Repairing old burner to use as an emergency replacement

[Robert Tyrrell]

I've been repairing an old burner this afternoon to use as a replacement if I can't fix a customers burner but I've hit a little snag and wondered if any of you bright sparks (d'you get the pun 🙂 ) can throw a little light on it for me.
The problem is this:
Danfoss BHO12.1 control box - taken the power lead and the photocell out, now I can't remember where they get wired to and I can't find a diagram anywhere.
I think that the photocell is wired to neutral on the lower rail and position 3 on the top rail but I can't for the life of me work out where the live gets pinned.
Any ideas of where I can get the wiring diagram, or just tell me what position to pin the live please?

 

[SimonG]

Id be saving the bh012 as they are like rocking horse poop and setting it with a satronic control box.

 

[lame plumber]

loads of video and help here Installation guides and videos

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

Id be saving the bh012 as they are like rocking horse poop and setting it with a satronic control box.

Cheers, but it still doesn't help with the placement of the live wire and I don't want to guess it as I'll fry the box 😀

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

loads of video and help here Installation guides and videos

Thanks for this but I already know all that stuff, it's just where to fix the live wire so I don't blow the box, apparently they're like rocking horse poo 😉

 

[Bunker]

As above, swap out for Satronic anyway but in the meantime, call Danfoss Techincal on 01932 350655 they are very helpful indeed.

 

[bright spark]

Stupid q but is there not wiring diagram inside box. Other then that google it

 

[Millsy 82]

Why do you want a spare burner? I would be concerned if fit it and the people would report me for using second hand parts on a boiler or just stop contact after you have fixed (albeit temporary) their boiler so you are without a burner and payment.

 

[SimonG]

Why do you want a spare burner? I would be concerned if fit it and the people would report me for using second hand parts on a boiler or just stop contact after you have fixed (albeit temporary) their boiler so you are without a burner and payment.

Cust isnt going to complain if it gives them heat and hot water. Its a last resort to get them going. I charge a rental fee and fitting fee. If i dont get it backnthen its 200.

 

[Millsy 82]

I once fitted a 2nd hand Pcb on a boiler to get it going. We couldn't get back into the house again to replace it then they complained 6 months later as they had to get someone in to replace the Pcb as it kept playing up (it did have an intermittent fault but worked 90% of the time)

 

[Dannypipe]

I wish I had kept some of the decent burners I've taken out. I have kept one, but of course it doesn't fit all as I found out today. You can buy universal burners I think. Anyone got info on this? I'm going to be doing a bit more oil by the looks of things. Got a few to repair and a few to replace. Normally only do a couple a year.

 

[Bunker]

The Eogb x400 is nice and compact. A bit if a bint to get a decent spark gap on but a versatile unit. Cheap from HOWS.

 

[lame plumber]

if you only do a few a year it isnt worth the cost of carrying a spare burner. I seem to carry half the hwos catalogue in the van and still never have the bit I want, and that adds upto some £8k of tools and spares at present!!! I scrapped all my spare burners yesterday as I am never bothering with swapping out again as it only ever causes hassle, custard doesnt want to give em back or they fail having been sat around in a garage too long. Now its repair or replace a complete new burner for me. Seems odd being able to get in my garage this morning, all that in there now are some 2nd hand working pcbs and a complete hex n fan for a vaillant, tommorrow I'll be wanting a fan i know went to the scrappies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Millsy 82]

if you only do a few a year it isnt worth the cost of carrying a spare burner. I seem to carry half the hwos catalogue in the van and still never have the bit I want, and that adds upto some £8k of tools and spares at present!!! I scrapped all my spare burners yesterday as I am never bothering with swapping out again as it only ever causes hassle, custard doesnt want to give em back or they fail having been sat around in a garage too long. Now its repair or replace a complete new burner for me. Seems odd being able to get in my garage this morning, all that in there now are some 2nd hand working pcbs and a complete hex n fan for a vaillant, tommorrow I'll be wanting a fan i know went to the scrappies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose the way of making sure they give it back is to take a deposit the same price as a new burner. Nobody will want to loose x amount for a second hand burner.

Also you have no guarantee that it will be you doing the work you replace the burner and say they need a new one they get a second opinion who looks at the new/second hand burner and says it's fine or prices cheaper than you so you then have to fight to get it back.

 

[bennythedip]

I find most people are very appreciative if you leave them with a working burner just till you get theirs sorted especially on cold weekends like these! Nothing worse than a call on a Friday evening and not being able to sort it there and then.

 

[Dannypipe]

Yeah, but you need to have the right burner - with the right nozzle, and all set up. Or am I missing something here?

 

[Best]

Yeah, but you need to have the right burner - with the right nozzle, and all set up. Or am I missing something here?

You can on average sized homes with standard efficent oil boliers usually get away with putting a lower output burner on. A burner running at 60,000 btus will do fine on a 90,000 btu boiler as a temporary job. But fitting a burner rated a bit higher would need the nozzle & air etc down sized obviously. There's not a lot of difference in some of the burners and the Sterling burner, for example, without doing any major things to it does most boilers in a range right up to about 120,000 btus.
A Riello 40 burner for to swap on a Riello flange & a Sterling burner (or similar Electroil) for others, will do most average houses I find.

 

[Dannypipe]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to by the spare burner. Also need to buy a selection box of nozzles but am told this will cost about a grand. I mainly do gas.

 

[bennythedip]

I would only have 15/20 nozzles in the van of the most common ones used in my area and have always got sorted. I suppose it depends on how many call outs you'd be doing and how far away you're nearest merchant is but a grand worth of nozzles is a lot of cash lying there on the off chance!

 

[SimonG]

I have about 80 nozzles on hand.

 

[Dannypipe]

I don't have a list of common sized nozzles. Is there a list on here?

Billy who's on here reckons his old gov' carries 2 grands worth of nozzles. He did help me out the crap the other day as the boiler needed a new nozzle and there isn't much choice off the shelf at my local merchants.

 

[Dotty]

For you Dan just get a wee selection of 60°S.

0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.75

4 each of them will keep you out of bother without breaking the bank.

 

[SimonG]

0.55 and 0.75 80EH

 

[lame plumber]

I have about 80 nozzles on hand.

got the selection fm hwos initially then added and subtracted a bit so now got 80-90 better to get the right one than stretch my brain cells adjusting pressure to match old nozzle, and saves journey time, there are no suppliers down my way so its all in the van or next day fm hwos.

 

[Dannypipe]

Thanks everyone for the help. Off to place an order now!