Wireless Thermostat Problem

[Norbet]

I've just noticed recently that my central heating hasn't been working

- the boiler works for hot water, but although the thermostat indicates operation it's not actually managing to swicth the boiler on. It's one of those wireless jobs and I suspected the batteries my be running low - so I've replaced them and reset the thermostat timer and receiver - no joy. Fearing interference from a similar device in the neighbourhodd I changed the channels using little rocker switches inside the sender and reciever - again no joy.

Now I'm having some other strange wireless issues around the house and I'm wondering could they all be related...

My remote key-fob for the car - works fine away from the house - has to be within inches of the car to work at home. We've a wireless thermometer sender - outside sender normally sends internal reciever the outside temp - not being recieved of late.

I have two DECT telephones - both working fine. Wireless router - seemingly all ok.

Has anyone encountered such strange problems? Could there be some sort of interference that could prevent signals being recieved? I've gone through the process of isolating all the wireless devices in the house to see if any of them are responsible - could a neighbouring device be to blame?

Any advice/suggestions welcomed

Norbet

[Robert Laws]

We pick up the morse code beacon from Cambridge airport on our baby alarm when the reciver is plugged into the mains charger.

Robert

[Lurch]

On 20 Apr 2007 02:48:47 -0700, Norbet mused:

Have you actually tested the receiver to prove that the signals aren't being received by testing the outputs?

Have you tried moving the transmitter closer to the receiver to narrow down the possibilities?

Is it installed correctly, i.e. less than the maximum distance away and not the other side of several solid walls and sheets of metalwork etc..?

[stevelup]

Hi

Try turning one device at a time?

Steve

[adder1969]

Surely if it indicates demand for heating it's something in the switching that's wrong? With mine it's always the batteries but you said you tried that.

[Roger Mills]

What does the thermostat actually control? Chances are that it doesn't control the boiler directly but controls a motorised valve which, in turn, controls the boiler. So it may not be a wireless problem at all. The receiver may be receiving the signal, and switching, but whatever it is switching may not be working.

You need first to get a thorough understanding of how your system is

*supposed* to work, so that you can then trace it through with a voltmeter and see just what is working and what isn't. Can you identify your control system as being one of the 'plans' described in ?

[TheScullster]

"Norbet" wrote

You've tried moving the thermostat close to the receiver and are sure that the stat is calling for heat? It is possible that the stat has somehow become "unbound" from the receiver. These are paired up prior to fitting so that (if you have 2 devices as I have) the stat talks to the relevant receiver only. Once you've eliminated all other causes, it might be worth looking at the stat/receiver instructions and attempting to re-bind them.

Phil

[The Natural Philosopher]

Probably the wireless router is blanketing everything else..

Spawn of the devil etc.

Dunno about YOUR setup, but my wireless stat receiver has a green light that comes on when it receives a signal from the TX.

If the stat is showing heat called for and te green light isn't on, you have a radio trouble, all right. There are test and setup things.

First thing I would do is take the stat off the wall and hang it next door to the receiver and do tests..new batteries first of course.

[The Natural Philosopher]

It could simply be the motorised valve as well. Nothing to do with the radio at all.

I mean the chain goes:-

stat via RF -> receiver (is it showing call?) -> motorized valve (is it moving?) -> micro switch on valve (has it got a broken wire?) -> boiler stat (is that working?) -> pump and ignition mechanism.

Plenty of potential problems in that chain.

Need to poke around with a mains test screwdriver or a meter all along to see what is not doing what it should.

One quick test might be to try and move the motorized valve by hand..if that all works you know the problem is 'upstream'..

[Norbet]

Thanks to all who posted replies I've just been home and have found the source of the problem. I forgot to add that the doorbell is also wireless, but this hasn't worked for ages. When I got home this lunchtime I noticed the push button on the front door had become stuck (so was constantly transmitting). Once the was loosened - my boiler came on, I can now unlock & lock the car and the wireless thermometer works again!! Amazing to think that a doorbell of all things could cause such problems!!!

Cheers Norbet

[Andy Hall]

... and the cat can get in through its cat flap?

It's surprising that the doorbell push switch battery would have lasted so long.