Vaillant latest 470f WC controller with latest ecotec 831 boiler

[phpaul]

sounds to me like the system would work well with underfloor wet heating

 

[phpaul]

to be honest i like to use salus controls. the new s series stuff is cool even has a service mode

 

[stratobuddy]

To Vaillant831 - - - let me know how you get on with it.

Are you installing the 470f components yourself and setting up the "installer level" parameters of the controller?

 

[radswilldo]

Just to explain how I got into this situation, a friend had the ecotec 831 boiler and 392f controller installed at the recommendation of her plumber.

I liked the system so I specified the same system to my plumber.

None of us knew that Vaillant had changed the boiler design (but kept the same name), and that the 392f controller would no longer work with it, AND they didn't have a compatible controller available yet.

I installed the new 831 at my home in June; as I write this reply I am happily gazing at my 392f, which is sat pretty on a wall. Who has said that the 392 is not compatable? If you look at Page 13 in the manual it plainly states that the 392f is one of the accessories available. What you cant do with the 392f, as opposed to the 470f/350, is plug the reciever unit into the new boiler's facia.

 

[keentoknow]

Hi, we too have this timer and mostly it is ok but when the weather gets really cold it struggles to reach the desired temperature for hours and sometimes never does. I think I read somewhere that the boiler itself needs to be set to maximum but our plumber is insisting it should be at 72%any help you can give me would be great, the thing is a mystery to me

 

[chris watkins]

I don't know the 470F in particular but with WC systems in general (& especially in older less well insulated dwellings) this can be a small problem there are two choices - one is leave the heating system on for longer so the structor is allowed to heat up or even stay up to temperature.
The second is to increase the ramp setting manually (on mine this means simply increasing the boiler thermostat setting) I only do this while it is very cold & return it back when it rises, this will have the effect of increasing the water flow temperature against the outside air & will improve the warm up times. (you can leave it at this higher setting if it is not heating correctly) I feel this is a small price to pay for the savings delivered.

 

[keentoknow]

Thank you for your reply Chris, yes we are going to try to increase the thermostat on the boiler,we will just have to wade through the instruction book to find out how. I am determined to understand the timer but my husband wants rid of it.

 

[dancinplumba]

Thank you for your reply Chris, yes we are going to try to increase the thermostat on the boiler,we will just have to wade through the instruction book to find out how. I am determined to understand the timer but my husband wants rid of it.

hi, with the 470, your boiler stat should be at maximum, its the 470 which decides what boiler flow temp is.

 

[dancinplumba]

and temp dial is on front of boiler

 

[keentoknow]

and temp dial is on front of boiler

Yes I read this on this thread that the boiler needs to be on maximum but when I asked the heating engineer he said he likes to set it just below maximum so its not working at full blast, Can you explain to me in simple terms why this should solve our problem? We are both really useless as technical things

 

[dancinplumba]

he is right if its a simple on/off stat, but its not. if room very cold, stat tells boiler to output high temp water to heat room quicker, but it carnt if boiler not set on maximum. when temp in room gets near to set temp, stat tells boiler to reduce heat output.
Does the radiator in the room where you have your stat have a thermostatic valve on ?

 

[keentoknow]

he is right if its a simple on/off stat, but its not. if room very cold, stat tells boiler to output high temp water to heat room quicker, but it carnt if boiler not set on maximum. when temp in room gets near to set temp, stat tells boiler to reduce heat output.
Does the radiator in the room where you have your stat have a thermostatic valve on ?

Yes we have a thermostat on the hall rad which is where the controller is , we can't find out how to turn up the boiler in the instructions , its a vaillant ecotec pro is turning it up dufficult? Is it something the engineer has to do?

 

[dancinplumba]

and temp dial is on front of boiler

as above !!, you need to remove stat on rad as it is not helping. also get an engineer that knows what they are doing ? your 470 needs the heat curve etc set up

 

[keentoknow]

as above !!, you need to remove stat on rad as it is not helping. also get an engineer that knows what they are doing ? your 470 needs the heat curve etc set up

We don't have a dial on the boiler there are plus and minus buttons. We have the heat curve set to 4(max) .it is all fine till the weather gets really cold.I have emailed Vaillant but they did not reply.i can't get through on the phone either.

 

[dancinplumba]

heat curve should be 2 in this country, my bad thought was plus not pro. you have to go to page 13, 5.2.2 then 5.2.1 and do what it says in your instruction manual, if you dont feel confident get an heating person thats knows what they are doing Put a post up in forum plumber or gas installer wanted.
ps: there is a thanks button in bottom left, feel free to press it

 

[chris watkins]

Can I ask, is this a replacement boiler installed on to an existing system ? Is there no chance of you getting the installer back to sort out these teething problems did he suggest the WC or did you ask for it ?
I am sure it all just needs tweaking & once working it will reduce your gas bills.

 

[keentoknow]

Can I ask, is this a replacement boiler installed on to an existing system ? Is there no chance of you getting the installer back to sort out these teething problems did he suggest the WC or did you ask for it ?
I am sure it all just needs tweaking & once working it will reduce your gas bills.

No its a brand new Ecotec boiler and we are pleased with it , the installer suggested the weather controller and I am sure they are just teething problems, I have been in touch with the installer about turning up the boiler and removing the stat on the radiator but he doesn't think this is the problem. I have emailed vaillant but to no avail.

 

[chris watkins]

No its a brand new Ecotec boiler and we are pleased with it , the installer suggested the weather controller and I am sure they are just teething problems, I have been in touch with the installer about turning up the boiler and removing the stat on the radiator but he doesn't think this is the problem. I have emailed vaillant but to no avail.

I know the boiler is new but were the rads replace ? If they have not been sized to suit a water flow temp of 75 deg C then this could also be leading to the sort fall. Get them back as others have said. The curve can be changed & by the looks of it there is also a pre-heat option that can be applied to get the system up to temp on the first on but all of this is engineers mode.

 

[keentoknow]

I know the boiler is new but were the rads replace ? If they have not been sized to suit a water flow temp of 75 deg C then this could also be leading to the sort fall. Get them back as others have said the curve can be changed & by the looks of it there is also a pre-heat option that can be applied to get the system up to temp on the first on.

Hi I just got through to Vaillant and they said that the heat curve should be on 2.3 no more,by putting it on 4 it could overshoot the requirement or something. I have tried to adjust the boiler to maximum using page 13 instructions as above but it won't go above 75 deg.vaillant have said that I need to try it tonight and if no improvement they will send an engineer to check the settings they were very helpful actually,so far the temperature on the controller has gone down not up! What a nightmare.

 

[dancinplumba]

No its a brand new Ecotec boiler and we are pleased with it , the installer suggested the weather controller and I am sure they are just teething problems, I have been in touch with the installer about turning up the boiler and removing the stat on the radiator but he doesn't think this is the problem. I have emailed vaillant but to no avail.

no offence but your installer is in the wrong, the stat on rad will conflict with your controller, and the temp on your boiler can be adjusted to max temp flow which is 80c but needs to be done by an installer. where are you ? put a post in the plumber wanted forum on here, someone may be local that can do this for you

 

[keentoknow]

no offence but your installer is in the wrong, the stat on rad will conflict with your controller, and the temp on your boiler can be adjusted to max temp flow which is 80c but needs to be done by an installer. where are you ? put a post in the plumber wanted forum on here, someone may be local that can do this for you

Great news I finally got through to Vaillant and they were really helpul.They confirmed that the boiler must be set to max and they are sending an engineer out no quibble.We are under warranty.The guy said that many installers are not setting the boiler to max and this is causing problems with the controller.Believe it or not I live in the town where the boiler is made so the engineer won't have far to come, I have a list of questions for when he gets here..Thank you both for all your help, I will post again when he has been in the hope of helping others.

 

[Rickster123]

Great news I finally got through to Vaillant and they were really helpul.They confirmed that the boiler must be set to max and they are sending an engineer out no quibble.We are under warranty.The guy said that many installers are not setting the boiler to max and this is causing problems with the controller.Believe it or not I live in the town where the boiler is made so the engineer won't have far to come, I have a list of questions for when he gets here..Thank you both for all your help, I will post again when he has been in the hope of helping others.

Great news! But make sure you make him a cup of tea before you bring out the list!

 

[keentoknow]

Yes I'm good at tea and lists,just not so good at central heating controllers!

 

[Rickster123]

Yes I'm good at tea and lists,just not so good at central heating controllers!

Almost the perfect customer!

 

[Fishpond]

I offered to write an article about WC heating system controllers for this forum, based on my own experience with it and lots of research into heating curves etc.

I sent a draft to Dan a few weeks ago for approval but have not heard from him since.

If you pm me with an email I could send you a copy of what I've written so far.

Hi stratobuddy,

are you able to share this document? Or post it somewhere on the web where I can download it?

thanks