TV Interference From CH Boiler

[Channel Hopper]

Yes, I'll do that ... but first I need to double check whether the upstairs is on its own ring!

That will be flicking switches under the stairs then.

 

[drlabman]

That will be flicking switches under the stairs then.

Thankfully our circuits are labelled well in the consumer unit.

 

[Topper]

I had this problem for many years, until I replaced the old gas central heating boiler. For us it was caused by the gas safety solenoid valve on the boiler, used to wipe out everything on the TV for a split second, I always put it down to EM radiation from the solenoid, I think on your combi boiler there will be two solenoid valves, perhaps the insulation has broken down on the HW demand valve

 

[drlabman]

I had this problem for many years, until I replaced the old gas central heating boiler. For us it was caused by the gas safety solenoid valve on the boiler, used to wipe out everything on the TV for a split second, I always put it down to EM radiation from the solenoid, I think on your combi boiler there will be two solenoid valves, perhaps the insulation has broken down on the HW demand valve

Cheers, that's very interesting. There must be something different between the CH and DHW parts of the boiler, but I haven't a clue how they work - so this is good info. Having said that, the boiler is only 18 months old.

 

[Terryl]

If you think it may be the igniter on the boiler causing this there is one way to check it out, if you have an old AM radio with a manual tuner you can use it to see if the igniter circuit is causing an RF spike, you tune to a location on the radio's dial without any channels and turn the volume up, all you should hear is static, place it close to the boiler and go turn on the hot water, if you hear a pop or some other noise then static you have found your problem.

Now how to fix the problem is another question.

Do you have a make and model number of the boiler?

 

[drlabman]

If you think it may be the igniter on the boiler causing this there is one way to check it out, if you have an old AM radio with a manual tuner you can use it to see if the igniter circuit is causing an RF spike, you tune to a location on the radio's dial without any channels and turn the volume up, all you should hear is static, place it close to the boiler and go turn on the hot water, if you hear a pop or some other noise then static you have found your problem.

Now how to fix the problem is another question.

Do you have a make and model number of the boiler?

I shall try the radio test. Thanks.

The boiler is a Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 832

 

[Terryl]

Question: Are your water lines steel, copper, PVC or PEX?

 

[drlabman]

Question: Are your water lines steel, copper, PVC or PEX?

Inside the house? Copper mostly, but some push-fit plastic.

 

[Terryl]

WOW!!!!! that's one complicated boiler, what happened to the plain old time water heaters????

Have you contacted the manufacture about this problem?

I'd send them an Email...

 

[drlabman]

WOW!!!!! that's one complicated boiler, what happened to the plain old time water heaters????

Have you contacted the manufacture about this problem?

I'd send them an Email...

Yes, I've spoken to Vaillant. Their first response was there should be no direct correlation between the boiler and TV ... which we know is nonsense as the number of reports on the internet will testify. Their second response was I could try an EMI/RFI filter but beyond that ... get an electrician.

BTW, I don't think the Vaillant is any more complicated than the other combi/condenser boilers installed in millions of properties in the UK.

 

[drlabman]

Thankfully our circuits are labelled well in the consumer unit.

Unfortunately, all our sockets (including the fused spur to the boiler, as far as I can tell) are on one ring main. So, there's no opportunity to have the TV/Humax on a separate ring to the boiler.

 

[drlabman]

I'm still trying to get my head around this, so until I can dig out an AM radio ...

Let's say the interference is RF from the boiler ignition, or some other component - why would that disrupt a TV that's showing a satellite channel from the Humax? I could understand if the TV was showing a Freeview channel, but it's not. However, the TV does have an aerial input permanently connected. Anyone suggest why this might be?

 

[Channel Hopper]

I'm still trying to get my head around this, so until I can dig out an AM radio ...

Let's say the interference is RF from the boiler ignition, or some other component - why would that disrupt a TV that's showing a satellite channel from the Humax? I could understand if the TV was showing a Freeview channel, but it's not. However, the TV does have an aerial input permanently connected. Anyone suggest why this might be?

Your profile suggests Wales.

 

[Terryl]

I'm still trying to get my head around this, so until I can dig out an AM radio ...

Let's say the interference is RF from the boiler ignition, or some other component - why would that disrupt a TV that's showing a satellite channel from the Humax? I could understand if the TV was showing a Freeview channel, but it's not. However, the TV does have an aerial input permanently connected. Anyone suggest why this might be?

It could be just on the right frequency or a harmonic of a frequency that's causing it, without some special equipment it's a big guessing game.

Does this happen only when watching programs on the Humax, or on the off air programming also???

If it's direct RF interference then the ferrite cores I mentioned may help, you can put them on the coax to the TV and on the little DC power supply that runs the Humax.

If it's on the AC mains supply then the cores need to be located on the AC lines from the house, then an electrician would be needed.

 

[drlabman]

Your profile suggests Wales.

And?

 

[drlabman]

It could be just on the right frequency or a harmonic of a frequency that's causing it, without some special equipment it's a big guessing game.

Does this happen only when watching programs on the Humax, or on the off air programming also???

If it's direct RF interference then the ferrite cores I mentioned may help, you can put them on the coax to the TV and on the little DC power supply that runs the Humax.

If it's on the AC mains supply then the cores need to be located on the AC lines from the house, then an electrician would be needed.

I haven't had a lot of time to check all permutations yet, but I don't recall it interfering with Freeview channels.

 

[Channel Hopper]

And?

Almost all cars in the UK still have a radio with medium band. If the interference is enough to knock out your Freesat you should be able to hear something out in the road.

We have severe issues with Radio Caroline (648) thanks to the newer broadband service on the telegraph pole nearby.

 

[drlabman]

Almost all cars in the UK still have a radio with medium band. If the interference is enough to knock out your Freesat you should be able to hear something out in the road.

We have severe issues with Radio Caroline (648) thanks to the newer broadband service on the telegraph pole nearby.

Ah, I see what you mean. Don't think my car radio has AM unfortunately.

 

[drlabman]

Quick update. The TV picture went off just now, shortly after I turned the temperature up on the Hive - so presumably when the boiler fired up. So it's not only happening with the hot water.

 

[Terryl]

So what I can tell from others that have this problem (searching online) it looks to be in the ignition circuit for the boiler.

You raised the temp so the boiler needed to warm up a bit, so POP goes the igniter, and poof goes the TV.

I would do a video of this problem and send it to the manufacture, or tell them the boiler has a defect in the igniter circuit and you want a new on. On them.....