Electric Flow Boiler - Tripping consumer unit

Ross1506 · Jan 13, 2019

Evening all,

I've just joined the forum after coming up short with answers on my internet search for potential solutions to my electric boiler problems. Complete electrical novice here & would have any suggestions for solutions completed by an electrician. For context, I live in an apartment block with electric only supply & have an electric 'column' boiler installed.

Reason for posting
The boiler trips out it's consumer unit after c. 25 minutes of being on. The consumer unit can then be tripped (?) back on, and the process repeats. There is still full function of radiators and the property will heat when the boiler in on.

I believe the issue initially stems from when I replaced the batteries of the timer/thermostat. I had to take the thermostat off the wall to remove battery corrosion and from then on even with new batteries the device wouldn't work - possibly knocked a wire, unsure. As such, I had a Nest Thermostat installed which has not solved the problem. The Nest will work whilst the boiler is tripped on, but will turn off due to lack of power supply when the boiler trips the consumer unit.

I'm here to try and understand the issue, as the best solution so far has been a new boiler - obviously would prefer to avoid that.

Boiler is an Electroheat Plc C-1200 - I believe these are pretty old units?

Apologies for the wordy thread, but hopefully this gives a good idea of the issue. Any advise would be genuinely appreciated.

Ross.

ferg · Jan 14, 2019

There are a number of possible causes.

Probably best to bite the bullet and get someone out to diagnose and repair.

telectrix · Jan 14, 2019

as above ^^^^.and please change your font size so that us old coffin dodgers can see it.

SparkyChick · Jan 14, 2019

Edited the OP to increase the font size... not just coffin dodgers who might have trouble reading it

Pete999 · Jan 14, 2019

SparkyChick said:
Edited the OP to increase the font size... not just coffin dodgers who might have trouble reading it

OI you watch it, coffin dodgers indeed!

SparkyChick · Jan 14, 2019

Pete999 said:
OI you watch it, coffin dodgers indeed!

Not my words Pete

telectrix said:
as above ^^^^.and please change your font size so that us old coffin dodgers can see it.

Pete999 · Jan 14, 2019

SparkyChick said:
Not my words Pete

I know just found it quite a funny description, which deserved an equally funny (I hope) response

SparkyChick said:
Edited the OP to increase the font size... not just coffin dodgers who might have trouble reading it

Been loking for my old Gran's reading magnifying glass

Wilko · Jan 14, 2019

Hi Ross - can you advise what trips and you reset? Picture please

Are there any changes to status lamps on the boiler before it trips? Is it calling for heat the whole time and trips after 25 mins for example. If you reset it straight away will it run for another 25 mins, or trip soon after resetting?

Keep in mind a plumbing problem may cause tripping too. For example if there was sludge in the pipework that reduced the flow rate I think it might cause issues. By the way, is the boiler used for central heating only or also hot water?

https://www.uk-plumbing.com/brochure/heatrae/Amptec_install.pdf

SparkyChick · Jan 14, 2019

Pete999 said:
Been loking for my old Gran's reading magnifying glass

I've been looking for my special varifocals, problem is without them everythings a blur

telectrix · Jan 14, 2019

SparkyChick said:
I've been looking for my special varifocals, problem is without them everythings a blur

first time i've heard beer being called varifocal.

The Ghost · Jan 14, 2019

Might well be the element causing the trip as it is about to fail completely. The time it takes suggest to me the heating process will be at about peak within twenty-five minutes and the element may expand and open up a fissure in the element. Maybe...

Ross1506 · Jan 14, 2019

Thanks for the replies all, and for editing the font size.. Hope you all found your magnifying glasses!

Appreciate the comments, I'll post pictures/additional info when back home this evening.

Ross.

EbolaSideRoom · Jan 19, 2019

Ross1506 said:
Thanks for the replies all, and for editing the font size.. Hope you all found your magnifying glasses!

Appreciate the comments, I'll post pictures/additional info when back home this evening.

Ross.

Did you? I’m/We’re curious to know the outcome/diagnosis/solution.

Ross1506 · Jan 23, 2019

[ElectriciansForums.net] Electric Flow Boiler - Tripping consumer unit

Morning All,

Apologies for the radio silence, heating has been a bit off my radar over the past week.

If anyone is still interested...

I ran the boiler after getting home from work yesterday & set my phone up to film the display.

It remained on 'call' & 'heat' for around 50 minutes (maybe my initial 25 minute was off!). There are moments where only supply is lit - but only momentarily. Just before it trips the system 'heat' stops and then it trips.

Pictures attached show the current set-up, the unit which trips, the boiler display when turned on & model details.

Thanks,
Ross.

Wilko · Jan 23, 2019

Hi Ross - that's the RCD that trips. I think you'll have to find a heater repair person - my guess is the element is on the way out.

Ross1506 · Jan 24, 2019

Thanks Wilko. I've actually got a spare PCB Element left by the previous owners.

Out of interest; is there a sure fire way to know if it's a 'good' element? By that I mean, it isn't one they've previously replaced and just left?

Appreciate that's probably an open ended question to an extent.

Anyway, if there is a way to tell, I'll get a heating engineer out to look at replacing & see if that does the trick.

Ross.

Wilko · Jan 24, 2019

No worries - can you post a pic of the spare element? Do you have test kit at all?

Ross1506 · Jan 24, 2019

These are pictures of the element and the bag it's in w/ some product details.

No test kit my end - Is there a specific unit to purchase for testing?