Boiler defaults to auto after power cut

busybee100

Hi
We have a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 30i which I would like to default to off when we have a power cut.
Is it possible?

TIA

ThisIsWeird

You mean you don't want it to come back on by itself after power is restored?

Are you saying that if the controller is set to 'off' prior to the power cut, that it defaults to 'on' when power comes back on? If so, it shouldn't. The timed settings should be maintained during the power cut. I don't know what sort of controls you have, but I wonder if there's an internal 'memory' battery that's kaput?

If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

But if your "smart" thermostat & app require an internet connection to function, you are reliant on servers & routers being live when you finally get power back. Most (all ?) off the shelf programmable thermostats will carry on from where they left off after a power cut. So if power is restored during a time slot when the heating would normally be on, I would expect the central heating to fire up.

One advantage of using something like Home Assistant - In the event of a power outage, you get to decide what the default condition is (mine is set to Off after power is restored).

busybee100

ThisIsWeird said:

You mean you don't want it to come back on by itself after power is restored?

Are you saying that if the controller is set to 'off' prior to the power cut, that it defaults to 'on' when power comes back on? If so, it shouldn't. The timed settings should be maintained during the power cut. I don't know what sort of controls you have, but I wonder if there's an internal 'memory' battery that's kaput?

If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

Sorry you're correct I worded it badly. I'm happy for the boiler to switch itself back on but the heating comes on as well because although it was off it comes on as auto after the interruption.

busybee100

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

But if your "smart" thermostat & app require an internet connection to function, you are reliant on servers & routers being live when you finally get power back. Most (all ?) off the shelf programmable thermostats will carry on from where they left off after a power cut. So if power is restored during a time slot when the heating would normally be on, I would expect the central heating to fire up.

One advantage of using something like Home Assistant - In the event of a power outage, you get to decide what the default condition is (mine is set to Off after power is restored).

This has made me think I should clear the program when I turn the heating of for Summer. I'll have a look.

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

But if your "smart" thermostat & app require an internet connection to function, you are reliant on servers & routers being live when you finally get power back. Most (all ?) off the shelf programmable thermostats will carry on from where they left off after a power cut. So if power is restored during a time slot when the heating would normally be on, I would expect the central heating to fire up.

One advantage of using something like Home Assistant - In the event of a power outage, you get to decide what the default condition is (mine is set to Off after power is restored).

I'm going by my Hive.
The internet will, of course, go off during a power cut - as will the boiler - but once power is restored the internet will come back on and the Hive will continue with the correct programmed settings for that restored time. Even if the actual Hive unit itself lost its memory - which shouldn't happen - the interweb App should restore it.

ThisIsWeird

busybee100 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

You mean you don't want it to come back on by itself after power is restored?

Are you saying that if the controller is set to 'off' prior to the power cut, that it defaults to 'on' when power comes back on? If so, it shouldn't. The timed settings should be maintained during the power cut. I don't know what sort of controls you have, but I wonder if there's an internal 'memory' battery that's kaput?

If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App. That should be immune to power cuts.

Sorry you're correct I worded it badly. I'm happy for the boiler to switch itself back on but the heating comes on as well because although it was off it comes on as auto after the interruption.

Make and model (photo?) of the controller in question, please?

busybee100

Touch Wood

grumbler

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: If it isn't something as obvious as that, the perhaps a possible solution would be to upgrade your programmer to a 'Smart' type so the temps and timings are set by App.

But if your "smart" thermostat & app require an internet connection to function, you are reliant on servers & routers being live when you finally get power back.

I think most (all?) smart thermostats don't require internet/wifi for basic functions. Mine (Honeywell) doesn't.

ThisIsWeird

busybee100 said:

Touch Wood

Thanks.

There's no mention of an internal 'memory' battery, even in the 'servicing' section: https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/support/literature/greenstar-comfort-twin-channel-programmer-installation-instructions I'd have thought it would have one, tho' - how else can it maintain settings, other than with a flash memory, but even that wouldn't continue to keep time?

Anyhoo, it is guaranteed for as long as the boiler - is it covered in your case? Even if not, I'd drop W-B an email describing the issue, or do a 'chat' on their web page (if they do this).

A programmer that changes its settings during a power cut is not ffpurpose. 

busybee100

Yes it's still under warranty. For now I'll set the room thermostat to 5⁰c, the flow to 30⁰c and the on times to just 5 min sessions then get the engineer to have a look when he does the annual checks. 

It's normally not a problem but we must have had interruptions over night, we woke up early and wondered why the heating was on, it was only when I heard the router clicking on and off during the day I realised what it must be.

Thank you for all your help.