Hi
Received a call from my student daughter saying electricity tripped (think the kettle was the problem). After switching on at fusebox noticed combi boiler display blank (3yr old vokera linear HE) no hot water or ch. Is it likely to be internal boiler fuse that has blown? According to daughter boiler switch light is on.
Thanks
Unless you are sure the kettle did it, my money would be on the boiler having blown it. MCB's trip so quickly on a short circuit that they often protect the plug/FCU fuse.
Does the kettle still work?
In message , ardnamurchan writes
Reset button?
+1
Hi Andrew What are MCB's? The kettle does still work. I visited the flat today and the boiler display screen is blank no fault codes. I changed the two 13 amp fuses in the two boiler sockets to no avail.
MCB = minature circuit breaker - the circuit breakers you have in modern fuse boxes. I was making the assumption that this is what 'tripped', although the other possibility is an RCD.
"two" boiler sockets? Can you explain that - it's not normal to have more than one supply point (socket or fused switch) feeding the central heating system.
Have a look for any signs of leaks inside the the boiler (any wetness on the bottom of the case, don't open the case), and if there is an external pump or external electrical valves, check around those too. Leaks in these areas are common causes for the heating system to short out its electrical supply.
13 amp??
another possible problem in a hard water area is that the thing is furred up.
Just to add "the boiler switch light" may be a switched fused spur with neon indicator. I would expect a 3A fuse in this as it the main supply to the boiler.
And it now looks more likely that this is dead PCB.
Is the _correct_ question! The CH/HW 'electrics' are normally protected by a _single_ FCU with a 3A fuse.
When we had our CH installed just over 30 years ago, I had them tap into the 15A dedicated immersion element circuit (via a 3A fused switched FCU) and swapped the downstairs immersion heater switch with the 13A FCU in the airing cupboard on the 1st half landing (where the pump and the 3 port honeywell valve were located - the boiler is in the basement with the control unit in the utility room close to where the 13A immersion heater fuse replaced the switch).
Yesterday, after having left the CH switched off for over a week, the controller had lost its time setting when I switched it back on the day before, requiring me to reset it. The brand new battery had lost its charge due to my leaving it shut off for so long (although it did manage to maintain the time for a good 6 or 7 days when I initially tested it some 3 or 4 weeks ago).
When I shut it off after allowing the battery to recharge for 24 hours or so, I was surprised to see the display still showing the time. I was expecting it to blank out on loss of power but I must have misremembered its powered off behaviour.
I ran upstairs to check the switch and to cycle it a few times, just in case but it made no difference when I got back to the panel. Just to put what I was witnessing beyond all doubt (and to save me running up and down the stairs again), I removed the 13A fuse, proving the Potterton 2000 controller was "squandering" power maintaining the display.
That ladies and gents, boys and girls, is the only time that removing a 13A fuse will disable the CH/HW system in this house.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.