Anyone familiar with old Valiant boilers (butane)?

[Nomad]

Hi folks, a bit of an odd situation, I’m trying to use an older (1980s ?) hot water boiler made by Valiant. The instructions are in German which is slightly better than nothing.
History is unknown but it’s been unused for many years. It's fed by a (25kg ?) butane bottle which seems to have gas on it ( weight compared to the empty spare, and gas flows when the feed pipe is disconnected from the regulator). None of the controls are siezed, the knobs turn ok, etc.

The system is due to be replaced in a few months but it would be handy having a hot shower working before then.

I’m aware of the safety issues but I'd like the satisfaction of getting it working before it gets scrapped.

Is there an easy way to check gas is flowing, or is there some simple "press this to start" procedure I know nothing about ?

I’ve had the cover off and internals look intact and undamaged, photo before I refitted the knobs :

 

[gaz1]

its not a boiler

as its a hot water heater of the time

 

[Johnnybravo]

We used to have one of these in the change room by the dam. As far as I remember you turn the button on then push in to get a spark to light a pilot light. It then ramps up when you open the water tap . Instructions look like Potuguese,not German

 

[gaz1]

they have a thermacouple and a diaphram like a corvec britany

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[gaz1]

this video has alot of info on it

middle button is sparker and set to remain on pilot light

remember they must have fresh air whilst they are in use and lighted as they are not a seal;ed system with fresh air taken from the flue pipe

the air is taken from within the room

 

[gaz1]

it apears as the comment below

We used to have one of these in the change room by the dam. As far as I remember you turn the button on then push in to get a spark to light a pilot light. It then ramps up when you open the water tap . Instructions look like Potuguese,not German

there very simple main faults bad thermacouple or rubber diaphram both parts 20.00 to buy so cheap compared to boilers

the pilot light heats the thermacouple and therefore allows the pilot light to allow more gas in the burn chamber when requested

bad thermacouple and it wont light the gas when its on demand (tap turned on )

systems with a rubber diaphram you need this part for also lighting the heat side of it as it controls hot heat out of the system

corvec britonys use this system as well as vailiant you will find an english version there roughly the same also gives info on services to them which both systems can share details and info

we still have the corvec britony good water heaters

yours is worth keeping if for butane for instant hot water in houses or caravans is where you would find them also in chalets but info must be provided to users

 

[waddycall]

An old flueless gas appliance with an unknown history isn’t really something to tinker with. Best get it checked by a gas safe engineer.

 

[Nomad]

Thanks gents (@gaz1 in particular- both videos are very helpful !), I'll retry now I have a better idea of what it should do.

The one I'm using looks very similar to the one in the video except I need to turn the large centre dial one way then the other to generate a spark manually.

The heater will be getting replaced as part of the renovations as soon as the collapsed roof is replaced, until then it will be "well ventilated" due to several large holes



Will keep you updated

 

[reb78]

Dont chuck the heater when you remove it... someone will have it I'm sure! I can see that being handy in my workshed! Plus its a useful piece of history...!

 

[gaz1]

Dont chuck the heater when you remove it... someone will have it I'm sure! I can see that being handy in my workshed! Plus its a useful piece of history...!

your not the only one there so handy

 

[sg66]

Did you get sorted with this?

Spent many hours fixing them, establish pilot first, no pilot no main burner, check heat exchanger, if its frost damaged it can warp, water gets hotter than it should

If you have pilot, ensure water flow is connected correctly , should go into water housing hot exits on left, if its got the spout it's mixed and comes out of that

Un flued old appliances can be dangerous I'm sure you don't need reminding

 

[Nomad]

Thanks everyone, it's not in the house I'm living at so I've not had a chance to get back to it since I started this thread, I'm hoping to do more in a couple of days and will update then.

The help is appreciated, I've seen similar units used many years ago but never needed to find out how they work. Every day is a school day

 

[Johnnybravo]

Dont chuck the heater when you remove it... someone will have it I'm sure! I can see that being handy in my workshed! Plus its a useful piece of history...!

Unfortunately the mods on here don’t see water heaters of any use or relevance to a workshop Tried twice recently to post an ad for one, both times it disappeared without a trace…

 

[angellonewolf]

Unfortunately the mods on here don’t see water heaters of any use or relevance to a workshop Tried twice recently to post an ad for one, both times it disappeared without a trace…

i think a while ago they where a little more relaxed about tools posted a lot of items that could be usefull in a workshop they let list

then there was a bit of an bust up some people moaning mine got refused whare as his lot listed etc so they tightened up and just listed tool now it stops any bust ups i think

 

[Johnnybravo]

i think a while ago they where a little more relaxed about tools posted a lot of items that could be usefull in a workshop they let list

then there was a bit of an bust up some people moaning mine got refused whare as his lot listed etc so they tightened up and just listed tool now it stops any bust ups i think

It’s a pity. I lobbed 2 gas water heaters and one electric water heater in the skip last week. Seemed a waste,but hey ho, couldn’t be bothered with eBay or face ache marketplace.

 

[sg66]

It’s a pity. I lobbed 2 gas water heaters and one electric water heater in the skip last week. Seemed a waste,but hey ho, couldn’t be bothered with eBay or face ache marketplace.

Should have took heat ex out of them, about 15quid scrap, I bin a few 24kw complete with fan and housing, would prob make great water coolers.

Thanks everyone, it's not in the house I'm living at so I've not had a chance to get back to it since I started this thread, I'm hoping to do more in a couple of days and will update then.

The help is appreciated, I've seen similar units used many years ago but never needed to find out how they work. Every day is a school day

Top center knob engages flame failure and ignition combined, turn fully to left, should get a click, a spark and a pilot, once you have air out, to hurry proceedings up you can light it manually

Remove front cover, run hot water, use a good flame blowtorch on low is good, hold it onto thermocouple, engage main gas control to ignition, hold for a few seconds, keep flame on pilot, turn gas control back one step to on, the main burner should now engage, should only take a few seconds to expel air, once lit you can see if you have stable pilot.

Pilot supply may take a few more seconds to get going, inj in pilot is tiny so takes a while to get air out.

I take no responsibility for singed eyebrows

 

[Nomad]

A link for anyone curious showing normal operation (also for me to refer back to )

 

[sg66]

A link for anyone curious showing normal operation (also for me to refer back to )

Looks like pilot on that has been lit with matches for a good while

 

[Nomad]

We have progress and a stable pilot light.
Having re-read the info above, lack of main burner might be down to me. Will retry..,

The hot water tap opened ok but no water flowed, then like a dam a small trickle turned into 100% flow.
The self igniter works ok when flicked manually but the trigger on the knob sticks - an easy fix, the trigger on the knob just needs cleaning.
I’m amazed there’s still gas in the bottles, they’re been left for decades.

 

[gaz1]

like i said with both models they are so similar to each other

http://boilermanuals.org.uk/boilers/Chaffoteaux/CHAFFOTEAUX%20CORVEC%20BRITONY%20II%20A.pdf