Oil burner running but cold?

buky

hello Folks,

I have a simple open vented heating system with 7 rads. All working fine untill this morning when wife says it did begin to heat rads but then didnt. Now investigated with boiler still running but even the boiler and cylinder is cold. All pipes around boiler cold. But boiler running! I cannot understand it as even with a faulty pump or valves the boiler would heat up. Also, even the burner is cold to the touch.

What could be the issue?

Wearb

Could be a dirty or failed photo cell. Make and model please? Would help if you uploaded an image somewhere and PM'd me the link, then I can upload it here for others to help with.

jimf

most likely failed photocell as wearb says above

could also be control box

maybe coil but very very unlikely if its a riello burner

buky

Lads, thanks so much for the replies.
Ye wre super fast.

RDB2 90-120 burner.
On a low output. Far as I remember the nozzle is on the small side. .6 maybe or smaller.

Boiler Grant 70-90

I appreciate the help.

Cheers

agusta

disconnect power to boiler
1/ open control box lit
2/disconnect photocell wire connector from control box
3/ restart burner/boiler
4/if the burner goes to lock out,it is a faulty photocell

jimf

agusta wrote: »

disconnect power to boiler
1/ open control box lit
2/disconnect photocell wire connector from control box
3/ restart burner/boiler
4/if the burner goes to lock out,it is a faulty photocell

ur up early back to wetting the bed again or what :D:D

agusta

photocell picture
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/271692806584

jimf

buky wrote: »

Lads, thanks so much for the replies.
Ye wre super fast.

RDB2 90-120 burner.
On a low output. Far as I remember the nozzle is on the small side. .6 maybe or smaller.

Boiler Grant 70-90

I appreciate the help.

Cheers

.6 nozzle would be about right for a 70/90 boiler once correct pressure is set

DGOBS

RBD in Constant Pre-Purge:

Can be the cause of 3 issues
1) PE Cell
2) Solenoid
3) Control Box

Test 1 (As above) disconnect the PE cell, reset burner and it runs for 12 second, then fires for 3-5 seconds and locks out, you need a new PE Cell
Test 2 Isolate the power, remove the Solenoid and check OHMs Should be approx 100ohms resistance (+/-5), if not, replace solenoid

If both above tests pass, change control box.

agusta

DGOBS wrote: »

RBD in Constant Pre-Purge:

Can be the cause of 3 issues
1) PE Cell
2) Solenoid
3) Control Box

Test 1 (As above) disconnect the PE cell, reset burner and it runs for 12 second, then fires for 3-5 seconds and locks out, you need a new PE Cell
Test 2 Isolate the power, remove the Solenoid and check OHMs Should be approx 100ohms resistance (+/-5), if not, replace solenoid

If both above tests pass, change control box.

4/ not getting 53v back from the white wire from motor.This also can cause motor to run continuous.
53V in white wire is checked while the motor is running with a multimeter.it should be checked before changing the control box as the control box cant really be tested

buky

hi lads,

weather gone very cold now.

Did first test from agusta above. Sure enough after disconnecting photocell burner ran, tried to fire and went to lockout. I was chuffed as I thought I just needed a new photocell. Installed the new one today and now burner runs on start up, tries to fire and then going to lockout! Checked the old photocell again plugged in. Same as before, running non stop but not firing.However, there is one difference between the two (apart from the obvious) The New PC attempts to fire after Xmas amount of seconds ie I can hear the change in motor sound as it does something. The old PC does not do this. Any ideas? Much appreciated your help.

jimf

you may have 2 issues

could be as simple as a blocked nozzle or as expensive as a fuel pump

best get somebody experienced to check over for you who will have all parts in the van


not very common but sometimes a photocell can take out the control box as well or maybe the other way around

agusta

The motor/fan run for 12 seconds,Then it fires for 5 seconds.After the 5 seconds the photocell has to see light.If it doesnt see light [ie the flame ]the burner will go to lockout.
so after the 12 seconds and during the 5 seconds does the burner fire [flame] or just attempt to fire?
If the burner does fire during the 5 seconds ,the new photocell could be faulty.
If it doesnt fire during the 5 seconds,bleed the pump just to ensure no airlock
id be double checking the connectors in the control box first.the photocell push in connection and the coil push in connection.
But the as jimf said,there may be another issue,not usual be can happen

DGOBS

If its one of the new electronic PE cells, make sure its plugged in the right way around

jimf

DGOBS wrote: »

If its one of the new electronic PE cells, make sure its plugged in the right way around

if it is tony it could well be faulty :rolleyes::rolleyes:

buky

Folks,
Its funny cos just as I wrote my last post above I was thinking the same Jim, there there could be 2 issues at play here.
I had checked for oil at the pump pressure gauge shaft and the oil was spurting out. 2 weeks ago I had checked the tank and there was plenty so didn't think there was any issue with that anyway. After that the heating did work again for about 15 mins.
Anyway to make a long story short, the oil was out also.What spurted out must have been only what was in the shaft.
The old PC will work fine, as long as there is oil, but it will not cut out when the oil runs out. Isn't that strange? I was worried that the pump might be damaged from running dry.Anyway new PC installed and all good to go. No issues. The purpose of this post is to provide feedback and to thank you all for being so kind in contributing your time and knowledge with me. In the heel of the hunt, you were all spot on, it was the pc. If any of you is in Galway some time I will buy you a pint ( of course then you will have to get someone to drive you home afterwards !! )
https://b-static.net/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.png

jimf

glad u are sorted

re the pint agusta will def be up for his freebie he loves stuff for nathin


he can peel an orange in his pocket

and as for the referee from wexford hed probably thumb up and down for a packet of wine gums