Question about heating system on/off switches

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Hello,

In my new house I noticed there are 2 wall switches next to my boiler. The system has both a boiler and an immersion water tank, as well as a panel that controls heating/hot water timing. When I turn one switch off the boiler goes off, but the heating timing control panel stays on. If I turn that switch on and then the other off then both the boiler and heating timing panel controls go off. I was wondering if this is a usual setup (have not had anything except a combi boiler in the past, which I recall only had 1 on/off switch on the wall).

Thanks,

Mark

 

[SUNRAY]

My initial reaction is this seems strange but it may be more obvious if I were there.

If this a new build, ask the developer.

 

[Mark Hodgkinson]

no its not a new build.

The immersion heater and heating control timer panel are both upstairs, whilst the boiler is downstairs

The one that cuts power only to the boiler has a cable running from it to the boiler and a cable on the other side of the switch running into the ceiling.

The one that cuts power to both is also downstairs, but has no cable running directly to the boiler that I can see. It has one cable that also runs up into the ceiling.

 

[stem]

It's not that unusual. The second switch you mention will probably isolate the entire heating system which will include the boiler / pump / thermostats / controls / motorised valves (if fitted) etc.,

I suspect at some point the first switch you mention that just isolates the boiler may have been added later, perhaps at the time of a boiler change so that just the boiler can be isolated when it's being serviced. This is usually done when the boiler is remote from the main switch but not always.

The important thing is that the main switch that isolates everything should contain a 3A fuse, or is wired to a 5A MCB. [the boiler manual will stipulate] Sometimes there's a 13A fuse fitted and if a fault occurs then often it causes damage to the heating system components before it blows.

 

[ebee]

it really shoulda been labelled/diagram to ensure everyone can work out what is going on, but often not and the person in charge (the householder) at that time knows what is what but folk die/move etc so the next person has not been informed so needs an expert to look into it.
At a distance we can only guess, if we were on site some of us might be able to guess then test our guess (safely) then re-guess or not ad ininitum until we know exactly what was intended and if it is both safe and reliable, then label it up and give you a manual.
In 20 years time you would pass it on to the next house owner (or leave it in your will) wouldn`t you?
It all depends on who has done what and if they have done it correctly.

 

[EFLImpudence]

shoulda

Stop it!

 

[ebee]

Stop it!

Sorry,

 

[ericmark]

I can see @EFLImpudence point. It could be so many things, we are all guessing. Forgetting about central heating, where both the boiler and an immersion heater can provide domestic hot water, we need to look at cost, and control.

In the main, oil and gas cost less than electric, but also with electric no losses, and we can have off-peak and solar supplies. Assuming one has selected someone who pays a reasonable rate for solar into the grid, then even with solar power, oil and gas are cheaper.

Using simple temperature setting, one can arrange it so electric only used when oil or gas fails, however I still use solar to heat DHW in the summer.

Much depends on losses, and use of DHW, what you have told us, is not enough for anyone to give a reasonable reply.