Sorry, yet another Combi boiler question! I checked with Search but couldn't find anything exactly related to the problems I've got with my heating/hot water.

Basically it seems like the controller for the heating/hot water is knackered, but I think I've got the wrong sort of controller anyway!

Boiler is a Leblanc GVM 4.20 Combi. It's the original for the house, so that means it's been in since the mid 1980s I gather.

The controller is a Grasslin Towerchron DP72 (again, the original equipment). This has separate hot water and heating controls - Why? It's a combi with no hot water store that I can see!

The trouble is that the controller has packed up. The LCD display just sits showing a random time - usually 12:00, and I can't get a response from the push buttons you use to change it from constant, timed, off etc., nor from those used to adjust the time and date.

I checked that there's no battery backup that's failed - in fact I've got the face of the controller here in work as it just unclipped (I don't trust my memory re part numbers!)

So, to sum up:

1) Do I really need a controller with both hot water & heating contols? I only ever set the heating side anyway.

2) What would be a good replacement contoller to use, and how easy are they to hook up? Some in B&Q are only around £15 - 20 - seems damn cheap!

In addition, how long do Combi boilers last? I've read several clued-up replies on here that say Worcester are good kit (spooky - guess where I live!), but no-one seems to have heard of Leblanc.

Cheers,
Steve

Steve needs help :)

A combi boiler from the mid eighties is doing really well to still be running, the boiler you have is not that common or popular from experience however, is the timeclock built into the boiler, if so then it will be a problem to replace it. Otherwise most digital clocks will be ok, the only problem being identifing the terminals on the back plate and translating them to the new clock. Personal choice on a new boiler would be a Vaillant, but the Worcester Bosch is very similar. If you can post a diagram of the terminals on your clock I will try to help if possible.

mog

Thanks Mog,

The controller is separate from the boiler - so hopefully it'll not be too bad to replace then.

Only trouble is that the wiring to it runs in the plaster of the wall it's on, and the previous tenant has tiled round it too!

Getting it off to look at the terminals might be a bit of a sod, but if it's bust it has to come off!

I'm away with work at the mo, but will get my chisel out over the weekend!! (ooh err missus!) :)

Steve
BTW - thanks for the kind words Graham! :D

the wiring on an elm leblanc is as follows:from the top connection down is neutral,permanent live,the next two are for the clock output,and the next two are for a roomstat,finally the earth is at the bottom.any new digital timeswitch will have full wiring instructions on how to connect to your boiler.any half decent electrician will be able to help if you get stuck.hope this has been of help.

Gasmon, thanks for that.

Annual boiler service was due (which I'd forgotten!) so the guy fitted the new controller I bought whilst he was doing the service.

It's the right type too - a single channel instead of a double. Better late than never, the old double channel was on since the 80s.

Note to self - must renew the annual cover policy!

Thanks again all who helped.

Cheers,
Steve