Plug-in timer

[Mick Annick]

Our oil boiler has no timer, just a thermostat, and all rads (except one and the towel rails) have thermostatic valves, but we don’t need it running 24/7, so is it OK to fit a programmable timer on the boiler plug - it’s not hard wired, it runs off of a standard (French) 16A socket.

 

[brightspark]

Our oil boiler has no timer, just a thermostat, and all rads (except one and the towel rails) have thermostatic valves, but we don’t need it running 24/7, so is it OK to fit a programmable timer on the boiler plug - it’s not hard wired, it runs off of a standard (French) 16A socket.

yep no problem saves doing it manual if thats what you do at the moment

 

[daleyd]

Either that or fit a programmable thermostat. That would probably give you more control.

 

[Mick Annick]

Either that or fit a programmable thermostat. That would probably give you more control.

Thermostat is built into the boiler so not possible to go that route.

 

[Mick Annick]

yep no problem saves doing it manual if thats what you do at the moment

Thanks, I’ve found a Legrand one which is rated to 16A, old school analogue type which should be fine.

 

[sg66]

Thanks, I’ve found a Legrand one which is rated to 16A, old school analogue type which should be fine.

Got a pic of the boiler or make and model

 

[Mick Annick]

Got a pic of the boiler or make and model

Can take one in the morning - it’s in an outhouse

 

[sg66]

Be surprising if there isn't some where to wire up a timer or a remote stat

 

[gaz1]

boiler will have its own thermostat just like every other boiler out there

you can use a switch analogue timer and also have it into a wall thermostat

the timer comes in handy for set times and also switching it to manual as well but the wall thermostat will run the system until the room gets to temp and will shut down at this point

with timer you have to move to shut it down or the boiler shuts off once it gets to its temp

a wall thermostat can also be used as a manual shut off and start whilst the timer is set to manual or auto

 

[daleyd]

How do you turn the heating off currently? Do you power the whole thing down?

I’d be really surprised if there wasn’t a contact for either a thermostat or timer to be fitted, leaving the boiler powered up but no heat demand. Thermostat in your main living area is the norm, that way you aren’t running the heating unnecessarily once up to temp. That’s why I suggested a programmable one, which in effect is both a timer and a thermostat in one, allowing different temps to be set throughout the day.

If you are simply turning it off at the wall now then no reason why a plug in timer wouldn’t work, but seems a bit odd to turn the whole thing off every time.

 

[Mick Annick]

How do you turn the heating off currently? Do you power the whole thing down?

I’d be really surprised if there wasn’t a contact for either a thermostat or timer to be fitted, leaving the boiler powered up but no heat demand. Thermostat in your main living area is the norm, that way you aren’t running the heating unnecessarily once up to temp. That’s why I suggested a programmable one, which in effect is both a timer and a thermostat in one, allowing different temps to be set throughout the day.

If you are simply turning it off at the wall now then no reason why a plug in timer wouldn’t work, but seems a bit odd to turn the whole thing off every time.

The system is about 20 years old, the only thermostat is on the boiler, nothing in the house other than the radiator ones. In previous years we’ve put the heating on when we start feeling the cold and leave it on for the whole winter, this uses about 2,000 litres for an average winter.

Normally all the rads that have thermostatic valves are set to frost protection only, the remainder being the first one coming off of the boiler in the living room which has no valve and the towel rail in the bathroom. I ask the question now as whilst it’s cold enough to want the towel rail on for an hour or two morning and evening, it’s a waste to be running the system day and night.

I started turning the boiler off when I get up in the morning (it lives in an outbuilding) and back on again in the evening, but thought a timer would be a better solution. In previous years I’ve tried setting the boiler thermostat at a lower temperature but it doesn’t like and fails to restart automatically when set too low - the plumber has checked it a few times and has now set it at a temperature it’s happy with and said don’t touch!

The house is very well insulated - walls are 1m thick stone with internal insulation and all double glazed hence not needing the rads on anything more than minimum - when it gets properly cold we light the wood burner in the evening which gives us more than enough heat - the ground floor is mainly open-plan and the staircase is in the living room so the warm air gets to the bedroom OK.

The boiler is a Biasi, it looks like the previous owners bought the base model - there is a dummy clock face but no timer fitted.

 

[daleyd]

The system is about 20 years old, the only thermostat is on the boiler, nothing in the house other than the radiator ones. In previous years we’ve put the heating on when we start feeling the cold and leave it on for the whole winter, this uses about 2,000 litres for an average winter.

Normally all the rads that have thermostatic valves are set to frost protection only, the remainder being the first one coming off of the boiler in the living room which has no valve and the towel rail in the bathroom. I ask the question now as whilst it’s cold enough to want the towel rail on for an hour or two morning and evening, it’s a waste to be running the system day and night.

I started turning the boiler off when I get up in the morning (it lives in an outbuilding) and back on again in the evening, but thought a timer would be a better solution. In previous years I’ve tried setting the boiler thermostat at a lower temperature but it doesn’t like and fails to restart automatically when set too low - the plumber has checked it a few times and has now set it at a temperature it’s happy with and said don’t touch!

The house is very well insulated - walls are 1m thick stone with internal insulation and all double glazed hence not needing the rads on anything more than minimum - when it gets properly cold we light the wood burner in the evening which gives us more than enough heat - the ground floor is mainly open-plan and the staircase is in the living room so the warm air gets to the bedroom OK.

The boiler is a Biasi, it looks like the previous owners bought the base model - there is a dummy clock face but no timer fitted.

View attachment 471210

There’s probably a link in there somewhere that you take out and fit either a remote thermostat or timer across, even a 20 year old system would have one I would think??

If your turning it off now then I guess a timer on the plug would only be doing the same thing so can’t see an issue, I’m no heating engineer but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a system where there isn’t some external connection for a “call for heat” function, which doesn’t involve the whole thing being turned on/off.

I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be along shortly though!!

 

[MetalMonkey]

Why not get a programmable controller (like the old centaur c27 or similar) designed for the job. Fit it with an external room stat.

Stat on the boiler really needs to be set up to give the correct flow and return temps. Is it condensing or non condensing? How does it do the Hot Water?

 

[Mick Annick]

Why not get a programmable controller (like the old centaur c27 or similar) designed for the job. Fit it with an external room stat.

Stat on the boiler really needs to be set up to give the correct flow and return temps. Is it condensing or non condensing? How does it do the Hot Water?

Too complicated for a numpty like me, hot water is all electric, boiler does heating only.

 

[gaz1]

Too complicated for a numpty like me, hot water is all electric, boiler does heating only.

if your using a hotwater tank the change to an indirect tank is cheaper on electric as your using the central heating side of the system to heat the water

2 runs a day through that tank is more than enough too keep that hot water tank red hot whilst a top up of heat can rewarm an empty cold tank faster than electric

 

[Blobber]

Can you not just get the correct timer and fit in the faceplate? I wouldnt want to just cut the power to the boiler via its feed as I think it probably needs to do some sort of shut down sequence

 

[sg66]

What's the timer clock looking thing on the right-hand side ?

 

[Mick Annick]

What's the timer clock looking thing on the right-hand side ?

A dummy clock face! I think we’ve got the cheap version of this boiler.

 

[Mick Annick]

Can you not just get the correct timer and fit in the faceplate? I wouldnt want to just cut the power to the boiler via its feed as I think it probably needs to do some sort of shut down sequence

It’s 20 years old, I can’t believe there’s any sort of shut down sequence as it already has an on/off switch which cuts the power straight away.

 

[sg66]

A dummy clock face! I think we’ve got the cheap version of this boiler.

But that's where it's supposed to be so it's possible to wire a one in, should be a wiring diagram possibly on rear of cover.im sure if you Google model of boiler you will find one.