Solar iBoost died

[Ajax123]

Hi all

I have a solar iboost unit on my hot water system. It's about 3 years old. It's been working fine up to now but appears to have died. The display is completely blank, no lights, no messages, nada... and we have no hot water. Must have happened today or maybe yesterday cos my boy was the last to use the shower yesterday morning and it was hot then....

The mains into the unit is fine running from a fused spur with power getting to the unit (well ... to the end if the feed cable anyway ). The immersion heater may have failed (yet to check) but I doubt this would cause the unit itself to fail would it.

Do these units have some sort of internal battery that might gave failed or is it deceased? Have looked at various troubleshooters and found no help at all...

 

[Mike Johnson]

The sender unit has two internal AA batteries: https://www.marlec.co.uk/wp-content...-iBoost-User-Manual-111215.pdf?v=6805cdfd0c7a

 

[Ajax123]

The sender unit has two internal AA batteries: https://www.marlec.co.uk/wp-content...-iBoost-User-Manual-111215.pdf?v=6805cdfd0c7a

The sender unit surely has nothing to do with power to the main unit?? Does it?

 

[Mike Johnson]

No idea, you asked if it had an internal battery and one of the units does, I would be tempted to switch off the supply, not forgetting you can't switch off solar panels and take the control unit cover off to see if there is an internal fuse.

 

[Ajax123]

No idea, you asked if it had an internal battery and one of the units does, I would be tempted to switch off the supply, not forgetting you can't switch off solar panels and take the control unit cover off to see if there is an internal fuse.

Looks like i might have to. I know there's no fuse but maybe an internal keep je alive type battery...

I tried new batteries in the sender... no joy

 

[Avo Mk8]

You could put in a support request and see what they come up with?

Solar iBoost Support Request

www.marlec.co.uk

 

[Ajax123]

Got the front off the unit. Turns out there is a fuse....its blown but it's also soldered in place.... marvellous!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Seems pretty stupid having a replaceable part permanently soldered in place, obviously built in obsolescence. ?. If you can determine the value, can you replace it, but obviously see if you can find out why it blew in the first place.

 

[telectrix]

read the thread title and thought solar iboost was a member. was about to post RIP.

 

[Ajax123]

Seems pretty stupid having a replaceable part permanently soldered in place, obviously built in obsolescence. ?. If you can determine the value, can you replace it, but obviously see if you can find out why it blew in the first place.

Its a 16A ceramic fuse. I'm guessing as its 16A means it cant be classed as replaceable.

I have a plan...

 

[Ajax123]

Seems pretty stupid having a replaceable part permanently soldered in place, obviously built in obsolescence. ?. If you can determine the value, can you replace it, but obviously see if you can find out why it blew in the first place.

I think it blew because the immersion heater blew up... the neutral cable had come loose I think and arced. It was probably quite pretty... What I'm more annoyed with is the 13A replaceable fuse in the spur still works fine... I'll be speaking with Marlec next week. As you say need to double check reason it blew before recommissioning it. Maybe it looks like it says 16A but isn't really.... maybe 1.6A??

 

[Avo Mk8]

It could be that Marlec designed in a 16A fast-blow fuse to protect their solid-state device (thyristor?) that controls the power into the immersion heater. That would account for why your 13A fuse didn't blow.
It's also possible that, despite the 16A fuse going, the fault took out other things!

 

[Ajax123]

It could be that Marlec designed in a 16A fast-blow fuse to protect their solid-state device (thyristor?) that controls the power into the immersion heater. That would account for why your 13A fuse didn't blow.
It's also possible that, despite the 16A fuse going, the fault took out other things!

Indeed. I shall see soon I guess...

 

[Ajax123]

It lives. Removed the 16A internal fuse and replaced with. Unit struck up and apart from having to reset the tine works perfectly.

 

[DPG]

It lives. Removed the 16A internal fuse and replaced with. Unit struck up and apart from having to reset the tine works perfectly.

Nice one!

 

[julian924s]

Evening, I've just had this, what appears to be the exact same issue with my Solar iBoost. Fitted new in Sep 2017 and has been fine up until last week. I noticed the immersion heater had not been on and the iBoost screen was blank.

I've checked the live feed to the iBoost with one of those mains voltage tester pens and it's live alright. I've also removed the iBoost and ran the cable to the immersion heater and that's dead as well - so suspect when the immersion heater failed it's also damaged the iBoost.

The immersion heater is being replaced tomorrow. I've removed the front of the iBoost but can anyone tell me where this 16A internal fuse is located exactly? I'm not an electrician and certainly won't be trying to repair it myself ... but maybe I can find someone that can. If it's the same issue that is.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nigel W]

Got the front off the unit. Turns out there is a fuse....its blown but it's also soldered in place.... marvellous!

Hi, Is that the fuse located under the large main board?

 

[PeterB7385]

I have the exact same issue with my Solar iBoost+ (installed Aug 2018 with PV system). I have safely removed the iBoost from the mains and immersion heater. My question is, what tool do I need to buy to remove the screws holding on the front? I can then assess if the internal fuse has blown. Many thanks.

 

[Mike Johnson]

A picture of the screw head would be ever so helpful. ?

 

[PeterB7385]

A picture of the screw head would be ever so helpful. ?

Thanks Mike. Alas, the screw heads are about 5cm into the casing via moulded tubes. They are quite small and may be spline headed but v. diff. to see.