Disconected Uponor zone valve - a couple questions please

MoreCowbell

4-valve Train.jpg

Upanor valve for kitchen.jpg

Disconnected top of kitchen valve.jpg

Hello,

This is something I discovered in a new house I just bought. One zone valve (Uponor) in a series is disconnected. The “base” has what looks like a little pin sticking up. Therefore, in looking at the “cap” (top part), I would think I’d see a corresponding “pocket” that the pin inserts to. But as shown in the picture I took, there is no pocket. On inspection, neither the pin or the blue/green mating “dot” retract. And the top part does not want to thread onto the brass bottom part. Very strange …

Does anyone recognize this Uponor valve? Can anyone explain why it won’t reconnect?

Any help in explaining this mystery is appreciated.

hot_rod

When the pin is up, the valve is open. Typically there is a plastic cap that replaces an actuator. This allows you to manually operate that port. Screwing down the cap closes the port.

Sometimes those pins stick and that is what destroys the actuators. You should be able to push the pin down with a piece of wood, etc.

Uponor has used a variety of different manifolds and actuators, I don't believe they make their own. Some versions used the Honeywell PowerTrack, a rack and pinion actuator. Those are hard to find, but a conversion kit is available for some.

Send a pic.

MoreCowbell

Thank you HotRod - I forgot to attach the pics !! Please see them now.

GGross

Whoever replaced the actuator didnt get the right adapter ring and just left it like that lol

you need to add this spacer ring to that one

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-A3019900-Spacer-Ring-VA33-for-Thermal-Actuators?srsltid=AfmBOoqfYG-shqITacv0gv_S2uCyTY4KWzkfLh5VTkc2Spa999zJk1SV

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1895209#Comment_1895209

Those adapters were for the old Wirsbo manifolds, no? The manifolds are marked "TA" - Tour Andersson. This looks like a newer (Uponor) manifold.

Edit: OK - I see the Wirsbo name now.

MoreCowbell

Thank you GGross & Alan.

Per Bob’s comment, I inspected and see that that pin can be depressed ~⅛”. So as it was found, it appears that the valve has been “stuck” open for who knows how long.

Especially when I couldn’t readily thread on the top piece, it struck me that the base and top piece may be incompatible. GGross’ link to that missing “bushing” was appreciated; I’ll explore that.

Amazon wants $25 for the same ring !! 😱

https://www.amazon.sg/Spacer-Ring-VA33-Thermal-Actuators/dp/B06XNMWS1V

MoreCowbell

A little more here:

Per Google AI for the actuator:

The Uponor AEF 40405-00 (also known as part number A3023522) is a 24V, 4-wire normally closed (NC)thermal actuator designed for radiant manifold zone control. It consumes low power (1W), includes an end switch to activate pumps or relays, and is compatible with Uponor EP, Stainless-steel, and TruFLOW manifolds.

This is the opposite of what Hot-Rod suggested above, and in fact makes more sense: that the loaded pin against the spring would open the valve, and that the relaxed position would be closed. So – for whatever reason the actuator was disconnected - the valve has been closed. I take the advice to get that ring to see if that will facilitate reconnecting the actuator.

hot_rod

The valve was closed with pin up, that’s odd.

If there was no flow in that loop, could be the pier on the other manifold is closed. That would prevent flow with the actuator removed.

Got a pic of the other manifold?