Klunk, klunk, klunk & Replacing Switchmaster 805 Timer

[Lunk]

Hi from a plumbing noob. First post too, so please bear with me...

I've got two questions...

First Question: Klunk, klunk, klunk...

I recently moved into my first house. Seems to be in good order, but noises from the water/heating system are driving me crazy. The master bedroom is located partially above the kitchen where the boiler (Potterton Netaheat) resides. The water cylinder is located in a cupboard adjacent to the master bedroom, but on the opposite side of the room to the boiler. I presume the water flows from the boiler under the bedroom floor to the cylinder, but I could be wrong. Every few minutes, I hear klunk, klunk, klunk from what sounds like the cylinder cupboard . I presume this occurs when hot water starts flowing through the pipes. Despite my efforts, I cannot seem to pinpoint the source of the noise. I've been advised to ensure that the pipes are secure and cushioned to prevent banging, but so far, I haven't found any pipes that aren't held in place by secure plastic fixings. When the boiler was serviced as part of my British Gas Homecare contract, I was told this is fairly common and normal. Surely there is something that can be done about it. Do you have any advice for me?

Second Question: Replacing a Switchmaster 805 timer

Once I recovered from the shock of my first gas bill (£368) , I decided I need to put my water and heating on a timer. The problem is that we've got a lousy and somewhat prehistoric Switchmaster 805 timer. While trying to figure out why the thing didn't work properly, I noticed that the device fits onto a backplate... Neat! I had hoped to find an electronic Switchmaster timer that would fit on the same backplate, but no luck. My question is, what electronic 7 day timer would you recommend as a replacement? I haven't messed with heating timers or heating systems before, so I'm looking for something that will be so easy to wire up (using the existing wires) that I could almost do it blindfolded. Any ideas?

If you've got this far - thanks for bearing with me... And thanks in advance for your assistance.

Regards,
Lunk

 

[ChrisR]

first bit - try it for a day or so with the boiler stat up, and down, If the clunking varies accordingly its just old boiler syndrome - kettling. You could try a smallgsbord of boiler silencers, descalers, desludgers, powerflush, and then you'd have spent so much dosh that you'd convince yourself its better. Well it would be - probably.

sm805
Neutral
L
1 ch on
2 ch off
3 hw on
4 hw off

Try a Drayton Tempus 7. Just connect the wires to the new terminal with the same name. Mark them before undoing!

 

[Lunk]

Many thanks ChrisR!

Given that I'll need to buy and ship a replacement timer, I thought I'd take the opportunity to replace the old Switchmaster room thermostat as well. I can't find a model number, so I've taken some pics of it:


(Click on the pics to enlarge)

I'd appreciate your guidance on the following:

1. Compatible and recommended room thermostats to replace the Switchmaster pictured above.

2. Recommended UK suppliers for the drayton timer and afore-mentioned replacement thermo. Bonus points for a supplier with next day delivery.

I'd also be grateful for your comments on the Drayton brand with respect to quality and availability etc as the larger suppliers (i.e. the ones that offer next day delivery) such as Screwfix don't seem to stock that brand. I'm thinking there must be some huge plumbing/heating suppliers that aren't well known to the general public.

Thanks again!

Lunk

 

[ChrisR]

Well I've got some...!

You need a thermostat which only needs 2 wires + earth. So, many will not do. Digital and analogue are available. Haven't got time to sort one out just now though!

 

[Lunk]

My new Drayton Tempus 7 arrived today and it's installed and working! Thanks so much for the recommendation and assistance.

I just thought I'd ask for a sense check as although the unit appears to be working perfectly, the wiring wasn't exactly as I would have expected. Does this look correct to you? :-

N: 3x wires (2x black & 1x blue)
L: 2x red wires
CH ON: 1x red wire
CH OFF: NO WIRE - Is this correct?
HW ON: 1x yellow wire
HW OFF: 1x blue wire

Please note that the order of the terminals above corresponds to the old timer. The order is different on the new timer.

I'm chuffed with the new timer, so I'm already investigating replacement room stats. You mentioned previously that I need a stat that takes 2 wires + earth. When looking at new stats, how can I tell which ones are compatible and which aren't? I phoned a supplier today and he couldn't answer that question. I don't find the wiring diagrams very useful as I don't know which wires are optional and which are mandatory. Even my existing Switchmaster room stat has terminals that aren't wired. Can I simply search for "2 wire" or "3 wire" room stats, or are there other search criteria that I should use?

On the subject of room stats, could you recommend a particular make/model? I don't yet know if I want a stat with a dial or a display. Is one type better than the other in terms of functionality and performance or is it just personal preference? Some of the Draytons includes "optimum start technology" to help reduce energy costs. Does this type of technology really make much difference?

Lastly, I'd also appreciate your expert guidance on TRVs. Are all TRVs compatible with all radiators, or do they come with different (sized) connectors? I've read that some (but not all) TRVs need to be fitted in a certain way as the direction of water flow is important. Should I try to find TRVs that don't have this restriction, and if so, how can I tell? Essentially, I need to know what to look out for when selecting a TRV. Can you point me to a dummies guide somewhere? Oh, and do you have any personal preferences in terms of make/model? With my non-existent knowledge, I'm simply looking for a good value, nice looking TRV with a good surface for grip. I presume there's much more to it!

Sorry for all the questions! Not sure if I should be starting separate threads for each topic. Many thanks in advance for your help with this. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lunk.