Newbie Help-Potterton ep2000 switching on & off rapidly

[s79]

Hi all,I dont know very much about plumbling & central heating so please be bear with me..! The Potterton EP2000 heating controller which controls our old fashioned halstead 50H boiler randomly swictches itself on & off i.e. ignites the boiler & then switches it off again very rapidly (litterally a second between the two states)

I think this tends to happen when the central heating is set to timer (i.e both hot water & central heating are set to come on) , but havent confirmed his yet.

Any suggestions to why this is happening? The potterton is 23 years old by the way so probably needs replacing anyway, if this is the case what is a cheap & easy to relace unit?

 

[D_Hailsham]

How do you know it is the EP2000 causing the problem?

If you set the EP2000 to Continuous/24 Hour and the problem goes away, then the EP2000 is at fault.

But if it does not go away, it could be a number of things: e.g boiler thermostat, wall thermostat, motorized valve, HW cylinder thermostat.

It is impossible to diagnose without more info about your system. There is a replacement for the EP2000 costs about £45 and fits the existing backplate.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Not quite sure of the internals of your boiler, but I have a Hero 50. I have similar problem on occasions, boiler lights, then immediately shuts off and then relights. If your boiler is similar, maybe able to offer some advice, mine is NOT a progammer issue.

 

[s79]

Many thanks for the replies guys, the problem is very intermittent, the reason i think it is the potterton is because im fairly sure it is clicking when the bolier is switching on & off - i.e. it seems to be triggering the the on/off of the boiler.

If its not the potterton how do i diagnose the other potential sources?

And D_Hailsham - what is the name of the ep2000 replacemnt?

Thanks.

 

[s79]

...just a quick update, it just happened again, with the central heating being on manually i.e. not on the timer. The CH (central heating) and HW (hot water) symbols were both flashing on the potterton while it was clicking and while the boiler was switching on/off...

 

[heatingman]

Check the Neutral connections in fused spur/plug, wiring centre, and programmer backplate.

 

[s79]

HI all, im resurectting this thread as the problem has come back and its much worse than before! I never actually resolved the problem the first time round and now the cold weather is back i really need to get it sorted esp as i have my niece & nephew round all the time!


Just to confirm, the problem occurs when ever the heating is on (CH & HW) and can happen wether the timer is used or if its activated manually.

Interestingly there doesnt appear to be any issue (so far) when its just the hot water on (triggered manually)

Doing a web search seems to indicate replacing the ep2000 controller, does that still sound about right? Also is this a common problem?

 

[simond]

I have seen at least two other EP series (prince of darkness) programmers doing this.

Are you really so mean you still haven't gone out and bought a replacement?

You are looking at an EP2002 or an EP6002 if you want a simple hinge off replacement.

Both are pony and trap and belong in a different era; but will be a simple replacement if you don't like employing tradesmen.

 

[s79]

p.s. if it is a replacement of the ep2000 thats needed, what should i change it to? I hear the ep2002 is a straight replacement with regards to wiring etc?