Are Reconditioned Boiler Parts OK?

macman

My Sime 80E combi boiler needs a new Ignition PCB (it'll be the 3rd one in 10 years, seems to be the main weak spot on this model).
I last bought one online 2 years ago and the price was £85 with VAT and delivery. I'm now looking at about £130 from the same firm, and they're still the cheapest I can find.
However I've found another company online (also on eBay) that specialises in selling reconditioned ones (basically you order the refurb and pay an additional £30, they then send you a £30 credit when they receive the old part back). The cost is around half that of a new one and it has a 12 month warranty.
I wouldn't consider refurb'd gas parts, but for the electronics, is this a money saving idea or not, given that the last 'new' one only lasted 2 years?

ormus

i dont see a problem as long as the company checks out ok.
why not send the pcb with the order, then you dont need any 30 quid credit/debit system?

beefster

Pays our money and takes your choice.

Reconditioned means failed components on the board have been replaced and possibly others they know can fail could have been replaced too. I have used a reconditioned main PCB board and its lasted years.... another on a lawn mower lasted months!

12 months gaurentee tho.... i would go for it.

macman

ormus wrote: »

i dont see a problem as long as the company checks out ok.
why not send the pcb with the order, then you dont need any 30 quid credit/debit system?

Because that way I have no boiler for a few days, I've got an intermittent fault that still gives me some heating and DHW.

sillygoose

My boiler (and everyone in the area still with the same one) eats the electronic board every few years. I would use a reconditioned one as the fault is always the same - the relay contacts erode to the point they don't make good contact, they eventually have a gap just right for an electrical arc to start up and it melts down. I am considering getting a spare board and replacing the relays on it with the best quality industrial ones I can find to same dimensions/rating, ready for next time.

I bet on your boards its always the same component that goes and the recon. company are well used to fixing them, they may even use a better quality component than the manufacturer chose.

27col

Nothing wrong with using refurbished spares. In fact, a good proportion of airliner spares are reconditioned I believe.

gas4you

Technically a reconditioned pcb for a boiler is not a manufacturers approved part, so technically shouldn't be used.

But what you do is up to you I suppose, but I wouldn't be allowed to fix your boiler with a recon board.

Paul_the_Painter

Loads of airliner parts are reconned, the tyres are also retreaded/remoulded. And if you think your flight is taking off with every system working 100% you are mistaken! Google MEL (Minimum Equipment List) to enlighten yourself. Absolutly nothing unsafe about it mind you.

macman

Still, if Sime was an airline, I'd be taking my business elsewhere...

molerat

My recon board has been in for around 8 years now. The first one failed after a few weeks but they sent a replacement straight away and said they would charge me if the board was not faulty, never heard from them. Again the fault was a relay that burns out.

macman

Thanks. This is the firm offering them:
http://www.allsparesdirect.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32_95_96&products_id=297