iBoost not working it seems

oldskoo1

Hello all

My solar pv install completed just yesterday so i am yet to get a full days stats. i have already noticed 1 issue and that is the iBoost refuses to work.

It simply says Water Tank: Hot.

It is linked up ok, i have restarted the unit a couple of times. I have briefly seen heating water by solar only twice, both after recycling the power.

It says heating by solar for about 5 seconds and go back to tank hot.

The tank certainly isn't hot.

First i set the indirect thermostat down to 2 to try and give enough margin.

I moved the direct thermostat for the immersion up to 5. No joy.

Playing with the immersion stat i twisted it to 1 and it clicked (this apparently indicated 10c!).

The main indirect stat was clicking at around 3 which is where its suppose to be set normally (around 55-60).

So there appears to be a mismatch between the DHW indirect stat and the immersion stat on what the temp really is.

The tank was emptied after showers and the water was cool but the iBoost still reads Water Tank: Hot. However now the tank is empty, there is no clicking on the immersion thermostat as i adjust the temp.

Sounds like a busted thermostat right?

I would appreciate it if any other iBoost users have had an similar experiences before i buy a new immersion stat.


It is a Heatrae Sadia Megaflo thermostat, the green one.... I better check the part number but i think it is this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heatrae-Sadia-Megaflow-Thermostat-95612599/dp/B00GRQZS7G


thanks

pinnks

The iboost and immersun devices are in essence just a switch, so unlikely that it is broken but a possibility.

Once it has turned its output on it will read hot if the appliance attached to it goes open circuit. That could be because the immersion element has failed (unlikely as that is in water and is likely to cause a "fuse" to blow). it could be the thermostat but it could be something as simple as the immersion's isolator switch was turned off during the install and is still off.

Other than that, any other error like non-connected or broken wire would also cause the same symptoms.

oldskoo1

Thanks pinnks

The isolation switch now also isolates the iboost too, he basically wired it in between the two which I think looks right.

We have never used the immersion so not sure how to know it's working.

I hope it is the the immersion stat. I can see it being the element as its only 13 years old.

pinnks

I have an immersun but assume the iboost is similar and that you can put it in boost mode to simply turn on the leccy irrespective of how much you are generating. You could try that for an hour (best during the middle of a sunny day to use own generated leccy) as that should give you hot water or show there is a problem somewhere.

oldskoo1

hi all

update in case this is useful to anyone.

My new immersion thermostat turned up today, quicker than expected. Quick change over and immediately we had heating by solar! :T

I'm planning on testing the resistance on the heating element too but as for now, all is good.

Apart from the fact its dark and overcast and only a few hundred watts are going into the tank!

Sterlingtimes

oldskoo1 wrote: »

hi all

update in case this is useful to anyone.

My new immersion thermostat turned up today, quicker than expected. Quick change over and immediately we had heating by solar! :T

Generally, my iBoost has been disappointing. If Master Sterling has a midday shower then my might max out on 8 kWh in a day. Otherwise, 4 kWh is my maximum. I have no way of assessing the length of my immersion element without removing. I do wonder whether a change out could help.

Is your immersion at the top or bottom? What length did you buy? I shall be interesting in hearing how this performs.

oldskoo1

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Is your immersion at the top or bottom? What length did you buy? I shall be interesting in hearing how this performs.

My immersion element is at the bottom of the tank.

I only bought the thermostat part as i think the element is a bit of a pain to swap. I'm not sure how long the element is, its a 210L tank so i hope its up to the job!

Sterlingtimes

You're very lucky that it's at the bottom of the tank. You should do well.

rodee13

Hi Sterlingtimes,


I can see that you got both the iBoost along with the Watson monitoring system. Are they capable of working together ? I was looking to install the Watson solar plus along with the iBoost.

theboylard

rodee13 wrote: »

Hi Sterlingtimes,


I can see that you got both the iBoost along with the Watson monitoring system. Are they capable of working together ? I was looking to install the Watson solar plus along with the iBoost.

Two separate things.
iBoost diverts surplus generated power (from being fed back to the grid) to the immersion. Once the iboost is told water is hot enough, it stops diverting and allows surplus gen to go to the grid.

Wattson measures gen and usage, but is not overly accurate. It can use wireless plug adapters to switch surplus gen to things like oil rads, so juggling the 2 would be a game of trial and error?