Nobo radio-controlled time switch

Occasionally I visit a flat with a Pulsacoil failure and find the fault lies outside the appliance. A faulty or failed power supply. When this happens I've found the reason on a number of occasions to be failure of a specific brand of radio-controlled time switch, made by a company called 'Nobo'.

Another technician has also encountered failure of this radio time switch and emailed me to point out the likely reason. The switch concerned is the Nobo ’System 500 Receiver’ (Part Number RSX512) and the reason for failure is this switch is not rated adequately for switching a Pulsacoil heating element. The switch is rated at 2kW and a Pulsacoil heater is 3kW, hence the high rate of failure. It isn't a faulty Nobo product at all, it is wrongly specified and therefore the fault of the developer, builder or specifier.

I have seen flats in a number of developments with this specific time controller installed so this is potentially quite a large problem. I am starting this thread in order to compile a list of developments containing wiring installations using the Nobo System 500 Receiver part number RSX512 inappropriately to switch Pulsacoil thermal stores. Here is the list (of two) so far. I will edit the list to add addresses as and when I discover them.

Altima Court, 33 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9AL
White Lodge Court, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-thames, Surrey, TW16 5GA

If you know of a development with these Nobo timers fitted, please post in the thread or email me.

Many thanks.
Mike

Hi Mike,
We live in the development that has NOBO heaters installed. Address is:
Ashdown court
Highwood close,
East Dulwich,
London SE22
We just moved in and there is no manual for the heating system (LL has no idea where it’s gone) and it is a tricky one to get working without instructions. If you happen to know where to obtain the user operating manual for these appliances we’d appreciate your help, the details of the system as follows:
NOBO system 500, Orion 512
Type: C4N123 – 082EA1NX
1150 – 1250 W
8143305
RAL 9010 Pure White
Thanks in advance,
Serg.

Mike,

We also live in a development with the Nobo switches. Ours is broken is that it does not allow power to go to the Pulsecoil III water tank when it is programmed to. Think it needs to be replaced but I cannot find where to find the product - it seems to have been discontinued earlier in the year. By the sounds of your post it isnt up to the job anyway. Can you advise what other product we buy to replace it and where can we get this from? If there is no other product do you know of anywhere we can get the nobo system 500 receiver rsx 512 from?

Thanks for your help,

Phil and Kelly.

Hi Mike,
Can you give a suggestion as to what to do when a Nobo EC 512 is being used in conjunction with a Pulsar coil please?
Many thakns,
Richard

I also live in a development (5 years old, 100+ apartments) that is running the Nobo heating alongside a Pulsacoil (A Class) water heater and experiencing a lack of hot water (very irregular water heating, some days can not get 2 short showers out of it. Need to press the boost button every day, occasionally makes very load noise, as if warming up - but still no hot water. no flashing lights and top box is full).

Gilbert Scott Building
Scott Ave
Putney, London SW15 3ST

Is there a solution to rectify this problem?

Thanks

The NOBO RSX512 is rated at 16amps, so is correctly specified if connected to 1 x 3Kw immersion heater.

The RS512 is a 10 amp receiver which is usually connected to the towel rails.

The visual difference between the 2 is the RSX512 is din rail mounted and has a red or green led on the front and the RS512 does not.

The Orion 500 system ( mains signalling ) was discontinued a few years back and was superseded with the Orion 700 ( digital radio frequency ).

NOBO UK is part of the GDC Group Ltd. http://www.gdcgroup.co.uk/index.htm

If you suspect the RSX is at fault your options are:

1. Have the RSX repaired by GDC Group for about £150.00 including call out / part / labour / vat.
2. Remove the RSX and install a different din rail mounted timer. The Newlec NLCUT2 fits but you will need to use a spacer.
3. By pass / link out the RSX and fit a timer at the isolator switch. The Greenbrook T105-C will do the job.Plenty of others on the market.
4. Upgrade the whole system to the Orion 700.

Note it is not always the RSX. It could be the programmer signal that is at fault. Also repairable.

Hope this helps.