VOKERA SABRE 30KW Lockout problem

[psk]

hi,

i went to check a faulty vokera last week as it kept going on lockout on CH mode.

I powerflushed the entire system including the boiler heatexchanger and chaged the primary NTC and Overheat stat hoping the problem would go away. Unfortunately cust just called today and said the problem is still there.

I followed the technical advice from the vokera helpline and now they have asked me to check the ignition board.!

Could you kindly tell me how to explain to the customer who i doubt will not be willing to spend more money, im not even sure if changing the ignition board will eliminate the lockout problem.

Any sound advice or tips will be appreciated.

Regards

 

[gasmarc]

ouch this could be a learning curve for you as the list of things it could be are endless, Good luck

 

[GrahamM]

Out of interest. Did you actually see the fault occurring? Or where you shooting in dark? The Sabres although not the best boilers have quite an easy to follow fault diagnosis guide that have been quite accurate for me in past.

 

[armourer]

As above it could be a number of things.
For future reference I normally explain to the customer the fault indicates any one of a number of things and I will call man tech from site to try to save them some money.
They normally run through the things you have already mentioned it could be (This tells the customer you know what you are talking about) and then let Tech suggest what the fault is.
If it is then wrong you can pretend not to be happy with them as they are the so called experts that make the things.

A little underhand but normally works and customers are a lot less likely to accuse you of conning them (the return visit also normally gives you a little time to look up the wiring diagrams etc and make a more informed decision.

In this case I would check the flow and return temperatures and make sure the boiler was not bypassing.
Even though you have flushed it could still be a blockage somewhere or pump (or even air in the heat exchanger)?

It is guess work and the Sabres are not the best boiler in the world.

 

[tamz]

More than likely will be the ignition board. It is a favourite on vokera's.
Will cost you around 90 quid for the part. Just hope it isn't one of the pink boards which you can't buy in this country and they have to be replaced with the green main and ignition board at around £250.

As gasmarc said you are following a steep curve.

 

[psk]

thanks for you input guys, i did call the tech team and i told the customer what they suggested. the tech man's first advice was check the primary NTC and i also checked that in the MIs. Later on i was told the ignition board! which is nowhere to be mentioned in the MIs, following what tamz just said about the board and ordering it i might as well tell client to get a new boiler in. He has reported that this problem has always been there and the installed who fit the boiler in did not fill the benchmark and notify it there warranty is void.
you guys are right this is indeed a steep curve, just popped in my mind is there any technical helpline out there which charges a small amount to give you proper technical advice?

 

[rm1]

two common faults i have encountered is the the burner pressure was set to low if you check that out also the ignition lead was loose on the bacho unit meaning sometimes there was not a good spark you may have already checked this but worth mentioning

 

[gasmarc]

anything is worth checking so long as it does not cost you money, It could be a dirty venturi faulty APS, lasy fan,etc etc regarding getting the correct information I would not hold my breath on that one , If seriously in doubt and its going to be expensive get the manufacturers out