Motorized Valve Actuator service life?....Cosmo

jp_2

i wonder if those valves are slamming open or shut?

i wouldn't suspect temperature.

Cosmo_3

how long?

I have a job I installed in 2001 and there were 3 Wirsbo Motorized Valve actuators installed to control separate zones on the same loop. I was out for a no heat call and all three have broken at the tabbed collar that mounts on the manifold.

I have had pretty good luck with these so far, but this is a little disturbing. Anyone else?

Cosmo

Mike T., Swampeast MO

> I have a job I installed in 2001 and there were 3

> Wirsbo Motorized Valve actuators installed to

> control separate zones on teh same loop. I was

> out for a no heat call and all three have broken

> at the tabbed collar that mounts on the

> manifold.

>

> I have had pretty good luck with

> these so far, but this is a little disturbing.

> Anyone else?

>

> Cosmo



Overheating?

brucewo1b

I have

about eighteen installed at one job for three years and have had three look just like those over the three years.

Cosmo_3

you think?

This is on a very low temp application, I have the Tekmar control to mix 120 degrees F max.

I understand the panel cover may make things stuffy, but what about the baseboard applications that run 180?

There are somethings that should always be made out of metal I think. The plastic part that failed is under quite a bit of strain.

At any rate, I am glad this is a commercial app. Not looking forward to trying to explain the invoice to a homeowner, and now I know its coming....

Cosmo

hr

I believe those are the original Sparco

which then changed to Honeywell/Sparco. I'm not sure they still offer them?

I bought a case to try one summer. Every single one blew apart like that within two years.

I kept a few around to remind me of an expensive lesson learned

hot rod

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Cosmo_3

I see bad weather ahead

I have a job that has a whole mess of these actuators. I guess I should schedule a maintenance check. But how do I ask this customer for all this money? Seems like a bad deal. Mine are from Wirsbo, but yes I do think that Sparco manufactured them.

I guess I could call, but I doubt there will be any warranty any more. But I will give it a try in the morning.

Cosmo

hr

Installation was critical

if you screw them down too far the end switch would stay (made) and probably part of the over stoke issue.

I found that the stickers with the alignment dots were not to be trusted. Remove the cover to check the installation detail.

The other weird thing was they would rotate a bit as they operated. Looked odd and you need to make sure the wiring could move with the head.

I'm not sure of the Wirsbo brand but the stroke length is important if you switch to a heat motor type head. I think the Wirsbo had metric threads or something. Don't quote me on that.

hot rod

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Cosmo_3

Thanks Hot Rod

I had a few broken ones over the years, but I am getting a little nervous now. Looks like I may be eating a few of these......instead of being able to eat out!

I will schedule a once over of some of my jobs, I switched to thermal when they came out. Hopefully I might be able to save a few from an early demise. Yes I did notice the wiggling. Just not the best of designs I guess. Easy to say when I never had to design something like this from scratch!

Live...and Learn

Cosmo

Dave_4

Yep, still think overheating--combined with a stress point.

Plastic is immune to nearly everything except overheating. Some plastics can handle quite high heat, but some can't. Instead of softening or melting, some plastics become brittle.

God help us when some bacteria learns to eat plastic...

Supply House Rick

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Tombig_2

MVA's

I've never had any break like that but I had eight installed about two years ago on two different jobs all stop making the end switch at about the same time. Motors worked fine. Puzzling to me and the Uponor rep both. Thing is, if you've got two or three pulling in the same pump there's no effect until the last one goes.

devo

response to cosmo's inquiry

Hey Cosmo, I had installed a system in my home in 2001 and had one go bad last winter. Several months before this, a friend of mine, where I had purchased all of my Wirsbo items had sent me a Wirsbo recall bulletin for these. The actuator was replaced by the local rep. without any questions asked. If I remember correcty, I had to fill out a basic form, from wirsbo. Hope this info. helps out !