Backup Power for EFM 520

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 8:26 am

I need to consider acquiring a backup power supply for my EFM 520 stoker boiler and I am wondering what might be appropriate to cover those instances where one loses power for a few hours. Would an inverter with a car battery be suitable? If so, how would it be connected to the boiler?

Manny

mufwapo · Post by **mufwapo** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 11:24 am

You're power requirements will depend on what kind and how many pumps you have connected. Unless you just want to keep the fire going and not circulate the water.

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 12:12 pm

mufwapo:

Thanks for the input. I have three circulating pumps, and I would be interested in having a backup power supply to keep the pumps working as well as operating the stoker mechanism. Any thoughts on what I would need for backup power supply and how to hook it up?

Manny

Mark (PA) · Post by **Mark (PA)** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 1:10 pm

chabbo

i don't know how your system is setup but you can at times take advantage of gravity flow with hot water. turn your check valves open and I would say you'll get some heat to some of your zones. maybe not all of them...

I believe the EFM motor is like 2 amps? a typical Taco circulator pump is .7 amps I THINK.

so figure 5 amps roughly for your setup???

I am not sure a battery w/inverter would do it. (I mean YES it COULD do it but I think you'd want a better solution)

I would look for a generator. I actually posed this question a week or 2 ago myself. you might want to look at that thread. but I was talking about getting a generator.

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 2:00 pm

Mark:

Thanks for your reply. I saw the thread on the generator use, but I didn't want to have the EFM hooked up to a generator (and have to run the generator constantly if there was another option available that only used a source of power as needed (like the inverter with car battery option)). Your information on the amount of amps used is helpful since I would only be using 1 circulator pump at a time if the situation arises (zoned heat). The next question is how I wire the inverter to operate the boiler.

Manny

Yanche · Post by **Yanche** » Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 10:34 pm

For coal boiler stoker systems you generally have motor loads that are too great for any reasonably sized UPS. At best a UPS system can get you a few hours of operation. For anything more you need a generator. A whole house generator is great but much more that what's needed for just the stoker boiler. The "inverter" style of generator is ideal for this application. Internally they produce direct current and then use electronics to convert the DC to AC, just like a UPS. The engine does not run at 60 Hz synchronous speed. It runs at whatever speed in needed to product the power demand. That's why they sip gas a partial load. Lots of brands and sizes to choose from.

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Thu. Oct. 16, 2008 9:47 am

Yanche:

Thanks for your input. I will google "inverter generator" to see what I get for results and report back. I would like to get a diesel generator if I have to get one, only because I have 2 275 gallon oil tanks sitting in my basement as a supply of fuel.

Manny

Yanche · Post by **Yanche** » Thu. Oct. 16, 2008 11:01 am

Look at Central Maine Diesel for lots of good generator information. Especially interesting are the multi-fuel type units. I've got a whole house diesel generator and many times it's just too big. We have few power outages so it rarely gets used. Fuel consumption is not a big issue but noise and diesel fumes are.

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Thu. Oct. 16, 2008 9:23 pm

What you want to supply heat in an emergency is just a small cheap generator. Run it for an hour and turn up the heat, then just crank the manual hand crank to keep the fire lit until your house gets cold enough to warrant another running of the generator. A power outage situation is usually temporary, to me some loss of comfort is better than running the generator 24/7 or springing for a whole house system. Having nothing isn't a good idea, frozen pipes are more expensive than a $300 generator.

chabbo · Post by **chabbo** » Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 9:06 am

e.alleg:

That's a good idea and good advice, but does hand cranking the feed alone keep the fire lit without the blower? How do you address the air issue while the generator is not working and you are hand cranking the feed?

Look's like I will be investing in a 6500 watt diesel generator to address this issue and my er electrical needs in the event of a loss of electricity. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Manny

Post by **stoker-man** » Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 11:26 am

Hopefully the chimney draft will draw enough air through the pot to keep the coal glowing.

Mark (PA) · Post by **Mark (PA)** » Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 11:30 am

Let me know where you get the 6500 watt generator for $300!

i'm just kidding.... but in all honesty you will be looking at $800 minimum for 6500 watt most likely. or around there.

Good luck!

e.alleg · Post by **e.alleg** » Sat. Oct. 18, 2008 5:32 am

Pawn shop! Ha! just kidding, you can run the EFM off a Big-Lots 1500watt Coleman generator easily. It doesn't draw that much power. It's not the best and won't last forever but it's a good temporary solution for those on a tight budget.