Faulty Oil Burner Controller

[Deleted member 105018]

Chaps and Ladies. New to this forum but thought I’d pass on some info having used the forum myself in the past as a lurker.

Been to a job today, not a job really but a mate. Oil boiler not firing. No lockout or anything.

Bit of background I changed the solenoid coil and control box back in Jan for a different fault

Anyway did the usual fault finding. Determined it was the control box (only 9 months old) swapped it out and worked like a charm. I was cross cos this was a newish box so got the box home and stripped it. Found the negative connector for the bi metallic strip coil had come unsoldered from its terminal.

Anyone else seen similar. Box is a Honeywell TF832.3 (otherwise known as a Satronic TF823.3)

It took me a while to consider the box was faulty. I used the “that is new so can’t be at fault” logic. All tests pointed to it.

Just a word in your ear really to give you folks a heads up that these boxes don’t seem the most reliable

Thanks

 

[Marvo]

Can you post a photo or two?

 

[Deleted member 105018]

 

[Deleted member 105018]

 

[Deleted member 105018]

Also to cut a long story short they’re almost nigh on impossible to test as the terminals are in accessible when it’s plugged in. Honeywell make a test box but they retail at about £300. I’m a control guy so as a project I figured I may knock together a break out box/test box. That said I don’t deal with them all too often.

 

[Marvo]

.....Determined it was the control box (only 9 months old) swapped it out and worked like a charm......

Isn't it still under warranty?

 

[Deleted member 105018]

Haha. That was a bit of a joke too. Yes it’s under warranty but to honour it the large retailer of plumbing and heating parts who will remain nameless stated that they’d have to send the item back to honeywell for investigation before a warranty claim could be made. It could take up to 6 weeks they said. My mates missus was having none of that. She’s already had two days of cold showers on the back of it and for £30 she didn’t really give a s**t. I could send it back and recoup the outlay but my mate was happy to pay and frankly I’ve got enough problems with people not paying etc (usual stuff) to warrant spending my time chasing it up.

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, fair play. I'm not sure how retailers or even wholesalers get away with imposing unreasonable conditions on their warranty claims. Isn't there some kinda ombudsman or oversight body in the UK that you can complain to?

 

[Deleted member 105018]

Not sure mate but I had a bit of a set to with a legal beagle on a different forum about something similar. I’ve just installed a system about 200miles away that for all intents and puposes is a pumping system. I asked the question that if the pump were to fail under warranty if obviously have to replace it as I am prime contractor. I’d then claim a new pump under warranty. But I asked who would cover the labour for actually replacing it. My view is that it should be the pump manufacturer for not making something reliable but seemingly it’s my problems. Yet another job I’ve under priced!!

 

[Marvo]

That's pretty standard where I am, if there's a warranty claim I'd get the pump or whatever item replaced by the wholesaler or agent and I'd have to cover the labour out of the mark-up I charged on the item originally.

That said, on most items like pumps, compressors etc we get 50% discount from our supplier (or more in some cases) so if we charge the customer the 'list price', which is what they'd get quoted if the phoned the supplier direct, we're well covered for an occasional failure.