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Heat-Timer EPU shuts down at end of heating cycle.

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donohuere
donohuere Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL
Our Heat-Timer EPU control panel shuts off altogether at the end of each cycle. Both lights are off. It doesn't come back on until I flip the toggle switch from Winter to Summer then back to Winter. Then the red "Weather Calls for Heat" light comes on, and the furnace fires up. Living on the 5th floor, it's a bit of a drag going down to the basement for this every few hours.

Any suggestions on how to remedy this?

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  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,523
    edited November 2018
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    That control has a "thermal lockout" built in. The control looks at outdoor temp and pipe temperature and will not start a cycle until the outdoor temp and the thermal lockout proves the piping has cooled off to start a new cycle.

    A lot of adjustment in those controls sounds like something has to be changed in the settings.

    How long ago was it installed and did it work previously??

    You can also download the manual online
    sjd
  • donohuere
    donohuere Member Posts: 3
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    Thanks for your reply, Ebebratt.
    The system was working properly last season. This year, we turned it on as usual, but nothing happens unless the Winter/Summer toggle is flipped from W to S and then back to W.
    The outside temp is plenty cold. The outside thermostat is working because the Weather light comes on when we toggle. We wait til the pipes cool down, but nothing happens unless the toggle is flipped.
    Got the manual, but it doesn't address this problem. If I'm reading it correctly, the EPU-CH has the lockout function, but not the EPU.
    The system was installed in 2006..
    Thanks again.
  • sjd
    sjd Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2022
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    @EBEBRATT-Ed  I’m having the exact same issue. Did you ever figure out what it was and how to correct it? Please let me know 347-231-2862
  • donohuere
    donohuere Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2023
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    @sjd @EBEBRATT-ed. Hello again. Our same old Heat-Timer unit has been working fine since I last posted -- until this season. For nearly a week it wouldn't start a new 1-hour cycle by itself, but then it suddenly kicked in. But today it's back to its old tricks. 
    A Heat-Timer guy took a look at it a few weeks ago,  but he had nothing to offer but a sales pitch for their new Internet-dependent $6,000 whiz-bang. For those of us who don't have an Internet connection in their basement (that's nearly everyone, isn't it?) they'll provide one for an additional few hundred a year. Heat-Timer does not sell or service or supply parts for the old EPU.
    Are there alternatives to Heat-Timer?
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,385
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    Hello @donohuere,
    If your unit is of the technology I suspect, there is a basically an old style synchronous clock motor in it. Those motors after spinning for many years their bearings wear out enough that often when the extra load is applied to change the state of the controlled device at a set-point time the motor stalls.

    I have no idea if a replacement motor is available. They are probably easy to change if you can get the correct replacement motor.

    I would also suspect a relay contact or relay socket issues. And there certainly could be a loose connection inside somewhere.

    Does it keep spinning when it acts up ?




    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,523
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    @donohuere

    yes there is a much better option and much less expensive that the overpriced heat timer You need a Tekmar #279 Supply House.com has them
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    EBEBRATT-Ed said:

    @donohuere

    yes there is a much better option and much less expensive that the overpriced heat timer You need a Tekmar #279 Supply House.com has them

    This. Note that you will have to change the sensors as well as the control.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

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