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.

Hi

I'm not a professional electrician or heating engineer, just a competent DIYer.  I look after a friend's flat in a large development of apartments on the quayside area of Gateshead, opposite Newcastle.   They all have the Nobo Orion 512 heating control systems installed.  

Baltic Quay
Mill Road
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
NE8 3QW
United Kingdom

The development was built in 2003 by Taylor Wimpey.   Most properties within are single-storey 2-bed small flats, having only 3 electric panel heaters, 2 towel rails and an immersion unit.   Thus it could be considered overly-complex to have these controlled centrally by a mains signalling system like the Orion 512 - individual timer switches could have been used.    

When my friend moved away and I started to look after the flat I noticed that there was no response from the control unit.    I then went through the research process, that no-doubt many others have, of finding that the Nobo Orion 512 was discontinued in the middle of the last decade.   Indeed, it was introduced in the 90's, so might have been considered almost obsolete by the time it was specified and installed.  Anyway, the Newcastle based contractor that installed the Orion system has long since disappeared, as has Nobo in the UK (as an individual entity).   However, to cut a long story short, I found that the Australian distributor for Nobo still has some units available, gathering dust on a shelf.  Even better, the sales office for Nobo in Norway still exists.   Via these very helpful people and some polite e-mails I was able to get the control unit repaired.

However, once I had the control unit up and running, I to also found that there was no current getting to the immersion tank via the RSX 512 relay switch (mounted next to the consumer unit) circuit.   Whilst the RSX512 was receiving on and off control signals (red and green LED lights switching) from the Control Unit, no power was getting to the immersion tank.    Thus, as has been found by others, it seems the relay has failed in the RSX 512.    However, I am currently awaiting delivery of an RBSX 512 unit, of which a few are still available, to swap out and see if that gets things going.  

I just wanted to give an update to this thread which is now 4 years old to those like me a few months ago who were pulling their hair out.   Local electricians would not touch the system or just wanted to rip it all out.    Nevertheless, there is light at the end of the tunnel ! Google is your friend !

I bought one of Baltic Quay flats when they were built in 2003. I have never worked out the Heating system control unit properly. Now, Although I have turned all my panels to Zone [1] and on constant, they seem to have a life of their own and I don't know what the timing is. The heater is swtiched on but neither the red or green lights are sometimes visible on the panel heaters and the paperwork says the 'system may be suspended according to the settings on ORION 512'. Similarly the immersion tank[economy 7] is not receiving from the RSX 512 relay switch and I have to use the other immersion switch to heat water. I have the towel rail disconnected and on a wall timer now. I have no more hair left.

Baltic Quay resident 2014

Maybe the mains filter on your fusebox has failed which would mean that neighbouring flats control units might be turning your panels on and off. I'm not a qualified electrician but am happy to look at how you've programmed your control unit the next time I'm free. If you're interested, drop your contact details into the mail slot for no 16, block 1 marked for "Rich D" thanks.

Hello "Baltic Quay Resident", I have just collected your letter dated 20 Jan 2015.

I did not need to upgrade to the Orion 700 system. This would have been expensive and it may just have been easier to fit each appliance with its own timer (as each flats has just one floor and just a few rooms).

Continuing from my previous post, I am pleased to say that, thanks to a lot of help from the sales team at Nobo in Norway, my Orion 512 system is now fully working (using the RBSX512 to control the immersion heater).

I'll drop you an e-mail separately

Baltic Quay wrote:Hello "Baltic Quay Resident", I have just collected your letter dated 20 Jan 2015.

I did not need to upgrade to the Orion 700 system.  This would have been expensive and it may just have been easier to fit each appliance with its own timer (as each flats has just one floor and just a few rooms).

Continuing from my previous post, I am pleased to say that, thanks to a lot of help from the sales team at Nobo in Norway, my Orion 512 system is now fully working (using the RBSX512 to control the immersion heater).

I'll drop you an e-mail separately

we

Hi, I have the same problem with yours. I do not like to upgrade my immersion heater control to Orion 700 system as this will cost me a lot. I would therefore get the RBSX512 instead as you did. Could you please advise how to order this control from the team at Nobo-in Norway? I look forward to hearing from you soon.Thank you.

Hi, my flat in London SE16 was also fitted with the Orion 512 system. The RSX512 receiver which controls the boiler is no longer working and making loud noise especially during summer and when the boiler is running.

I no longer use the 512 control system. However, the RSX512 is still connected and the loud noise is bothering me a lot. I would like to by pass/ disconnect that.

Can any electrician do that or if anyone know any electrician in London that understand the system well to help?

Many thanks!!