- Reaction score
- 314
So
Dad's Old condensate pump went kaput (screeching like a banshee, float valve sticking and wouldn't shut off due to said sticky float valve but still pumping away), service company come out, swap condensate pump (Plumbcenter 667888), however at one point they lose power to programmer and thermostat (retreats to van to make rather panicked looking phone calls), he somehow gets working in end. Over weekend wake up to house like a meat locker, programmer dead, try usual - breaker, main switch for boiler, reset button, nada, call out service team, much head scratching, they finally click that condensate pump tank is full and has killed system to prevent a flood, drain pump and all dandy, happens again, we'll replace the pump they say
Does it again tonight, call out service company, who empty tank again and decree that condensate pipework must be blocked or kinked as thats why its not pumping (I don't believe that for a second as the previous pump apart from being noisy due to dying bearings worked without issue)
He empties pump and says they will come back later in the week and check all the pipework for blockages.
I get the feeling there is a bad or wrong connection somewhere in the mix. So I go over to my dad's, disconnect the pumps main power feed and stick a plug on, shove a length of hose on the outlet to rule out a blockage in the pipework and stick it out the window, turn socket on, pump fires into life and pumps away quite happily and quietly, yay sorted methinks....I put it back together, top up the condensate tank to test its all still working before I leave and the ruddy thing goes dead again (!!!!!!!!!!)
My gut tells me that the high level safety switch is wired wrongly somehow (or just a wonky piece of carp) and is causing the boiler to shut down instead of the pump firing up.....its doing my head in royally....
What I have is Brown live, Blue neutral, Green/Yellow Earth - Those supply the pump motor and when connected to a plug the pump works as expected, the other 2 connections are Black 1 N/C, Black 2 Common.
I know the pump works from having it on a plug, what I'm struggling to get my head around is why the safety switch is causing the entire central heating system to shut down instead of the pump firing up beforehand?
Any suggestions as to what I'm missing? As far as I can tell the 2 blacks are just switch legs....when the water in the tank hits a pre determined height it breaks the circuit and kills the power. Something obvious is staring me in the face I can feel it
Thanks...
Dad's Old condensate pump went kaput (screeching like a banshee, float valve sticking and wouldn't shut off due to said sticky float valve but still pumping away), service company come out, swap condensate pump (Plumbcenter 667888), however at one point they lose power to programmer and thermostat (retreats to van to make rather panicked looking phone calls), he somehow gets working in end. Over weekend wake up to house like a meat locker, programmer dead, try usual - breaker, main switch for boiler, reset button, nada, call out service team, much head scratching, they finally click that condensate pump tank is full and has killed system to prevent a flood, drain pump and all dandy, happens again, we'll replace the pump they say
Does it again tonight, call out service company, who empty tank again and decree that condensate pipework must be blocked or kinked as thats why its not pumping (I don't believe that for a second as the previous pump apart from being noisy due to dying bearings worked without issue)
He empties pump and says they will come back later in the week and check all the pipework for blockages.
I get the feeling there is a bad or wrong connection somewhere in the mix. So I go over to my dad's, disconnect the pumps main power feed and stick a plug on, shove a length of hose on the outlet to rule out a blockage in the pipework and stick it out the window, turn socket on, pump fires into life and pumps away quite happily and quietly, yay sorted methinks....I put it back together, top up the condensate tank to test its all still working before I leave and the ruddy thing goes dead again (!!!!!!!!!!)
My gut tells me that the high level safety switch is wired wrongly somehow (or just a wonky piece of carp) and is causing the boiler to shut down instead of the pump firing up.....its doing my head in royally....
What I have is Brown live, Blue neutral, Green/Yellow Earth - Those supply the pump motor and when connected to a plug the pump works as expected, the other 2 connections are Black 1 N/C, Black 2 Common.
I know the pump works from having it on a plug, what I'm struggling to get my head around is why the safety switch is causing the entire central heating system to shut down instead of the pump firing up beforehand?
Any suggestions as to what I'm missing? As far as I can tell the 2 blacks are just switch legs....when the water in the tank hits a pre determined height it breaks the circuit and kills the power. Something obvious is staring me in the face I can feel it
Thanks...
- TL;DR
- Condensate pump won't pump, engages safety switch instead