Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old.

John wrote:

> Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
> consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
> next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
> boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
> meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
> 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
> that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
> right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
> The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
> 
> 


http://www.jobnut.co.uk/services/utilities/electricity.html

says 3-5/month, so it sounds like you're bang on.

Ben

"John"  wrote in message 
news:3no3cbF2gigiU1@individual.net...

> Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light consumed 
> and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the next day. The 
> heating & water have been off all that time with just the boiler pilot 
> light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the meter readings and 
> in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 65.70 units.  If my 
> sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work that out to be around 
> 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about right for a pilot light? On 
> 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. The boiler is a Potterton 
> Prima B about 6 years old.


Some friends of mine had their gas meter run out of money on a regular basis 
(and electric)  The meter let through enough gas for a pilot light.  They 
always had a kettle over the pilot light on the stove or a pan of stew, they 
lived like that for years, so yes even a tiny flame is a significant number 
of btus per year.

mrcheerful

On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 11:04:28 UTC, Ben Blaukopf  
wrote:


> John wrote:
> > Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
> > consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
> > next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
> > boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
> > meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
> > 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
> > that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
> > right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
> > The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
> 
> http://www.jobnut.co.uk/services/utilities/electricity.html


It may be old and due for replacement, but there's something to be said 
for a Netaheat!

-- 
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
   http://laminateflooring.oncloud8.com

In article ,
   John  wrote:

> Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
> consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
> next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
> boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
> meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
> 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
> that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
> right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
> The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 


Remember not all that energy is wasted unless you never use the boiler.
Some of it will go towards keeping the heat exchanger warm, and in cold
weather help to heat the room.

-- 
*How about "never"? Is "never" good for you? 

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> > that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about
> > right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around £41 a year.
> > The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old.
>
> Remember not all that energy is wasted unless you never use the boiler.
> Some of it will go towards keeping the heat exchanger warm, and in cold
> weather help to heat the room.


The same is true of all the "wasted" energy from all those filament
light bulbs, TV and video left on standby, wall warts left plugged in
and switched on, etc, etc. If you really want to save energy, turn the
thermostat down or wear an extra layer of clothing.

MBQ

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 12:04:28 +0100, Ben Blaukopf wrote:


> John wrote:
>> Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
>> consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
>> next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
>> boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
>> meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
>> 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
>> that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
>> right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
>> The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
>> 
>> 
> 
> http://www.jobnut.co.uk/services/utilities/electricity.html
> 
> says 3-5/month, so it sounds like you're bang on.
> 


around 240W - plausible.  

-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 13:34:02 +0100, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


> In article ,
>    John  wrote:
>> Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
>> consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
>> next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
>> boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
>> meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
>> 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
>> that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
>> right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
>> The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
> 
> Remember not all that energy is wasted unless you never use the boiler.
> Some of it will go towards keeping the heat exchanger warm, and in cold
> weather help to heat the room.


I reckon on this being allowed for in comparisons. The 'book' figure for a
permanent pilot is a -5%  on the SEDBUK rating of the boiler. 


-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

In article ,
   Bob Eager  wrote:

> > > The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 

> It may be old and due for replacement, but there's something to be said 
> for a Netaheat!


I'm surprised to find any boiler this recent using a permanent pilot light.

-- 
*Does fuzzy logic tickle? *

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 1 Sep 2005 06:23:43 -0700, manatbandq@hotmail.com wrote:


>The same is true of all the "wasted" energy from all those filament
>light bulbs, TV and video left on standby, wall warts left plugged in
>and switched on, etc, etc. If you really want to save energy, turn the
>thermostat down or wear an extra layer of clothing.


We currently have no 'central heating' in this 1897 house and (these
days?) only have the gas fire on in lounge in the real winter and even
then only ever one of the 3 burners (possibly assisted by electrical
kit as mentioned elsewhere <g>)

A small storage rad in the (newish) bathroom 'airing cupboard' seems
to keep that comfortable and a bigger one in the main bedroom (both
electically 'on' 24/7) only come in when needed (economy 7).

My daughter is in the box room (3 exposed solid 9" brick walls) has a
tiny balanced flue wall heater that will have her room like a sauna in
a few mins.

The middle bedroom holds the Aircon unit that may get used more as the
heating gets used less .. hmmmm?

'She's' going through 'the change' (single men, don't ask ..) so to
manage that I would need to fit a climate contol system that could
change the temperature in the room from -5 to plus 20 deg C and back
in 30 seconds ...? ;-(

All the best ...

T i m

In message , Bob Eager 
 writes

>On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 11:04:28 UTC, Ben Blaukopf 
>wrote:
>
>> John wrote:
>> > Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light
>> > consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the
>> > next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the
>> > boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the
>> > meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is
>> > 65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work
>> > that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about
>> > right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around œ41 a year.
>> > The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old.
>>
>> http://www.jobnut.co.uk/services/utilities/electricity.html
>
>It may be old and due for replacement, but there's something to be said
>for a Netaheat!
>

The Prima does have an electronic ignition version too

(it uses the same control as the Profile)

-- 
geoff

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" 
 writes

>In article ,
>   Bob Eager  wrote:
>> > > The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old.
>
>> It may be old and due for replacement, but there's something to be said
>> for a Netaheat!
>
>I'm surprised to find any boiler this recent using a permanent pilot light.
>

The Potterton Puma (which is also not so long in the tooth) has a PP as 
well as an electronic version

-- 
geoff

"Ed Sirett"  wrote in message
news:pan.2005.09.01.15.08.37.877016@makewrite.demon.co.uk...

> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 12:04:28 +0100, Ben Blaukopf wrote:
>
>> John wrote:
>>> that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about
>>> right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a
>>> year.
>>> The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> http://www.jobnut.co.uk/services/utilities/electricity.html
>>
>> says 3-5/month, so it sounds like you're bang on.
>>
>
> around 240W - plausible.


Well I'm due a boiler service soon so I'll ask them to give the pilot
light a good once over and to check that the flame is within the
manufacturers spec. That might save me a fiver a year which I can put
towards a litre of petrol :)

On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 11:26:59 +0100, "John" 
wrote:


>Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
>consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
>next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
>boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
>meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
>65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
>that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
>right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
>The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 


Over 15 years that could pay for a condensing boiler....

cheers,
Pete.

In article ,
   Pete C  wrote:

> >Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
> >consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
> >next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
> >boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
> >meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
> >65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
> >that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
> >right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
> >The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 

> Over 15 years that could pay for a condensing boiler....


But the calculation is flawed by making it at this time of the year with
the boiler not in use. For the 6 months or so of the year when the heating
is needed - or it's used for just heating hot water - all that energy
won't be wasted. There's probably a diversity calculation that takes this
into account.

-- 
*Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)"  wrote in message

>
> But the calculation is flawed by making it at this time of the year 
> with
> the boiler not in use. For the 6 months or so of the year when the 
> heating
> is needed - or it's used for just heating hot water - all that energy
> won't be wasted. There's probably a diversity calculation that takes 
> this
> into account.


Ah, so during the time the boiler is in use the pilot light will be 
going towards heating the boiler and not wasted.  Now I feel a whole lot 
better, cheers.

In article ,
   John  wrote:

> > But the calculation is flawed by making it at this time of the year
> > with the boiler not in use. For the 6 months or so of the year when
> > the heating is needed - or it's used for just heating hot water - all
> > that energy won't be wasted. There's probably a diversity calculation
> > that takes this into account.

> Ah, so during the time the boiler is in use the pilot light will be 
> going towards heating the boiler and not wasted.  Now I feel a whole lot 
> better, cheers. 


Even when the boiler isn't actually firing, some of the energy from the
pilot light will help keep the water inside it warm for when it next does.

However, it's a less than ideal device. Obviously, some means of lighting
the boiler on demand should be better. Assuming it has a long life and
doesn't cost more in replacements than the energy it saves. ;-)

My real point is that some adverts quote the sort of figures you did and
suggest you'll get those savings without one. Drivel would be proud of
them.

-- 
*Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker? *

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 15:00:08 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
 wrote:


>In article ,
>   Pete C  wrote:
>> >Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
>> >consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
>> >next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
>> >boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
>> >meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
>> >65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
>> >that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
>> >right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
>> >The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
>
>> Over 15 years that could pay for a condensing boiler....
>
>But the calculation is flawed by making it at this time of the year with
>the boiler not in use. For the 6 months or so of the year when the heating
>is needed - or it's used for just heating hot water - all that energy
>won't be wasted. There's probably a diversity calculation that takes this
>into account.


What happens when the pump is running but the boiler isn't firing on
an old style boiler, I'd have thought there are convection losses up
the flue? Maybe worth another condensing boiler over 15 years...

cheers,
Pete.

On Sat, 03 Sep 2005 19:54:09 +0100, Pete C wrote:


> On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 15:00:08 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
>  wrote:
> 
>>In article ,
>>   Pete C  wrote:
>>> >Out of curiosity I calculated how much gas my boiler pilot light 
>>> >consumed and took a meter reading at 9pm and again at exactly 9pm the 
>>> >next day. The heating & water have been off all that time with just the 
>>> >boiler pilot light lit.  I included the 2 red decimal numbers in the 
>>> >meter readings and in 24hrs it had used 0.18 unit, which over a year is 
>>> >65.70 units.  If my sums are correct (Calorific Value of 39.4) I work 
>>> >that out to be around 2081kWh.  Is that amount of consumption about 
>>> >right for a pilot light? On 2p per kwh that would be around 41 a year. 
>>> >The boiler is a Potterton Prima B about 6 years old. 
>>
>>> Over 15 years that could pay for a condensing boiler....
>>
>>But the calculation is flawed by making it at this time of the year with
>>the boiler not in use. For the 6 months or so of the year when the heating
>>is needed - or it's used for just heating hot water - all that energy
>>won't be wasted. There's probably a diversity calculation that takes this
>>into account.
> 
> What happens when the pump is running but the boiler isn't firing on
> an old style boiler, I'd have thought there are convection losses up
> the flue? Maybe worth another condensing boiler over 15 years...
> 

For sure. This is the biggest _single_ item in the older designs that
impacts efficiency. 

-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html