The NTC (negative temperature co-efficient) temperature sensor for our boiler has failed.
This thing
It became apparent something was up on Thursday evening as the water temp wasn’t very hot.
It’s a simple device. It’s inserted into a channel in the tank and as the resistance changes due to heat (10,000 ohm at 20c, decreasing as the temperature rises) the boiler gets a varying voltage back to it and thus knows whether or not it needs to heat up the water in the HW tank.
Having diagnosed the problem Friday morning, a trip to the nearest plumbers’ merchants (50 mins/50 km each way) was completely non productive,
“Nah, mate, we don’t do them, it’s electrical innit, you wanna go to the electric wholesalers”
Well, it may be an electrical component but it’s part and parcel of a domestic hot water system which you guys sell and fit.
“Yeah mate, but we don’t wire ‘em in, we get a sparky in to do that, it’s electrical innit, it’s dangerous, leccy and water don’t mix well”.
So, a further trip to the electrical wholesalers.
I explain what I need, only to be met with,
“Nah mate, it’s plumbing innit, we don’t do plumbing, we only have electrical stuff here.”
Oh FFS
. It’s a f&&king electrical component. It’s a simple NTC thermistor, starts at 10,000 ohm at room temp and the resistance decreases as the temp rises, you must have temperature probes/sensors like that, they’re used in all sorts of areas.
At which point someone with a bit more intellect comes out of the office to see what going on.
I explain precisely. I tell him it exactly how it works.
“Ah, yes, we have those” and sends the lackey off to the back of the storeroom.
Lacky returns with something approximating the original one in shape and size, charges me €13 and off I go, happy.
I get home, think I’ll just test it before connecting and fitting it.
The silly bugger has only given me a PTC thermistor that starts at 900 ohm and increase to 1500 ohm as the temp rises - fooking useless.
So, as we’ve had no hot water since Thurs night, and as I’ve no resorted to ordering the part online but it won’t be here until Wed of next week, can anyone suggest how I might MacGyver a 10,000 ohm resistance to put into the circuit until the boiler has heated the tank full of water and I can disconnect it.
I dont like cold showers
.
This thing
It became apparent something was up on Thursday evening as the water temp wasn’t very hot.
It’s a simple device. It’s inserted into a channel in the tank and as the resistance changes due to heat (10,000 ohm at 20c, decreasing as the temperature rises) the boiler gets a varying voltage back to it and thus knows whether or not it needs to heat up the water in the HW tank.
Having diagnosed the problem Friday morning, a trip to the nearest plumbers’ merchants (50 mins/50 km each way) was completely non productive,
“Nah, mate, we don’t do them, it’s electrical innit, you wanna go to the electric wholesalers”
Well, it may be an electrical component but it’s part and parcel of a domestic hot water system which you guys sell and fit.
“Yeah mate, but we don’t wire ‘em in, we get a sparky in to do that, it’s electrical innit, it’s dangerous, leccy and water don’t mix well”.
So, a further trip to the electrical wholesalers.
I explain what I need, only to be met with,
“Nah mate, it’s plumbing innit, we don’t do plumbing, we only have electrical stuff here.”
Oh FFS
. It’s a f&&king electrical component. It’s a simple NTC thermistor, starts at 10,000 ohm at room temp and the resistance decreases as the temp rises, you must have temperature probes/sensors like that, they’re used in all sorts of areas. At which point someone with a bit more intellect comes out of the office to see what going on.
I explain precisely. I tell him it exactly how it works.
“Ah, yes, we have those” and sends the lackey off to the back of the storeroom.
Lacky returns with something approximating the original one in shape and size, charges me €13 and off I go, happy.
I get home, think I’ll just test it before connecting and fitting it.
The silly bugger has only given me a PTC thermistor that starts at 900 ohm and increase to 1500 ohm as the temp rises - fooking useless
. So, as we’ve had no hot water since Thurs night, and as I’ve no resorted to ordering the part online but it won’t be here until Wed of next week, can anyone suggest how I might MacGyver a 10,000 ohm resistance to put into the circuit until the boiler has heated the tank full of water and I can disconnect it.
I dont like cold showers
.
. 
