AA130 DIY Install

frizz · Post by **frizz** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 4:35 am

Everyone,

I have a new AA130 that is inplace and has the chimney hooked up. I plan to connect it in series with my Oil furnace, so that the Oil will only come on if the AA130 goes out. The Oil furnace is currently running a 3 zone baseboard heating system along with another zone going to an amtrol hot water maker. Each zone has its own circulator. The two furnaces are about 15 feet apart.

My plan is to disconnect the zones where they enter the input side of the oil furnace, loop them through the AA130 then feed the output of that back into the input of the oil furnace. I would install an expansion tank and bleeder valve at the AA130, 1 1/4 inch black iron pipe for the main run between the furnaces and a bypass valve and isolation valves so that I could Isolate the AA130 from the rest of the system should I need to work on it.

I was hoping that those of you on this forum could help refine my plan. I also need to know how do I find my local Codes and "Do It Yourself" permitting requirements prior to going to the town inspector.

Any help would be appreciated.

I am in Plainville Massacusetts.

Thank You,
J.D.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 6:32 am

It sounds like you are on track to get 'er done. Barometric damper as per the AA book? Oil & coal going into separate chimneys?

I don't know MA law....last I knew they won't let you buy or install an electric water tank. Will they allow you to plumb a boiler?

One thing....last I knew MA does not require a low water shut off. I wouldn't have a system without one. For $100 you have a higher level of safety and one less thing to worry about.

JB Sparks · Post by **JB Sparks** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 1:48 pm

JD, talk to your inspector first, He may let you do your own work and he'll inspected for you. Every town inspector is different. Some are good guys and want to help you out and others are on small minded power trips, they are real PITA's.

Looks like you have it well thought out, go for it.

JB

frizz · Post by **frizz** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 8:32 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

Today I had another plumber take a look at the project (the first guy was well beyond my budget). This guy says that he has not worked on one of these and wants to do more research before giving me any prices.

He did make a few suggestions based on his experience with other sytstems :

Since he does not know how the pressure in the oil furnace will react to the pressure from the AA130, he suggested that instead of connecting them directly, we should use a flat panel heat exchange. That way the pressures of the two systems will be kept seperate.

Also since he does not see how the AA130 scrubs off excess heat after the zones stop drawing from it, he was suggesting adding a dump zone.

Based on your knowledge, are these things needed?

Thanks,
J.D.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 8:45 pm

frizz wrote:he suggested that instead of connecting them directly, we should use a flat panel heat exchange.

That there is going to be pricey. You don't need a heat exchanger, no one here runs one unless they are off-site with there coal unit and run anti-freeze. You should install another air scoop and expansion tank. The extra water from the installation of the A-A will require it. The two boilers will run at the same pressure whether in series or parallel.
Just wire your largest zone for the dump, or add a zone valve and radiation to the basement if you want to spend the time and money.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 9:15 pm

I have mined plumbed with the oil boiler. It happens that the AA is higher than the oil so it's pressure runs a few pounds lower. No biggie. There's just no need for a plate exchanger other than as mentioned, if one has anti freeze and the other not. You can plumb a dump zone if you want, but they are seldom needed. The AA is designed so the amount of heat it loses is exactly equal the the standby heat created.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 10:09 pm

**Broken Link(s) Removed**

No need for the exchanger. Plenty of discussion, some slightly heated, about primary-secondary loops.

Yanche · Post by **Yanche** » Mon. Jan. 12, 2009 10:34 pm

Buy the book Modern Hydronic Heating, 2nd ed. It will give you all the info you need. It's a pricey textbook but well worth the money. Re-sell it when your done. Comes with design software.

See: http://www.hydronicpros.com/publications/index.php?id=24

frizz · Post by **frizz** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 7:46 am

So, if I gather this all correctly:

The pressure will not be an issue so I done need a heat exchanger.

I should add a low water cutoff.

I can configure one of my existing zones as a dump zone. Any suggestions as to how to wire that up? The existing zones currently run off of the oil boiler across the basement.

Once I have colleted as much info as possible, I will check with the inspector to see where I can go from here.

Thanks,
J.D.

Complete Heat · Post by **Complete Heat** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 8:42 am

Mass. requires a plumbers license to hook into the domestic water supply( I believe). Dump zones are a L4006B aquastat piggy backed onto whichever zone you want to use, a couple feet of T-satat cord, no polarity, super simple. My unit has the aquastat hooked up for a dump zone, but I have never gotten around to hooking it up and I have had no problems with over shoot. As for a barometric damper, I did not install one on my system, and it works perfectly, no booms. My chimney is similar to yours, but taller, and an interior run.

Mike

Blackdiamonddoug · Post by **Blackdiamonddoug** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 11:14 am

fritz
look at aa 260 in my cellar and you see the installation you described.
All done and running
If you want to see it in person Email me
Black diamond doug

frizz · Post by **frizz** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 11:30 am

Blackdiamonddoug wrote:fritz
look at aa 260 in my cellar and you see the installation you described.
All done and running
If you want to see it in person Email me
Black diamond doug

Doug,

I live about 1.5 hours south of you. It would be great to see the system you have running, if I can get the time for a road trip. Do you have pics of your furnace setup? Also, do you know of any state laws that may trip me up?

Thanks,
J.D. Frizzell

JB Sparks · Post by **JB Sparks** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 12:46 pm

Frizz,

You asked about permits, basicly in Mass you can't scratch your @## without taking out a permit to do it. That said you really should know and understand what your doing if your going to do this yourself.

What town are you in? If your 1.5 hours south of Haverhill you might be close enough to me to come over and see my setup, also thier is someone here in Leominster that has an AA130 all hooked up and running. I'm sure he will let you look at his setup also.

JB

frizz · Post by **frizz** » Wed. Feb. 04, 2009 11:48 am

Somebody was telling me that I will have to use galvanized pipe for this. Is there any rule saying that?

frizz

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Wed. Feb. 04, 2009 12:28 pm

Galvanized pipe for the boiler water or chimney pipe? Galvanized should not be used for the boiler water. Black iron only.