Exploring an underfloor heating controller
Added 2020-09-11 09:57:11 +0000 UTCA few years ago a "technical incident" at a friends house resulted in me being forced to learn more about underfloor heating than I'll probably ever need to know. Suffice to say that old people chopping random (live) cables is not a good thing.
On a plus note, it resulted in me getting these control modules to explore for our entertainment.
It's also worthy of note that the heating engineer had installed a local fused spur for the controller, but the boiler control line was not isolated through that spur, so turning the power off locally could still result in the boiler control wire becoming live randomly when another part of the heating system called for heat.
If you ever do repair work on systems like this, isolate at the main boiler power source and be aware that not all heating engineers are electrically inclined.
Comments
What is it with the electrically uninitiated that they either run screaming from a cupboard full of wires or wade right in, cutters in hand? I just never do home heating and cooling stuff, so I watch to learn, because someday I'll be there and hopefully it'll be Clive's voice in my head instead of the angry bees for a change.
Michael Thompson
2020-09-12 08:09:34 +0000 UTCA very welcome video. My underfloor system conked years ago first a TopSwitch chip that kept overheating and then a strip of choc block that crumbled into little bits when I tried examining it. I have a naughty switch dangling out of the stair cupboard now connected in place of the controller (I make do without thermostats), but I really should get round to fixing it someday ...
Mike Page
2020-09-11 16:36:11 +0000 UTCThose sound pretty heavy duty transformers. The inrush current to them must be quite high.
Big Clive
2020-09-11 13:12:17 +0000 UTCStandard mains wiring cable. Twin and earth, then flex for the final runs to things like valves.
Big Clive
2020-09-11 13:11:34 +0000 UTCI have a couple of underfloor heating transformers for the electrically heated system, they are rated at 28v and 24v at 680 VA. I got them at auction brand new in box for £5 for both- they are for the new model rail layout my son and I are planning. New they are near £100 each.
Mike Hughes
2020-09-11 13:06:29 +0000 UTCAs someone on the left side of the pond, I cannot believe you send full mains only limited by the fuse to the thermostats and valves. What does the cable look like? We use thinly insulated 20ga. but it is only 24 volt.
Paul Malloy
2020-09-11 13:03:16 +0000 UTCOpening this box will result in Death by Electrocution and a £50 Fine.
Andrew Donaldson
2020-09-11 10:35:22 +0000 UTC
