Steam Boiler

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Sun. Aug. 06, 2017 3:54 pm

Some states (like MA) require H-stamp for residential boilers. Not all coal boilers carry H-stamp, so in some places some coal boilers wouldn't meet code.

Mike


 
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sat. Sep. 09, 2017 7:35 pm

So my search for an EFM continues. Can anyone tell me what year this one is?

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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Sep. 09, 2017 8:09 pm

1950's vintage. That is a "Highboy".

 
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sat. Sep. 09, 2017 8:20 pm

is the "highboy" any less efficient than the later models?

 
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Post by Pacowy » Sat. Sep. 09, 2017 8:24 pm

More efficient - much larger heat exchange surface.

Mike

 
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Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sat. Sep. 09, 2017 8:38 pm

Ok cool thats what I want to hear. I originally wanted to get a DF520 but trying to find a cheap one is tough. I can get this "highboy" for next to nothing. I still have to go check it out in person but the guy claims everything was replaced on it. My only concern now is piping it to my existing oil boiler. How hard would it be to do so? Note that I have no prior experience with boilers.

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 9:27 am

Wow, you lucked out, finding a decent, usable Hi-Boy is the best option if your looking for a 520, in my opinion. I hope that unit turns out to be in good condition.

I'm no steam expert but I know you can't just hook up a second boiler like you can with a hydronic system. Think of it this way, steam is a hot gas, the plumbing as to be pitched so the hot gas can flow up to the radiators. At the same time, the plumbing has to allow the water that falls out of the steam a gravity path back to the boiler. Also, the water level in both boilers will need to be exactly the same height.

-Don


 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 9:33 am

Good unit, buy it if the price is right. One thing I will point out is the install on steam is critical to proper and efficient operation. See Townsend's epic thread for more info. I'll see if I can find it for you. Also, if height is a problem, look at Axeman/AHS models as they have a very low profile. And they are beasts too.

Here you go: Hartford Loop, blah blah blah.

New (to Me) Axeman 260

 
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David...
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Post by David... » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 9:43 am

I hope you know about the A dimension.
https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/120866/the-a-dimension

David

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 9:45 am

coaledsweat wrote:See Townsend's epic thread for more info.
Here it is. It is a long epic thread but it does have a lot of good steam plumbing info in it. Nothing about connecting two steam boilers though.
New (to Me) Axeman 260

-Don

 
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Post by Pacowy » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 12:45 pm

The OP already said he had about 7' ceiling height so those expressing concern about height can relax.

Piping two boilers in a steam system isn't a big deal as long as they are piped in parallel and can be isolated to allow the system to run on one or the other. In this type of set-up, it is not mandatory that the water lines match exactly, since you normally would have to close a supply and return valve for one boiler and open them for the other boiler. This provides an opportunity for the operator to adjust the water level as needed before the second boiler is fired. It would be a lot more complicated if you were trying to automate the switch-over between the two.

Mike

 
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David...
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Post by David... » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 1:37 pm

The A dimension has nothing to do with ceiling height.

David

 
Pacowy
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Post by Pacowy » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 2:59 pm

David... wrote:The A dimension has nothing to do with ceiling height.
The post before yours mentioned height.

Is there something about the boilers under discussion here that causes you concern about being able to satisfy the A dimension? AFAIK they all provide plenty of distance between the floor and the center of the sight glass. Doesn't that mean the A dimension here would pretty much be a condensate return piping issue, and not a basis for choosing among boilers? If I'm missing something, please explain.

Mike

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 3:24 pm

There is an existing header on the current steam system. The height of the boiler can be low enough to install into the present plumbing or if too tall, a reconfiguration of Biblical proportions is in order. Why look for a costly and time consuming project to add to an an already expensive mission?

 
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David...
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Post by David... » Sun. Sep. 10, 2017 4:04 pm

The A dimension is the distance between the center of the sight glass and the lowest return. When I hear highboy boiler I think of a high water line. If the return line is too low for the coal boiler it would suck to have to repipe it if it is even possible. Usually new oil or gas boilers are shorter than original equipment and this isn't a problem.

David


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