Identify this box, and some W/Y plan queries

[SimonH2]

A colleague at work has just bought his first property - a late 80's/early 90's 2-bed bungalow. He's busy doing stuff like getting rid of all the wallpaper (he doesn't like the "old people's" patterns), new windows, bathroom, kitchen - and most importantly the wiring for the TV etc (it's going to be a right bachelor pad ).

Anyway, it's had a new boiler done by BG not too long ago, and while it may shock some of you to hear me say it, it's quite a tidy job. It looks like a W or Y plan setup, using the original DHW cylinder and radiators - but dispensing with the F&E tank and going unvented. I haven't been able to look too closely at either the valve or the wiring yet. I do have a couple of queries about it.

Firstly, what is this device in the condensate drain ?

Untitled

• SimonH2
• 25 Jun 2011
• 1

Is it a syphon, or something else ?

When he has the kitchen in bits, I'm suggesting he relocates the drain from here :

Untitled

• SimonH2
• 25 Jun 2011
• 1

so it goes down the main drain in the kitchen. Although it's sheltered and quite short, the insulation was never fixed and is already deteriorating. Also, I'd have though it wasn't good practice to put acidic condensate into the ground so close to the building.

Then I'd propose to move the safety valve outlet lower down (use the hole made for the drain) instead of where it is now :

Untitled

• SimonH2
• 25 Jun 2011
• 1

It doesn't show up in the photo, but the last bit of pipe slopes up enough that I reckon it would hold enough water to freeze solid in winter.

Does that sound reasonable ?

As an aside, he asked me if I could get that safe off the wall - and no, neither of us can figure out what it might have been for ! I went prepared with angle grinder assuming it might be well fixed from the inside. First thing I tried was a pry bar and it fell of with very little persuasion - as you can see, it wasn't exactly well fixed

Untitled

• SimonH2
• 25 Jun 2011
• 1

Now, the main query on the heating.
All rads have TRVs, and there is a small manual bypass on the system, the pump is a standard Grunfos unit, and there is a pipe stat on one of the main boiler pipes. As I say, I've not had chance to study the wiring yet, but I'm assuming the idea is that when the TRVs close down, the bypass will result in the return temp rising and the pipe stat will shut down the system for a while. Would an automatic bypass be better for this - otherwise when the there is heating demand there is still going to be flow through the manual bypass ?
Any other suggestions ? I'm assuming the boiler wouldn't take kindly to a modulating pump.

There is still a thermostat on the wall, but I don't know if it's still connected - if it is, then I'm inclined to get rid of it since it's where it cannot possibly do any good since it's in the unheated (small) entrance hall.

 

[onlyfitidealboilers]

that is not a new boiler.

 

[Murf520970]

. Idealy the condensate should terminate into an internal waste pipe to prevent freezing or if externally into a drain or purpose made soakaway

 

[bernardgreen]

It might be an air break in the condensate pipe. A "U" bend followed by a means for condensate to escape if the pipe has frozen.

This emergency escape route makes a mildly corrosive wet patch on the floor but protects the boiler sump from filling up and damaging the boiler by corroding the burners and / or heat exchanger.

 

[petit_pablo]

I wouldnt be surprised if thats an M-series icos. Must be about 8 years old. BG fitted an extra trap on the condensate pipes of the icos' originally as the onboard trap isnt capable of holding 75ml. This was dropped on later installations.

The system is most likely a Y-plan. I dont think ive ever seen BG wire in anything except Y or S plans.

Re-running the condensate to the internal drain will be better than how its currently run.

Re-running the discharge down to the drain wont hurt either.

 

[SimonH2]

that is not a new boiler.

Wow, that's a really informative post there

The device on the pipes is a frost stat

I'll take a closer look sometime, there is also a wall stat which is wired into it (there's a wire from a JB to the wall stat, and then another one to the pipe stat) so that makes sense.

I wouldnt be surprised if thats an M-series icos.

Yes, I looked yesterday and it's an M3080

Must be about 8 years old.

It doesn't look it - the installation looks really new, guess the chap was quite clean, in our garage everything would be covered in an inch of dust, metal grindings, wood sandings, ...

BG fitted an extra trap on the condensate pipes of the icos' originally as the onboard trap isnt capable of holding 75ml. This was dropped on later installations.

Makes sense - leave it in then. Though it's glued in which means the only service it can have to by pouring water into the boiler to flush it - not that traps get serviced if my parents' experience is anything to go by.

The system is most likely a Y-plan. I dont think ive ever seen BG wire in anything except Y or S plans.

I thought later it would be a Y plan - don't think I'd ever heard of the W plan until I went looking them up to see what this arrangement is called.

Re-running the condensate to the internal drain will be better than how its currently run.

That's on the list now - when the kitchen units start getting pulled out.

 

[Murf520970]

i didnt mean to imply the pictured white box was a frost stat i meant the other gizmo on the pipes , didnt realise you already had stated what it was

 

[Whitespirit66]

OP

That white box on the wall that appears to serve no useful purpose.....................it's an Ideal Icos.

 

[SimonH2]

OP

That white box on the wall that appears to serve no useful purpose.....................it's an Ideal Icos.

Guess you're not a fan of them then, like a lot in here

 

[Whitespirit66]

All of these seem to have been manufactured on a Friday.