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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Frack baby frack. Lots of cheap gas then. 
And apparently it could cause Blackpool to disappear into the sea.
Cant see a downside at all. 

Every cloud....

Is there anyone in Blackpool who isn't unemployed, or unemployable.

[Kevin Wood]

Who on here as any experience of these?

Looks like our old oil boiler from 1999 is pretty shot, so not worth throwing good money after bad in order to get it to limp on for another couple of years.

We have a plentiful supply of wood, so commercial wood pellets for the biomass boiler would not be required. This would help with running costs.

Also, I believe there is a £5000 government grant available.

Unless the heat exchanger and baffles are completely shot, it's always possible to keep them going for affordable money. All the bits to fix the burner are generally pretty cheap.

I think I have eliminated most of the possible culprits....

There is plenty of oil getting to the pump and nozzle, but no spark.

Photocell seems to function as it should.

This leaves the control box and ignition transformer.

My money's on the transformer or possibly shorted electrodes. Should be able to check the transformer windings with an ohm meter, although that might not catch all failure modes.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Who on here as any experience of these?

Looks like our old oil boiler from 1999 is pretty shot, so not worth throwing good money after bad in order to get it to limp on for another couple of years.

We have a plentiful supply of wood, so commercial wood pellets for the biomass boiler would not be required. This would help with running costs.

Also, I believe there is a £5000 government grant available.

Unless the heat exchanger and baffles are completely shot, it's always possible to keep them going for affordable money. All the bits to fix the burner are generally pretty cheap.

I think I have eliminated most of the possible culprits....

There is plenty of oil getting to the pump and nozzle, but no spark.

Photocell seems to function as it should.

This leaves the control box and ignition transformer.

My money's on the transformer or possibly shorted electrodes. Should be able to check the transformer windings with an ohm meter, although that might not catch all failure modes.

Thanks, Kevin.

I cleaned the igniter tips and they seem nice and sharp.....also checked the gap which was correct at about 3mm.

I may rip the transformer off and see if there is anything obvious.

[Marks DTM Calib]

You should be able to see an arc across the electrodes when it is trying to ignite?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

You should be able to see an arc across the electrodes when it is trying to ignite?

Removed it (and the ignition transformer) and there is a nasty crack across on part of the electrode. Connections were also black and brittle. Unlikely to get a good spark, I think.

Black transformer box is bloated and puffy. I'm guessing it is the original from 1999.

[Kevin Wood]

You should be able to see an arc across the electrodes when it is trying to ignite?

Removed it (and the ignition transformer) and there is a nasty crack across on part of the electrode. Connections were also black and brittle. Unlikely to get a good spark, I think.

Black transformer box is bloated and puffy. I'm guessing it is the original from 1999.

Yes, that doesn't look too healthy.

[Marks DTM Calib]

You should be able to see an arc across the electrodes when it is trying to ignite?

Removed it (and the ignition transformer) and there is a nasty crack across on part of the electrode. Connections were also black and brittle. Unlikely to get a good spark, I think.

Black transformer box is bloated and puffy. I'm guessing it is the original from 1999.

That fracture is likely to result in the HT generated by the transformer arcing to ground rather than across the electrodes where it is needed, definitely needs replacing