Cash box lock picking

[unlisted]

It's definately a timer, it controls when the central heating comes on like a little dial you can set it sat 6-8am, then 5-10pm or whatever, it's not ver advanced though so when say someones off work or its a weekend its just the same as pre-programmed. unlisted: theyre not that common to be honest which is why you havent seen one.
We do have a thermostat, sadly that no longer works. Anyway I realise no one will give me any practical advice, I shall work it out myself.

Thanks for replying!

Thats called a programmable thermostat. It still senses the room temperature, and if it drops below the preset temp, it would turn on the heat. Try my ice cube idea.

I had one of those at an office once, (not locked in a box, but a tstat which had a password) and they had it preset so at night it would cool down to 60 before it turned on the heat. I was tricking it quite often on late shifts.

[NanoDuke]

Unlisted, it does sound like a simple timer he's talking about. To me it seems like an electrician has wired this on/off timer, and drilled the cashbox onto the wall, with the timer inside.

It's like when you stay at a motel, and they tell you there's only hot water between 6am and 7am for example.

OP wants to open the box to extend the time that the hot water system is running. OP is thinking it's a victimless crime, but he's wrong.

Muso, is the timer only for your unit, or does it affect the whole block/neighbours?
If you get into the box and change the timer, and get caught out, you can be charged for the extra electricity costs it causes.

If it's just for your residence, talk to your landlord again, and maybe work out a deal that you pay extra each week for the privilege of more hot water.

[mh]

mh- I don't know who does your heating systems over there, but its all wrong-

Hmmm. It's like the standard setup in this country, and somehow it seems to work for some 80 Million people.

Maybe try to think of it like of something that's "different"; similar to locks that are mounted upside-down.

Essentially, a typical German heating system uses more than one temperature sensor: At least one is in the boiler, one is at each radiator (yes, it's based on hot water flowing trough radiators, not hot air being blown through ducts), and one is outdoors. None of these are mounted inside the control terminal.

[unlisted]

Essentially, a typical German heating system uses more than one temperature sensor: At least one is in the boiler, one is at each radiator (yes, it's based on hot water flowing trough radiators, not hot air being blown through ducts), and one is outdoors. None of these are mounted inside the control terminal.

So, besides all the temp sensors all over, in addition, it also has a timer that turns on and off the boiler?

Sorry, I know there is other systems, but I am curious what keeps it from turning on with the timer, if the building is warm enough- or does it just auto cycle? (seems like it would be wasting energy if it would auto cycle...?)

Guess I should read up on the other type of systems, I'm used to forced air, old school broilers, (like you describe, but w/o the central timer, but a central thermostat to cycle the actual boiler) and in floor (radiant) heating

[mh]

the timer allows the user to describe a desired temperature profile that changes over time (day / night). It also controls the hot water supply heater and pump.

[NanoDuke]

My understanding is that normally the boiler is available all hours of the day. The timer simply shuts off the power to the system, so outside the programmed times, the boiler sits idle/cold. The device, being put into a makeshift "safe" adds to my theory that it is not an original part of the system.

[Jaakko]

old school broilers

I can give an example of one system that is common in here: The boiler power is on/off based on a timer switch. The timer is set so that it uses the night-time hours to heat up water because it is cheaper than during the day. The temperature of the boiler is controlled by its own controller which senses when the water is warm enough. The system has an auto/manual switch which can override the timer if in need of more warm water during the day (for example sauna guests and the water consumption rises)

[EmCee]

Hope I haven't got the wrong end of the stick but I'm a bit surprised at the reaction to this being a timer so just as an fyi:

In the UK timers are common. I have had a timer connected to the boiler in every house I've owned. They are not the same as the thermostat.

In my present house the timer is a simple model, placed on the wall near the boiler. It has a dial around which the 24hours are marked, and four tabs that can be moved independently around the dial - effectively two sets of two. This allows the boiler/pump to be set to come 'on' and 'off' twice in a 24hr period. There is another control that allows the 'on-off' period to affect just the hot water or the hot water and the central heating.

The thermostat is located in another room in the house. When the timer is in the 'off' position, turning the thermostat up does not cause the boiler to fire up. When the timer in 'on', then turning the thermostat down will turn the boiler (and pump) off. Obviously, if the ambient temperature in the house was higher than the temperature set on the thermostat, then the boiler/pump would not operate even during the timed 'on' periods.

This is a simple unit. There are more complex versions which enable on-off timings to be set differently for each day or differently for weekdays and weekends - so if you are out all week at work or frequently away at weekends you do not have to have the boiler coming on and heating the empty house or making lots of hot water nobody will use.

Cheers.

[Josh K]

It's definately a timer, it controls when the central heating comes on like a little dial you can set it sat 6-8am, then 5-10pm or whatever, it's not ver advanced though so when say someones off work or its a weekend its just the same as pre-programmed. unlisted: theyre not that common to be honest which is why you havent seen one.
We do have a thermostat, sadly that no longer works. Anyway I realise no one will give me any practical advice, I shall work it out myself.

Thanks for replying!

They've already given you very practical advice, you should take it.