Installation Plans for the Gentleman Janitor

Thanks gaw! I understand what you were describing and appreciate the description of the dog box, bypass cicuit, balancing valve operation, and upper limit aquastat for circulating the water in case of an overtemp.

Yes you did help, appreciate your time.

There are a lot of plumbing details to a successful boiler installation. The photo shows some of my boiler supply side details. Plumbing is done with standard copper pipe fittings, 1-1/2, 3/4 and 1/2 inch sizes. Note how any trapped gases will rise to the Air Purge. The tee at the top of the boiler supply tapping is intentional, so that gases rise while the supply water has to turn. The special instrumentation gage valve has both a male and female end. It allows for service removal of the air purge. Note how the line to the expansion tank is taken off the angled riser. By taking it off the bottom side it's less likely trapped air will end up in the expansion tank. Note the ball valve for servicing the pressure gage. While each installation is unique, hopefully this will give some ideas for your installation.

Here is a picture from an EFM manual. They call what I call a dog box a “bin feed trap” If you look on their web site you can find and download coal stoker manuals in pdf format. They could be a source for installation ideas also.

Luckily you have a few months to sift through all the available information and come up with an installation plan that works for your situation.

My comprehensive do it yourselfer plumbing handbook states “s@%t flows downhill and never chew your fingernails”

Yanche wrote:While each installation is unique, hopefully this will give some ideas for your installation.

Thanks Yanche, will be revising my schematic to include those details. I'm glad I have time to plan this out properly, plus I can fix the short comings on the existing gas installation at the same time.

Just gotta love a good boiler install progect.

gaw wrote:Here is a picture from an EFM manual. ....... My comprehensive do it yourselfer plumbing handbook states “s@%t flows downhill and never chew your fingernails”

WOW! Good advice for working on the home plumbing progects!

I also will look at the EFM manuals, still trying to find a manual on my boiler, but since they are'nt made any more will have to find one from an existing owner or plumbing contractor.

Thanks for the lead on more information.

Nice sweat on that copper Yanche!

Matt, My Steel King boiler uses Honeywell controls for the Aquastat and overtemp control.
Aquastat is #L8124A and will run the combustion blower.
Overheat control is L6006A.
They are cheap and readily available, PM if you want the wiring diagram.

I would call Axeman and ask for their install/operating manual. They have a lot of good stuff in there about storing and feeding coal, with two versions of the dog house, install stuff too. Have them include a copy of Yanche's fovorite, the Bureau of mines report too. All good info.

coaledsweat wrote:.......
Aquastat is #L8124A and will run the combustion blower. Overheat control is L6006A.

Thanks Ian, the L8124A/C is what I have that came with the boiler. If you could send me the schematic (my E-mail is in my profile) that would be great.

I know that now I'm going to have to practice up on my soldering so when I post pictures of the install Yanche doesn't put me to shame with his beautiful job!

OK, I'll try and scan the wiring and shoot it to you tonight.

I'll include their 4 plumbing options (2 boilers together) too.