Linked Heating System

[benedmonds]

I currently have a combi boiler and am planning on installing a wood burner with back boiler. I want to link the systems. Has any one done this successfully or know of anyone who has?

 

My plan is to fit an Ecoboiler 20 stove with a twin coil vented cylinder. (the extra coil for if I install solar at a later date). Any one know how I need to link the two? H2 panel, Grant combisol, or other??

 

My research has been a little frustrating as many people say this can't be done. Stovesonline has some good info, but does not say how it is done.

[Peter]

Essentially you need a heat exchanger, as you cant run the same water through the combi boiler as the log burner boiler.

 

Have you looked at the Dunsley Neutraliser?

[treequip]

Have you looked at this

 

dunsleyheat uk manufacturers of multifuel stoves, range cookers, boilers...

[18 stoner]

Ben, this is something Ill be interested seeing replies on.

 

I looked into this a couple of years ago and it seemed the nearest I got was asking a clued up plumber. He said it was doable, only downside maybe that you would need to switch manually from one boiler to the other, but with some extra fancy electrics two pumps couls be wired to thermostats and switch automatically but he said to ask a sparky if it was doable.

[benedmonds]

Have you looked at this

 

dunsleyheat uk manufacturers of multifuel stoves, range cookers, boilers...

 

I called them today, but Dunsley say they don't work with combi boilers.

[Peter]

I think you could do it with an accumulator tank, although it kind of defeats the object of the combi boiler.

[benedmonds]

Ben, this is something Ill be interested seeing replies on.

 

I looked into this a couple of years ago and it seemed the nearest I got was asking a clued up plumber. He said it was doable, only downside maybe that you would need to switch manually from one boiler to the other, but with some extra fancy electrics two pumps couls be wired to thermostats and switch automatically but he said to ask a sparky if it was doable.

 

It is doable from what I can see. You need to turn your unvented combi boiler into a vented system, get a header tank and a heat accumulator. The H2 panel is about £500 which does it, if you phone him make sure you have time because he will go into great detail.. He lost me after the first 5 mins and 42 mins later my head was spinning.. Hense posting on here for an understandable answer ... maybe.

 

Heating Innovations H2 control system homepage

[treequip]

I called them today, but Dunsley say they don't work with combi boilers.

 

Mnnn, didn’t know that, I looked at them myself but in the end went with a double system, I have 2 sets of rads, one for the combi and one for the stove, the stove is going on under floor heating this year

 

I can get hot water from either system so if the boiler isn’t lit the combi comes in, need to manually change over valves though.

[benedmonds]

I think you could do it with an accumulator tank, although it kind of defeats the object of the combi boiler.

 

Apparently not because the combi only fires up when it is needed.. So if you have enough hot water it doesn't do anything.

[Peter]

How about if wood burner boiler heats lower coil in a double coil insulated tank, then the radiator circuit runs through the top coil.

 

Combi runs as normal, but when you fire up the wood burner the insulated tank acts as a heat exchanger to heat the water in the radiator circuit. Thermostat in the cylinder activates a pump to circulate the water in the radiator circuit whenever the cylinder is hot.