Potterton Puma 80 - pilot & burners going out
Gna
having with my Puma 80 boiler.
I orginally thought this was an issue with the pilot light, waking up on a
cold snow covered morning to no heating - annoying!. With further
investigation I noticed the pilot light and burners going out whilst
burning for heating - not the pilot light getting blown out and not
starting. The burners and pilot going out was alway accompanied by a click
on the front left. On occasions it would re-light without a problem and
the others times the pilot light would light but when I let go of the
control valve the pilot would not stay light, after a cool down period it
would be OK.
Does this sound like the gas valve issue?
Can the gas valve be repaired?. A new ones seems to be around �80-100 plus
the gas safe engineer costs.
I had thought about signing up to a BG heating contract, I can keep the
boiler going for a few weeks and get them to fix all the other problems ;-)
cheers
YAPH
> I orginally thought this was an issue with the pilot light, waking up on a
> cold snow covered morning to no heating - annoying!. With further
> investigation I noticed the pilot light and burners going out whilst
> burning for heating - not the pilot light getting blown out and not
> starting. The burners and pilot going out was alway accompanied by a click
> on the front left. On occasions it would re-light without a problem and
> the others times the pilot light would light but when I let go of the
> control valve the pilot would not stay light, after a cool down period it
> would be OK.
I can't remember offhand whether this model has a standing pilot light
(that you have to light manually with a spark igniter). If so, what you
describe sounds like the thermocouple on the way out, going intermittent
before it goes open circuit altogether.
If it is a standing pilot jobbie it should qualify for replacement under
the scrappage scheme (though you'll probably want to replace the
thermocouple in the shorter term).
--
John Stumbles -- http://yaph.co.uk
militant pacifist
Toby
"Gna" <gna03633atyahooco.uk> wrote in message
news:Xns9D0CB6B918E0gn...@216.196.109.145...
> I'd appreciate any suggestions / comments regarding a real problem I'm
> having with my Puma 80 boiler.
>
> I orginally thought this was an issue with the pilot light, waking up on a
> cold snow covered morning to no heating - annoying!. With further
> investigation I noticed the pilot light and burners going out whilst
> burning for heating - not the pilot light getting blown out and not
> starting. The burners and pilot going out was alway accompanied by a
> click
> on the front left. On occasions it would re-light without a problem and
> the others times the pilot light would light but when I let go of the
> control valve the pilot would not stay light, after a cool down period it
> would be OK.
>
> Does this sound like the gas valve issue?
>
> the gas safe engineer costs.
>
> I had thought about signing up to a BG heating contract, I can keep the
> boiler going for a few weeks and get them to fix all the other problems
> ;-)
>
> cheers
When the pilot light is lit, can you see it licking round the thermocouple
(Like this http://www.ultrawasabi.com/temp/flame.jpg)
If the thermocouple has disintegrated, or the flame is smaller than it
should be, then the boiler won't know the pilot light is lit, and will shut
of the gas supply.
Gna
>
> I can't remember offhand whether this model has a standing pilot light
> (that you have to light manually with a spark igniter). If so, what
> you describe sounds like the thermocouple on the way out, going
> intermittent before it goes open circuit altogether.
>
> If it is a standing pilot jobbie it should qualify for replacement
> under the scrappage scheme (though you'll probably want to replace the
> thermocouple in the shorter term).
>
>
Thanks for the reply John.
Yes the 80 has the manual pilot light. I looked at the scrappage scheme
when it was announced, the boiler is around 13 years old but it's sedbuk
raiting is higher than G ;-(
My thought was that I'd never read about a gas valve being faulty, it is
doing what it things is correct - can't detect pilot light so no gas!.
Off the top of my head the thermocouple is in a different price bracket
than the gas valve so I will happily get it replaced.
Gna
>
> When the pilot light is lit, can you see it licking round the
> thermocouple (Like this http://www.ultrawasabi.com/temp/flame.jpg)
>
> If the thermocouple has disintegrated, or the flame is smaller than it
> should be, then the boiler won't know the pilot light is lit, and will
> shut of the gas supply.
>
Hi Toby, thanks for the reply
Even with the front cover off (not the gas area) the visibility is poor,
I can see the pilot over the Spark Electrode but can't really make the
thermocouple out. I can follow it from the gas valve into the gas
chamber, the viewing window isn't the best bits of metal stop be getting
a good view. I think I can see it but it appears in front of me so can't
get a perspective. My pilot has more of an orange tip than your example.
I suppose this explains what it is not so consistant, depends which way
the wind blows ;-)
It's typical just as we've a new baby in the house!
Dave Plowman (News)
Gna <gna03633atyahooco.uk> wrote:
> I had thought about signing up to a BG heating contract, I can keep the
> boiler going for a few weeks and get them to fix all the other problems
> ;-)
I very much doubt you'd get them to take it on. My brother had one - dunno
if exactly the same but it was a Puma, and they told him they couldn't
(wouldn't?) fix it any more. It broke at least 3 times a year from new.
His previous boiler had lasted 25 years, so he wasn't pleased about having
to buy a new one in a third of that time. He also cancelled his BG
contract. And has saved quite a bit since as the new boiler hasn't given
any problems - apart from the condensate output freezing.
--
*My dog can lick anyone
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
geoff
writes
>On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:07:22 -0600, Gna wrote:
>
>
>> I orginally thought this was an issue with the pilot light, waking up on a
>> cold snow covered morning to no heating - annoying!. With further
>> investigation I noticed the pilot light and burners going out whilst
>> burning for heating - not the pilot light getting blown out and not
>> starting. The burners and pilot going out was alway accompanied by a click
>> on the front left. On occasions it would re-light without a problem and
>> the others times the pilot light would light but when I let go of the
>> control valve the pilot would not stay light, after a cool down period it
>> would be OK.
>
>I can't remember offhand whether this model has a standing pilot light
>(that you have to light manually with a spark igniter). If so, what you
>describe sounds like the thermocouple on the way out, going intermittent
>before it goes open circuit altogether.
There are both p pilot and electronic versions (extra FSC pcb)
The OP hasn't said which, but I presume he means the pp version
>
>If it is a standing pilot jobbie it should qualify for replacement under
>the scrappage scheme (though you'll probably want to replace the
>thermocouple in the shorter term).
>
>
>
--
geoff
John Stumbles
> Yes the 80 has the manual pilot light. I looked at the scrappage scheme
> when it was announced, the boiler is around 13 years old but it's sedbuk
> raiting is higher than G ;-(
Hmmn, D or E depending on exact model, according to SEDBUK. Dunno how they
reckon that.
--
John Stumbles
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Pop Psychologists are from Uranus
YAPH
> There are both p pilot and electronic versions (extra FSC pcb)
According to SEDBUK:
<code>
Puma 100 LGE 1993 2001 E 74.8
Puma 100 Security LSK 1999 2001 E 74.8
Puma 100e LGF 1993 2001 D 78.8
Puma 100e Security LSJ 1999 2001 D 78.8
Puma 100ec LRS 1999 2001 D 78.8
Puma 80 LGC 1993 2001 E 75.2
Puma 80 Security LSH 1999 2001 E 75.2
Puma 80e LGD 1993 2001 D 79.2
Puma 80e Security LSG 1999 2001 D 79.2
Puma Flowsure plus LKX + LLN 1996 2000 D 79.6
--
John Stumbles -- http://yaph.co.uk
This sig intentionally left blank
Gna
news:Xns9D0CB6B918E0gn...@216.196.109.145:
I've got the Puma 80 so with perm pilot light, I think it's the 80E with
something different.
Can I ask would a faulty thermocouple cause such inconsistent behaviour?,
sometimes it's fine other times a pain. I've had a quote for around �80
to replace the thermocouple (West London).
I'm in two minds about a) replacing thermocouple b) trying to get on a bg
contract; either way with a new baby I'll get it replaced this summer.
cheers again
mr