suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,531
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Post by suein56 on Feb 23, 2024 12:58:27 GMT 1
There was a distant 'clunk' which I couldn't place as everything seemed to be working. It was only when I looked at the Fuse Board later on because the chauffe-eau hadn't come on I saw that the Pilote switch had turned itself off. Having researched this it seems to me (?) that our BEC might have an electrical problem somewhere.
As I can't reach our go-to plumber as he's gone on holiday I'd like to ask :
The chauffe-eau is coming up to 12 years old - is in excellent external condition and doesn't leak. It has worked excellently since new in 2012. So, if the problem turns out to be electrical rather than plumbing would it be wise to think of replacing it anyway because of its age ?
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Post by lapourtaider on Feb 23, 2024 13:19:52 GMT 1
Average life of a chauffeau electric is 10 -15 years. Might well be time to replace it.
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 23, 2024 14:15:18 GMT 1
Interrupteur: the RCB (30 mA), 16 A MCB or 2A MCB potecting the file pilote signal? Or the relay, contacteur jour/nuit? Switch to manual on position if on auto.
Sometimes problems in the ENEDIS grid, waiting sometimes helps
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,531
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Post by suein56 on Feb 23, 2024 14:55:23 GMT 1
Interrupteur: the RCB (30 mA), 16 A MCB or 2A MCB potecting the file pilote signal? Or the relay, contacteur jour/nuit? Switch to manual on position if on auto. Sometimes problems in the ENEDIS grid, waiting sometimes helps The switch says C2 and Pilote above .. it is next to the BEC C20 switch which is next to the J/N 20A switch. I am not brave enough to switch the Pilote back on .. just in case of more clunks - or even bangs.
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 23, 2024 16:04:05 GMT 1
Contacteur j/n has a 3 position slider switch. Shift from auto to manual/on.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,531
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Post by suein56 on Feb 23, 2024 16:17:09 GMT 1
Contacteur j/n has a 3 position slider switch. Shift from auto to manual/on. How does that help ?
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 23, 2024 19:28:53 GMT 1
Suein56, in the auto position the fil pilote signal brings current to the coil of the relay, the contacteur j/n. The switch contacts close. Green light for the current there to go to the CE, protection provided by a MCB of 16 or 20 amps.The manual position is a bypass operation: the CE should get it's daily food directly, without the help of the fil pilote signal.
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Post by lurcher on Feb 24, 2024 9:16:09 GMT 1
RA, will the CE be on all the time, apart from the thermostat, and will it still be on HC time?
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Post by lapourtaider on Feb 24, 2024 10:15:04 GMT 1
will the CE be on all the time, apart from the thermostat, and will it still be on HC time? The CE will be on constantly, regulated by the thermostat. During HC you will pay less than HP.
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 24, 2024 10:16:13 GMT 1
As soon as the next fil pilote arrives, it will switch itself back to auto mode. Not being there it will be an always on affair. Unless you switch off the 20 amp disjoncteur.
Electrical problem in the tableau electrique or in the CE? Could be a problem with the 2 amp disjoncteur or perhaps a defective mcb. I' have seen many problems with the low cost Debflex type. I prefer names as Hager, Schneider and Legrand.
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 24, 2024 10:29:55 GMT 1
Other possibllity: short in the relay coil of contacteur j/n, surge current, the 2 amp mcb reacts as it is supposed to do. Easy to measure with a multimeter: open coil or a very low resistance.
Coil between A1 and A2.
up.picr.de/37461949xy.jpg
Coil resistance dc should be around 3K2 ohms.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,531
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Post by suein56 on Feb 24, 2024 12:40:41 GMT 1
OK .. after a night of reflection - la nuit porte conseil and all that - following your advice we have left the Pilote switch off and moved the CE J/N switch to On. So far it is using the same amount of electricity as usual for heating up. Will report back in a couple of hours. BTW it is a LeGrand tableau .. albeit 20 years old.
Edit : Now we have thunder and lightning .. good grief.
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 24, 2024 16:20:56 GMT 1
Good to hear. No new CE or plumber needed for the problem solving
During hc/hp time switch back to auto, switch on the 2 amp mcb. see, listen to what happens. Not dangerous. To check if the problem is inside the contacteur j/n or the tableau electrique.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,531
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Post by suein56 on Feb 24, 2024 17:51:48 GMT 1
Good to hear. No new CE or plumber needed for the problem solving Yes it would seem so .. a huge relief. Thank you very much for your patience and support in this. We really appreciate your knowledgeable input. Being very cautious, we know so little about electricity and tomorrow being Sunday, we have decided to continue in the same way tomorrow as we have today and try out your suggestion on Monday. Then, hopefully knowing roughly where the problem lies, we can contact a local electrician to restore harmony to the tableau. A heartfelt thank you for your help RA.
Edit : Update The CE thermostat cut in after about 4 hours of heating so I switched to Off the J/N 3 way switch. Then turned it back to On after our HC kicked in .. and so far so good.
Will try your next suggestion tomorrow evening and then report back. As you say at least this should narrow down where the problem lies. Thanks once again and just to add I had a lovely hot shower this evening - such bliss
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Post by robertarthur on Feb 25, 2024 11:27:29 GMT 1
The CE thermostat is already enough, thermal losses of a modern CE are low.Day/night rate: used to be a nice option. As from August not any more. Only for much Electric heating (accumulateurs) and families with many children.
Suggestion: switching to option Base could be the better option. No electricien needed, no new items for your consumer box, lower leccy bill.
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