HOW TO IGNITE MY POTTERTON?

Accidentally turned gas off at mains now pilot light won't re-ignite

karen
May 2013

Ps the potterton manual can be found here
http://www.partsarena.co.uk/baxi/System/DATA/Dx/DS1/installation/2533/I21-2533/I21-2533.htm

Gary
July 2010

I just had problems with my flamingo 50, not used it in 3 months and it wouldn't ignite the main burner.
Steps to take...
1 if the pilot light is on there is nothing wrong with the thermocouple.
2. check voltage to the solenoid, take the solenoid off and turn the boiler on, you should see the solenoid work, if not replace the whole unit. The valve comes with a new solenoid attached, some £80, change the solenoid and try again, if problem is still there then the whole gas valve needs to be changed.

Gary
July 2010

get rid of the boiler and if you can get it a gov grant it
will save you money

www.clintghattmsn.com
July 2010

If you need to fit a new thermocouple

The "copper bit" to which ahmed refers is called a thermocouple. His "front cover" is the inside front cover not the white enameled outer cover - take that off first.

On the front of the boiler you should now see a metal plate (the front cover) just over one foot wide (320 mm) and about 7.5 inches (190 mm) high with a small window in the top right hand corner, through which the pilot light is visible when it is alight.

The plate is secured by four screws. You'll need a fairly large cross-point screwdriver (bit size is around PZ3 if you are using an electric screwdriver). Remove the front plate.

The thermocouple has a "junction end" (ahmed's "pointy bit" that "looks like a small pen") that is held in the pilot flame and connected via a long copper wire to the "button end" that is inserted into the gas control unit at the back of the boiler. The junction end is held in place by a brass gland (looks like a nut around the copper wire - 11 mm spanner). The button end is held by a similar 10mm gland into the gas control unit.

You can buy a replacement thermocouple from a plumber's merchant. I got mine from the Parts Centre at Plumb Centre. It was just over £5. The part is made by Honeywell marketed as TRADELINE Q309A 2788. You may, however, be able to get a 'universal' thermocouple that will do the same job. The Honeywell part has these specifications on the packaging which may be important if you are trying to find an equivalent part:

900 mm
45 s

900 mm is the length of the thermocouple from the tip of the junction end to the button when the copper wire is straightened out (however, the old part that I took off was shorter - only 750 mm)

45 s - I don't know what this refers to, so it may or may not be important.

To fit the new thermocouple you'll need to unwind it (it will come wound in a coil) and then bend it carefully to follow the same route as the old one around the outside of the boiler (inside the outer cover).

Two things are important when fitting the new thermocouple:

1. Don't bend the copper wire around too sharp an angle (no sharper than a one inch radius.

2. Don't do up the gland at the button end too tightly - no more than a quarter turn beyond finger tight.

On one of the universal thermocouples I looked at, it read, "GAS APPLIANCES (SAFETY) REGULATION 1995 This thermocouple is currently exempted from requiring a fittings certificate."

I take that to mean that you are not required by law to have a qualified gas plumber to fit the thermocouple for you.

This is an easy job if you can just use a screwdriver and a spanner! I know almost nothing about how gas boilers work and I managed it easily. My boiler has now been working fine for a day since I did the job.

hedles
November 2007

yes you need to get a new copper bit next to the igniter(looks like a small pen, sits in the middle of the flame)it regulates the heat it usually goes on most boilers, cant remember whats it called should only cost £10-£15. take the front cover off and the there is a nut at the back of the boiler which you can see if you can under or at the side of it, the nut is connected to a long copper wire which leads to the copper bit that looks like a pen. there are only two nuts to undoe one at the back and the other one is for the pointy bit.
i need to know if anyone can email me the user manual for the boiler thanx. i.ahmed@hotmail.co.uk

ahmed
November 2006

Note position (number) of Temp Control knob, then turn Temp knob on control panel fully anti clockwise, push in and hold in gray control button - now press little piezo ignition button several times until pilot lights. Hold gray button in for 20 seconds (to allow the thermocouple to heat up), then relese out the gray button. If pilot flame stays lit, then turn the temp control knob back to where it was
If the pilot goes out again then the following will be the cause:-
1. Thermocouple - you can get them from most DIY stores for about £4 - £8
2. After replacing the thermocouple, if the defect is the same, then it will be the main solonoid/gas valve hold in circuitry - cost of part is about £70 inc vat. Fitting cost will vary.

Paul D Lane
February 2006

THAT Question I CAN answer.
Turn the large knob fully anti-clockwise which turns off the main gas but not the pilot feed. Press and hold in the smaller knob and whilst continuing to hold it in, keep operating the igniter button.
When you can see the pilot light up (through the small window) do not release the smaller knob until the pilot detector has warmed up, usually within ten seconds.
Turn the large water temperature knob clockwise to ignite main burners (don't make it too hot or other auto cutouts occur)

Bruce R
January 2006

Can anybody tell me where the pump is situated on the potterton flamingo 50? We have hunted high and low and cannot find it?

maureen
January 2006

Just had the same problem myself on the Flamingo 50 - simply pressed the ignition button on the right hand side and it re-ignited.

Not sure if that is the totally correct way but it seemed like a logical place to start and it worked.

If yours doesn't, maybe there is another particular reason why not. The only reason miune went out was because I removed the bottom panel - I think there might be an automatic cut off switch when you do that ?

Good luck
Dave

Dave
August 2005