Jonty Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Hi folks, I'm after some help from someone who knows oil boilers. I need to get hold of a spare part for a temporary fix whilst new boiler arrives. Does anyone know what the component to the right of the picture is - it's the light coloured box with the red illuminated push switch. It's something along the lines of ignition box I think - just as a note, it will be installed by a competant person, it's just the name the plumber called it doesn't tally with what I can find on the online parts lists. Boiler is a very old trianco TRO 20 25 Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 The part with the red light on it is a control box, looks like and old danfoss one which is now obsolete sadly. To replace it you would need to replace the control boxes and it's base {re-wire} with a satronic upgrade kit. Are you sure the box has failed? what are the symptoms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks for the feedback, symptoms are oil is present fan works but no ignition, there are sparks but they look like shorts rather than ignition spark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 If oil is being sprayed out in a mist by the nozzle and not igniting, it will most likely be the ignition transformer. Easy to obtain and fit yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy1950 Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 The ignition transformer should send a continuous arc over (spark) into the draft tube into the edge of the oil spray on starting. Any sparking lower down on the electrodes might just necessitate a thorough cleaning, how ever the Danfoss EB1 ignition transformer was always prone to burning out the insulation outputs. I used to try a large wrap of insulation tape around the ignition push fits into the transformer or just re positioning the transformer away from the side of the burner casing to try and stop it shorting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Gents, thank you, there's some great info here, thank you. I've found the transformer and it does appear to be where the sparking is occurring. I put some tape over the melted area, but seemingly not enough. I'm still getting sparking but less than before I applied the tape. Is it a case of more tape or would a new transformer be a better solution, I'm very grateful for the advise as its Baltic here and I'm having to do a bit of scraping together to afford a new boiler so a short term fix while I get there would be really appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 A new transformer would be best. Most decent plumbing/heating merchants should have one and not big money. No harm in trying more insulation tape though and may even re position the transformer so it cant arch to anything metal near to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy1950 Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) Try and clean up the out put terminals as much as possible with a file or scraper of some sort, this will help reduce the carbon tracks to earth, get as much tape around the HT leads push ends as possible so long as they still push fit. Remove the transformer from its holder and let it hang loose, the idea being to make the electrode spark gap a lower resistance to jump, than arcing to earth. If you feel really adventuresome reduce or make sure that the electrode spark gap in the draft tube is about 1/10th of an inch (this also will aid the spark jump. When the air blast comes through the draft tube the spark arc will naturally increase. aga man is right that the best solution is a new transformer but needs must. Edited January 15, 2018 by Flyboy1950 agreeing with agaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootthepigeon Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 If you get stuck send me your address via pm, I've got a transformer here that I've taken off a recently replaced boiler, 2nd hand but still working, all i ask is you drop the postage cost in a charity bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Good old PW, sorts it out again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 1 minute ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Good old PW, sorts it out again! Absolutely, thank you very much gents. Shootthepigeon, that’s a really kind offer, I really appreciate it you’re a true gent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Shoot the pigeon, I'm going to drop you a PM and take you up on your kind offer, and happy to donate to any charity you like. when cleaning up the existing unit, the plastic crumbled on the housing, obviously through being ancient! i did clean everything up, remove the unit and let it hang loose after insulating the exposed ht lead connection, I didn't get any sparking (hooray) but i also didn't get any ignition. I'll try again with a replacement transformer. This is all new to me so an interesting venture. Flyboy, I will look in the draft tube tomorrow RE the spark gap, I did wonder if pulling on the ht leads would have disjointed anything. thanks again all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Next time i am on a boiler breakdown i will just post here,will be a lot quicker . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2018 Here's a picture of a radiator.... A hot radiator, and the first time it's been hot since Saturday. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Aga Man, Fly Boy and Shootthepigeon for all their help , advice, and in the case of Shootthepigeon, the really generous help of posting out the replacement part and being on the end of a phone. PW at its best! I now know a lot more about oil boilers than I did a week ago... Thanks gents, if you're ever heading up to the Yorkshire Dales, drop me a message, I'd like to return the favour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy1950 Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 Your welcome jonty. Stay warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootthepigeon Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 No problem pal, happy it helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 I was also happy to have helped Jonty. Something very satisfying in fixing things yourself even if you do need a bit guidance from like minded folk. Might well drop you that message sometime. Especially if you are anywhere near Pateley bridge. The wife and I are quite partial to that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 On 20 January 2018 at 18:05, aga man said: I was also happy to have helped Jonty. Something very satisfying in fixing things yourself even if you do need a bit guidance from like minded folk. Might well drop you that message sometime. Especially if you are anywhere near Pateley bridge. The wife and I are quite partial to that area. You'd be very welcome to do so, drop me a PM if you head up this way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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