Recommendation on a Geyser Timer

WireFree

WireFree

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I had a 300L solar geyser installed about 4.5 years ago. The installers installed some Made in China timer switch, which stopped working after 1.5 years. I then had an electrician replace it with a CBi Electric QAT-R-DM timer switch.

I generally don't have to use electricity during summer, but I have the thermostat come on for one hour early in the morning in case the previous day was particularly cloudy. In winter I generally need the thermostat to come on for 2-3 hours in the morning, to ensure that water is heated after a cloudy day and to also account for the freezing cold water.

The QAT-R-DM timer now gives a continuous clicking sound during the ON periods (as if the internal relay is not closing the circuit) and it now takes up to 5 hours to heat the water. This seems to correspond with a recent comment on Hellopeter on the same timer switch.

Can anyone recommend a good RELIABLE geyser timer switch?
 
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The made in china one didn't do too badly then :) and pretty much most of them are made there anyway. I am considering having one installed myself. I don't have a solar geyser but wonder what type of saving I can expect by only switching the geyser on early in the morning and before home time in the afternoons - any ideas?
 
WireFree said:
I had a 300L solar geyser installed about 4.5 years ago. The installers installed some Made in China timer switch, which stopped working after 1.5 years. I then had an electrician replace it with a CBi Electric QAT-R-DM timer switch.

I generally don't have to use electricity during summer, but I have the thermostat come on for one hour early in the morning in case the previous day was particularly cloudy. In winter I generally need the thermostat to come on for 2-3 hours in the morning, to ensure that water is heated after a cloudy day and to also account for the freezing cold water.

The QAT-R-DM timer now gives a continuous clicking sound during the ON periods (as if the internal relay is not closing the circuit) and it now takes up to 5 hours to heat the water. This seems to correspond with a recent comment on Hellopeter on the same timer switch.

Can anyone recommend a good RELIABLE geyser timer switch?
Click to expand...
seems this model cbi timers suffered the same fate. had to remove one from a friends place and a business where my dad done electrical maintenance doing the same

how many kilowatt your element on that 300l ?
taking a guess 4kw
maybe need a contactor too
 
Hemi300c said:
I saw timers at Makro on special
View attachment 371381

Best option would be a Geyser Wise timer for a geyser where you can manage the timing and the heat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YiGzP9frA
Click to expand...

I have one of the Major Tech timer's (or Chinese rebranded equivalent) on my DB board for the geyser (150l/3kWh), it still works after three years or so, but the internal battery has died, so it needs to be reset after a power outage and as far as I can tell the battery cannot easily be replaced.

I have another on the pool which has been running for just short of a year with no issues yet.

For the Jacuzzi I have a Ci as it requires a higher start-up rating than the Major Tech can theoretically cope with. I replaced the previous Ci late last year which lasted more than ten years, but was not in constant use.

Depending on your geyser's initial draw I would go for the Major Tech. It should give you about three years of service.
 
You might also consider bypassing the timer completely to see if that is actually the fault. Your geyser may be the problem.
 
I had a very old timer that lasted me about 15 years. Then the Major Tech ones --- and the CBI ones (both last less than 3 years, internal battery fails and the relays pack up [ticking noise]). Now on the geyserwise system. 1 year so far .....
 
IdlePhaedrus said:
You might also consider bypassing the timer completely to see if that is actually the fault. Your geyser may be the problem.
Click to expand...

With the bypass on the timer switched on, or when the timer is allowing current through during the programmed intervals, I hear a constant clicking from the internal relay, which makes me suspect that the timer is at fault. The CBI timer is rated at 20A and the circuit breaker before the timer is also rated at 20A. The circuit breaker has not tripped.

If I need to call an electrician to physically bypass the timer I might as well replace the timer in the same callout session.
 
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WireFree said:
With the bypass on the timer switched on, or when the timer is allowing current through during the programmed intervals, I hear a constant clicking for the internal relay, which makes me suspect that the timer is at fault. The CBI timer is rated at 20A and the circuit breaker before the timer is also rated at 20A. The circuit breaker has not tripped.

If I need to call an electrician to physically bypass the timer I might as well replace the timer in the same callout session.
Click to expand...

Ja well, I have sorted the problem out myself (no I am not an electrician, but that has not bothered me in 40 years). I have a bypass CB installed ensuring that if the timer konks out I can simply bypass it. I have the timer on its own CB, which means I never actually use the internal bypass at all.
 
atomcrusher said:
I had a "Geyserwise" controller installed a couple of years back.
Click to expand...

I've seen many recommendations on the Geyserwise. I've emailed the solar geyser installers to check if the Geyserwise can be used as the temperature probe goes into the Geyser, as I think some parts of the system are still under warranty.

I would like to know if anyone is using the Geyserwise with a Solahart.
 
daniellgr said:
Ja well, I have sorted the problem out myself (no I am not an electrician, but that has not bothered me in 40 years). I have a bypass CB installed ensuring that if the timer konks out I can simply bypass it. I have the timer on its own CB, which means I never actually use the internal bypass at all.
Click to expand...

Good point. I also need to bypass the timer!
 
Hey guys. I got one of the Major-Tech timers on special at Builders at the moment. It doesn't seem to naturally fit on a CBI board though? Any suggestions for an easy fix for this?
 
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