Dimplex quantum help - how hot?

Gerry1

I really can't see how cracked bricks could cause overheating.  More likely the result of gross overheating.

If so, merely replacing the bricks won't effect a cure, so the saga is likely to repeat.

I'd insist that the thermostat and overheat cutout are checked or preferably just replaced, they're not expensive.

There may be an engineering menu that shows the peak brick temperature reached.

Grill your engineer to see what he's been told and how he justifies his proposed cure.

EssexHebridean

I'd agree that the cracked bricks aren't likely to have been the cause of the overheating.
My suspicion is that the panel is being replaced because as suggested relatively early in the thread, there is a problem with the insulation. I also wonder whether that problem will have caused the charging process to just continue long past the point where it should have cut out - but even that shouldn't cause overheating to the extent it appears it might have done without another fault somewhere along the line, and the most likely thing to have failed in that regard is going to be the thermostat itself. If the thermostat HAS failed, then the thermal cut-out is likely also faulty as it is to be presumed it didn't trip when it should have done. In your shoes I would be wanting both those parts replaced now as well. 

When the engineer starts taking things apart again, I'd be inclined to hover about with a camera at hand and make sure I got photos of the internals - you want pictures of the inside of the panel, those cracked bricks, and also any signs of scorching anywhere at all - if he removes the heater from the wall, that includes the wall behind it. 

Scot_39

I guess it depends on how exposed the heat flow to the casing from heating element to case via cracks was. 

Edit by the way does anyone know how hot these elements run to heat the larger core to upto over 100C ?

Especially if cracks were at edges leaving gaps - when look from pics as if cut to fully surround the elements.

The elements would normally be fully shrouded by the "bricks" according to pics in installation manual.

It really doesn't take much of an insulating medium to stop heat flow. 

And I cannot remember if op posted - but another symptom of the heat being driven by say heat flow from the elements through gaps in bricks rather than overheated bricks - would surely be a return to a more normal case temperature after a few / several hours between charges.


And it's worth giving the heating service tech - who may have seen this all before - the benefit of the doubt.

They can always get called back in.

BathJan

I’m going through a similar saga with mine. Top getting red hot, Error code flashing every morning; User Interface Too Hot, even though I only have it set to 18C. Error code goes after a period of “heating on”. However, mine were installed by the housing association and their engineers really are clueless about what to do.

lilac_dawn

BathJan said:

I’m going through a similar saga with mine. Top getting red hot, Error code flashing every morning; User Interface Too Hot, even though I only have it set to 18C. Error code goes after a period of “heating on”. However, mine were installed by the housing association and their engineers really are clueless about what to do.

I feel your pain! I think I prefer my older style quantum as (touch wood) that one gave no trouble at all. With the RF one, I think there are just most things to go wrong on it. 

Scot_39

lilac_dawn said:

BathJan said:

I’m going through a similar saga with mine. Top getting red hot, Error code flashing every morning; User Interface Too Hot, even though I only have it set to 18C. Error code goes after a period of “heating on”. However, mine were installed by the housing association and their engineers really are clueless about what to do.

I feel your pain! I think I prefer my older style quantum as (touch wood) that one gave no trouble at all. With the RF one, I think there are just most things to go wrong on it. 

Yes my old manual ones are as installed when built - guessing over 25 years.

Not sure a fancy RF panel module will last anywhere near as long.

A bit like digital smart with 10-15 years cf old analogue dial at 25+  - my old parents home - now siblings - old dial meter must have been 40 yrs old when they finally went smart recently - it was iirc the story - fitted in late 70s / early 80s when old coin meter replaced a few years after they moved in.

EssexHebridean

BathJan said:

I’m going through a similar saga with mine. Top getting red hot, Error code flashing every morning; User Interface Too Hot, even though I only have it set to 18C. Error code goes after a period of “heating on”. However, mine were installed by the housing association and their engineers really are clueless about what to do.

Same as advised to the OP - formal written complaint, in your case to the housing association. Say you are concerned about fire risk. Get the information from Dimplex themselves ready to hand to the engineer where turns up, and also you could mention the findings on the OP here’s Quantum too. 

lilac_dawn

I have had my old storage heater on for the past couple of days, in the same room as the Quantum. As it was freakishly warm today, I advanced the quantum so it was off. Come this evening, it felt just as hot as the old quantum - despite being off. Presumably replacing the panel will resolve this leakage. I am not looking forward to the electricity bill!!