Dimplex XLE150 Storage Heater with a Fan Control Problem. Also Model Variant options. Are there any?

[Reptech]

Where to begin.

An XLE150 of mine has suddenly developed a strange issue with the fan which is continuing to run when a 'Comfort On' period ends. This started 3 days ago and the behaviour seems consistent. Even after 15 minutes the fan still runs although the display correctly shows 'Comfort Off'.

The only way to stop the fan is to disconnect the supply for 3 or 4 minutes. Reapplying power behaves as normal and the fan is OFF. IF I select 'Advance' at this point to 'Comfort On' the fan starts correctly but again will not shut down when manually going to Comfort Off'.

When I have tried the above, the main 'Comfort On' period that has ended has been on for some 4.5 hours in the evening. What is strange is if I try a manual 'Comfort On' in the morning for say 5 minutes the fan runs as expected and now will shut down under control of the 'Advance' button.

I tried a 'Factory Reset' from the control panel (twice) with no success and then also tried removing the coin backup battery for an extended period followed by another reset. Still the same.

I will hopefully have access to another XLE main circuit board to try but the thought crossed my mind that these boards fit the whole model range and so there might be a question of how the board is initially programmed or set up to tell it which version (kWh rating) it is installed for? Or is that info held by the User Control Panel?

Is there a 'hidden' service mode available on the control panel to set this version info?

I can find no service info anywhere related to any of this. Could a Quantum model also be similar? although I still couldn't turn anything up for those either.

So if anyone has any experience or thoughts at all on any aspect of this they would be most welcome.

 

[binky]

Sounds like a dodgy control, but probably worth contacting Dimplex helpline for advice, especially if still under warranty.

 

[Reptech]

It does all sound a bit that way tbh. For curiosity I've just programmed it to come on for 20 minutes at lunchtime to see if a short 'Comfort On' time gives the same fault condition. I'll update with the result of that later all being well.

The heater was installed summer of 2020 so pretty new but out of warranty. I'm kind of 50:50 at this point as to whether its a genuine 'hard fault' meaning a component issue or a weird 'logic lock up' type of condition.

There is some documentation I have that says it can take the fan 'up to' 1 minute to respond and 'this is not a fault' which to me is a curious behaviour to the design anyway. Having said that it usually takes around 4 or 5 seconds for the fan to respond normally.

Even with a reset some info is still retained in the user logs so its not a total reset if that makes sense.