Keystoker KA-6 Homeowner Install Opinions

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Sun. Oct. 26, 2008 8:27 pm

Good Evening All,

Looking to pick your brains for an opinion. Take a look at the following pictures and tell me if you see anything that jumps out at you as a mistake in my hook up so far.

I am installing a Keystoker KA-6 Duel Fuel as a replacement for a furnace that failed and was leaking everywhere.

I believe that I am just about complete with my piping, unless you guys see a mistake in my piping.

I have not hooked up the domestic hot water yet, but the rest should be complete.

Thanks You, I appreciate you thoughts and comments.

Don Wilson - Lee, Maine

Attachments

Piping 1.JPG
.JPG | 86.5KB | Piping 1.JPG
Circulators.JPG
.JPG | 65.2KB | Circulators.JPG
Expansion Tank - Feed Line.JPG
.JPG | 75.2KB | Expansion Tank - Feed Line.JPG
Piping 2.JPG
.JPG | 75KB | Piping 2.JPG
Circulator Controls.JPG
.JPG | 53.6KB | Circulator Controls.JPG


 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Sun. Oct. 26, 2008 8:30 pm

A couple more pics

Attachments

Duel Fuel - Triple Aquastat location.JPG
.JPG | 52.8KB | Duel Fuel - Triple Aquastat location.JPG
Piping 3.JPG
.JPG | 75.5KB | Piping 3.JPG

 
User avatar
Freddy
Member
Posts: 7293
Joined: Fri. Apr. 11, 2008 2:54 pm
Location: Orrington, Maine
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 130 (pea)
Coal Size/Type: Pea size, Superior, deep mined

Post by Freddy » Sun. Oct. 26, 2008 8:50 pm

Looks OK to me. The only one thing, I just can't see, usually there wants to be 10" of straight pipe before the air scoop/expansion tank. This lessons turbulance in the water to let the air bubbles get up into the scoop. Ohhh, one other thing, I see you're a fellow Mainiac... if there a low water cutoff? It's required on any boiler in Maine, and I think it should be on every boiler no matter where. It is the final safety. If you lose water in the system, it shuts the power off.They go about 6" above the vessel in the supply pipe. (They could go in the return, as long as it's above the top of the boiler.) They are about $100 and easy to wire up.

If this is an addition to an oil boiler, and there's one on it, and the levels are the same, and they are staying connected, you'd be covered. Or steal the one off the oil boiler if not using it any more.

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Sun. Oct. 26, 2008 8:59 pm

The low water cutoff goes right beside the triple aquastat.

It comes as a prewired assembly from Keystoker.

I put everything new in Except the actual boiler in 2 years ago. Right after installing everything else new, the boiler sprung a leak. This Keystoker KA-6 is a total replacement, that is why I decided to go with the duel fuel option. Just in case I ever have a problem getting coal, I always have the option to burn oil. ( as long as my wallet is thick) ;)

 
User avatar
FingerLakesStoker
Member
Posts: 89
Joined: Tue. May. 20, 2008 8:30 am
Location: Bloomfield, NY Southeast of Rochester

Post by FingerLakesStoker » Mon. Oct. 27, 2008 6:15 am

Don,
Looks good. I finished installing my KA-6 several weeks ago and when I was installing the low water cutoff there was some confusion about which hole the low water cutoff goes into. I noticed that you have your low water cutoff in the lower hole and the Triple Aquastat in the higher hole. I installed mine just the opposite. My reason was that this way the low water cutoff will shut the boiler down before the aquastat is out of the water. I even called Keystoker on this and it came down to where they said it didn't really matter which hole it was in. I just figured it would be better to shut down before the aquastat stops reading right.

Mike

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Mon. Oct. 27, 2008 10:33 pm

Past the first big hurdle tonight.

Checking new piping for leaks pressurized the system with 15 psi compressed air.

Has been holding for over 3 hours, I would say I am safe in assuming I am leak free!! :D

Now if I can get the electric all figured out without lighting my house on fire. :lol:

No worries, I only live 700 feet from the Fire Station.

 
huntabsarokee
Member
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 10:25 am
Location: Palmerton, PA

Post by huntabsarokee » Tue. Oct. 28, 2008 8:02 am

Everything looks to me but what do I know I just finished the plumbing on my 1st boiler a KA6 dual fuel also. I think my plumbing looks better than what was there previously. I also will post pics once I have a fire. Tonight I test for leaks and do the wiring. Just a quick question did your stoker mechanism have a little note on a screw that says" remove screw and put in box if returned". The note was under the screw on top of what I think is the gear box. It has me baffled.


 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Tue. Oct. 28, 2008 8:13 am

Yes, Mine also has the screw in the gearbox that say remove screw on a yellow sticky note.

Alot of items have a screw inserted for shipping purposes, I think my last car stereo had one in it also.

 
huntabsarokee
Member
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 10:25 am
Location: Palmerton, PA

Post by huntabsarokee » Tue. Oct. 28, 2008 9:34 am

So do you know the purpose of the hole that will be there when I remove the screw. Is it to add oil to the gear box? I can't see leaving ahole open to the gear box and allow dirt to get in there.

 
User avatar
steevesj
Member
Posts: 106
Joined: Thu. Apr. 24, 2008 7:31 pm
Location: Willsboro, Upstate New York

Post by steevesj » Tue. Oct. 28, 2008 6:15 pm

huntabsarokee wrote:Everything looks to me but what do I know I just finished the plumbing on my 1st boiler a KA6 dual fuel also. I think my plumbing looks better than what was there previously. I also will post pics once I have a fire. Tonight I test for leaks and do the wiring. Just a quick question did your stoker mechanism have a little note on a screw that says" remove screw and put in box if returned". The note was under the screw on top of what I think is the gear box. It has me baffled.
I spoke with Keystoker about the screw once I saw oil leaking from it. They said it was there for shipping only so no oil would leak and if you keep it in it will build up pressure in the gear box and leak oil. When asked about dirt ect. getting in they said that it won't. I conprimised, I still have the screw in the hole but it is just resting there. No pressure builds up and no dirt or dust gets in.
Jon

 
huntabsarokee
Member
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 10:25 am
Location: Palmerton, PA

Post by huntabsarokee » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 12:05 pm

Yeah thats the type of thing that should be included in the manual. Maybe with all the business they have now they can afford to upgrade it.

 
User avatar
Freddy
Member
Posts: 7293
Joined: Fri. Apr. 11, 2008 2:54 pm
Location: Orrington, Maine
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 130 (pea)
Coal Size/Type: Pea size, Superior, deep mined

Post by Freddy » Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 2:00 pm

huntabsarokee wrote:Is it to add oil to the gear box?
My AA has a little vent on the gear box. I guess when it heats up a little ait slips out, then when it cools, the air goes back. What tiny dust tha gets in get's removed when you change the oil each year. A nice air filter might make the life of the gearbox go from 88 years to 91!

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Thu. Oct. 30, 2008 11:45 pm

Getting to cold up here to wait any longer for the replacement panel from Keystoker. I will install that in the spring.

I took a pair of tin snips and made the 2nd panel they sent me fit, the hole around the oil gun is a bit shabby looking, but I should have heat rolling out of it within a day or 2 hopefully.

Here is a couple shots of the completed project.

Attachments

Controls Completed.JPG

I did a little rewiring myself, I didn't like the looks of a little of the factory wiring.

.JPG | 62.8KB | Controls Completed.JPG
Circulators - Bypass loop Complete.JPG

Went back and added the bypass loop after some research, A Must item in case of power outages.

.JPG | 72.1KB | Circulators - Bypass loop Complete.JPG

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Sat. Nov. 01, 2008 5:38 pm

It's alive ..... Just had Bill from Downeast Coal here and we fired it up.

Here is a couple pics of my first fire. One with flash on without.

Amazing that such a small flame is keeping my 55 gallons of water hot.

Attachments

Coal Fire 1.JPG
.JPG | 35.4KB | Coal Fire 1.JPG
Coal Fire 2.JPG
.JPG | 68.3KB | Coal Fire 2.JPG

 
DJWFire
New Member
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 10:45 pm

Post by DJWFire » Sat. Nov. 01, 2008 6:07 pm

Forgot to mention, the previous 2 pics are with furnace at idle.

The following is a pic of after I turn the thermostat up.

Attachments

Furnace Demands Heat.JPG
.JPG | 46KB | Furnace Demands Heat.JPG


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”