Flue Pipe Plumbing for Dual Systems Coal W/Oil Standby

I'm in the process of isntallig the 520 w/o oil kit. I have had great help from the board members over the last several days and it is greatly appreciated. The quick answers you guys have provided have kept me in the basement working rather than searching for answers!

The goal is to use the same flue for the existing oil burner and new-to-me 520. This will be a manual switching process where the electronics will be done with switches and the water with manual valves. The dillema I have is the flue pipe. My concern is making as simple as possible for my wife to switch in the case there is a fire-out situation and I'm out of town. I can put together a cheat sheet with pictures, directions and labels for the controls and the hot water. I would like to avoid asking her to manually move the flue pipe.

Is there a right way, safe way, to plumb the flue pipe into the thimble for both systems with the expectation that they will not be run at the same time? I can certainly put them together but what about the Barametric damper; Can there be two in the system (don't think so)? Should I use one and have different adjustment settings for the boiler that is in operation? If yes then where should the damper be located in the system?

Thanks,

Roger

Check your PM's (flashing envelope at top of page).

Hello Seven

I have a document on setting this up. Should that not be what Rob Sent you feel free to PM me your email and I can email you that document gladly.

Your homeowners insurance will most likely not go for that setup though either.
I guess its up to you what you want to tell them.

Personally I have it with 2 pipes that are easily taken off and on should the need arrise. I can change my setup in about 5 minutes. maybe less really. This year I ran my oil for about 2 weeks in the fall. before starting the coal boiler. Normally I'll run the coal now until about May and just shut it down for the season. some folks let it run year around...

let me know on the document.

Let me add a bit on this.

My Insurance company agreed to write a clause on my policy if I could show them that I would prevent the oil and coal units from running at the same time to the same flue. very nice gesture on their part.

However after doing the math on the control I planned to use to accomplish this I deemed it not high enough on the list to follow thru at that time (6 years ago) And after having gone the time since I really don't feel I need this anyway. Once the Coal starts burning I really don't have a need to change to oil. As long as the wife (or whomever is home) can tend the unit its really not an issue.

I am rarely out of town though anymore and I like that.

Seven wrote:I'm in the process of isntallig the 520 w/o oil kit. I have had great help from the board members over the last several days and it is greatly appreciated. The quick answers you guys have provided have kept me in the basement working rather than searching for answers!

The goal is to use the same flue for the existing oil burner and new-to-me 520. This will be a manual switching process where the electronics will be done with switches and the water with manual valves. The dillema I have is the flue pipe. My concern is making as simple as possible for my wife to switch in the case there is a fire-out situation and I'm out of town. I can put together a cheat sheet with pictures, directions and labels for the controls and the hot water. I would like to avoid asking her to manually move the flue pipe.

Is there a right way, safe way, to plumb the flue pipe into the thimble for both systems with the expectation that they will not be run at the same time? I can certainly put them together but what about the Barametric damper; Can there be two in the system (don't think so)? Should I use one and have different adjustment settings for the boiler that is in operation? If yes then where should the damper be located in the system?

Thanks,

Roger

Roger, why not just make a cheat sheet on how to relight the 520 ?? They really are not that hard to start. After all, you do it right ???

I taught my nephew in 1 night. He in turn showed his girlfriend.

Get your re-starter kit (s) ready before you leave.

Rick

Rick 386 wrote:Roger, why not just make a cheat sheet on how to relight the 520 ?? They really are not that hard to start.

Lighting the fire isn't hard, but changing a shear pin or removing a blockage from the auger might be a daunting task for someone not familar with it.

you could electrically interlock the systems with a 3 way switch. quick cheap easy covers all bases