

maybe it's the thermostat for the hot water, if i have a long shower or a deep bath the boiler almost always overheats and turns off. i will try and investigate where a thermostat for the hot water is and see if i can adjust it.

the boiler is about 12 years old i think.

chazzyb
14-06-07, 04:27 PM
cool. i'll have a play tonight when i get back from the pub!

Might be safer to play with it *before* going to the pub?:smt059

sarah
14-06-07, 04:28 PM
Might be safer to play with it *before* going to the pub?:smt059

it's ok, i'm not drinking!

Rich
14-06-07, 04:31 PM
replaced the pump too so it shouldn't be that.

maybe it's the thermostat for the hot water, if i have a long shower or a deep bath the boiler almost always overheats and turns off. i will try and investigate where a thermostat for the hot water is and see if i can adjust it.

the boiler is about 12 years old i think.

It's getting on abit then, combi's are never the most relaible though. The newer ones are, but the ones over 10 years old are always having problems we find. You'll be lucky to find a combi over that age not have gone wrong, so your not the only one!!!

Rich
14-06-07, 04:33 PM
it's ok, i'm not drinking!

I should hope not :lol: , mind you it might ease any stress you do have with the blummin thing :smt067

sarah
14-06-07, 04:35 PM
It's getting on abit then, combi's are never the most relaible though. The newer ones are, but the ones over 10 years old are always having problems we find. You'll be lucky to find a combi over that age not have gone wrong, so your not the only one!!!

i just hope we manage to sell the flat before the boiler completely dies!!

Rich
14-06-07, 04:39 PM
i just hope we manage to sell the flat before the boiler completely dies!!

Ahhh your selling, well just bodge it for now then and let your buyers deal with it :smt112

tigersaw
14-06-07, 05:37 PM
It's getting on abit then, combi's are never the most relaible though. The newer ones are, but the ones over 10 years old are always having problems we find. You'll be lucky to find a combi over that age not have gone wrong, so your not the only one!!!

eek, my current bolier is 19.

Still the one at my previous house was 36 and worked perfectly - even passed an inspection by transco.

Rich
14-06-07, 06:43 PM
eek, my current bolier is 19.

Still the one at my previous house was 36 and worked perfectly - even passed an inspection by transco.

Thats doing well for a combi,, best hope your luck holds out :lol:

tigersaw
14-06-07, 06:47 PM
Thats doing well for a combi,, best hope your luck holds out :lol:

Never heard of a combi, it was a potterton

Rich
14-06-07, 06:55 PM
Never heard of a combi, it was a potterton

It's short for combination boiler. It provides instant hot water without storage, basically means theres no need for a cylinder and all the components are inside the boiler, i.e pump, divertor valve ect.

If your boiler heats up a tank of hot water then it's most likely going to last alot longer because theres alot less that could go wrong with it!!! I expect thats what you have!!

Potterton make combi's too ;)

tigersaw
14-06-07, 07:16 PM
It's short for combination boiler. It provides instant hot water without storage, basically means theres no need for a cylinder and all the components are inside the boiler, i.e pump, divertor valve ect.


Ahh, the gf had one of those in her flat, useless crap thing. Took 20 mins to run a bath, and no airing cupboard. Glad I've got a 'normal' one then.

Rich
14-06-07, 07:39 PM
Ahh, the gf had one of those in her flat, useless crap thing. Took 20 mins to run a bath, and no airing cupboard. Glad I've got a 'normal' one then.

Thats the one, 20mins for a bath sounds about right. Yeh we have a normal/standard boiler in our house it's about 25 years old and works a treat, and theres only 3 things that can break on them so easy to find any faults, unlike a combi!!!