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Still trying to plan how best to tackle my old ch system. I posted a thread recently on here to identify the motorised valve - turned out to be Satchwell Minival (momo?)

Please Identify Ancient Motorised Valve

The Thorn Olympic boiler works fine and so does the pump and new Drayton Lifestyle programmer I fitted. I know the Satch. valve is knackered, but I can't see how the system as it is ever had independent control of the heating and hw. The satch. valve on the pipes to cyl is the only one - no second valve for heating. At the moment, if the boiler is on, it heats the hw and heating no matter what the programmer is set to. Doesn't respond to cyl stat either. If you just want hw, then you have to turn all the rad valves off.

It looks like a fully pumped system and can't be gravity hw because the boiler and cyl are on the same floor - the cyl is actually lower than the boiler.

Can anyone tell me from the description and diagram below if the system is capable of independent hw and heating control in it's present form - obviously with new motorised valve?

Also, can anyone identify the 'mystery valve' (actually don't think it is a valve??) on the pipe to upstairs rads? (see first photo)

DSC01377.JPG


DSC01374.JPG




P O T  ch..jpg
 
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Some Satchwell valves where wired to give priority to hot water and did that with on/off switching. What is the mystery valve in your diagram? Looks as though its capable of independent control from the hydraulic point of view of the diagram.
 
Thanks for your replies. I don't think I should have called it a valve, as I don't really know what it is. It's the mystery 'component'. Its the one in the top picture and if anyone has an idea what it may be, I'd be glad to hear.

Going back to the issue of separate control, I can't see how the boiler could be on for just hw and not heat the rads as well - as there's only one valve controlling the flow to hw cyl.

As regards 'on/off switching' mentioned by Vee, there is a grey metal box wired into the system below the boiler with 'Arrow' on the cover. Has something like a relay inside. See pic below.

DSC01372.JPG
 
Mystery valve looks like an air bleed valve to me. Does a radiator bleed valve key fit on the square bit at the top?
 
Thanks for your replies.

Ric2013>>>>> Haven't tried a rad key in it yet.

jtsplumbing>>>>>> I suppose the system may have been solid fuel at one time, it's an old building. Is it OK to leave the prv there? It's an open vented system, so not needed. Or is there a danger that it may leak in the future and cause a flood?

And out of interest, does anyone know what the mechanism in the grey box does in connection with the Satchwell Minival?

DSC01373.JPG
 
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