VAPOR STAT

Brad White_203

Honeywell L408A1132 Vaporstat Controller, 0 oz/in2 to 16 oz/in2

This seems to be the one I find most, mercury free. I would toss out the iron pigtail and use red brass though.

I would also, on a branch off the same pigtail, get a low-range gauge, 0-32 ounces (0-2.0 lbs. PSI), to calibrate and watch your progress. DO NOT remove the 0-30 PSI boiler gauge- that is a code requirement. This lower scale gauge is supplemental and unlike the boiler gauge, useful.

Before you indulge yourself, make sure that your venting is free and easy. If not, the back-pressure will have you in cycle-city.

They do make a difference but if short on venting you will question if you did the right thing.

There were some posts recently about how these newer ones are not as accurate as you would hope and an alternate means was posted by Gerry Gill and Mike Pajek, using a parallel column which seems intriguing and much more accurate. Impressive. I suggest you search for that thread, it was in the past couple of months I think.

MikeyB

VAPOR STAT

Is it a good idea to replace a new pressure trol w/a vapor stat? if so which style/brand of stat would you recommend? thanks for your imput guys

MikeyB

vapor stat

Thanks for you imput Brad,I never used one before and I am curious on how they operate, I will search for the thread and look into the Honeywell, I always use a brass pigtail along with 1/4" brass ftgs and bushings, makes for better job/operation, Ill check into the lower reading gauge as well. Always a pleasure getting a response from you Brad, thanks again

Brad White_203

Mikey

You are welcome of course.

The vaporstats work on the same principle as a pressuretrol but have a larger diaphragm to sense and transmit smaller pressures more accurately. The new ones use a small micro-switch to make or break the contacts. The older ones had the usual mercury tip switch.

Really just a thermostat for pressure when you get down to it.

But the much lower pressure range and the width of that range when scaled up, makes all of the difference, compared to a 0.50 to 9.0 PSI pressuretrol.

MikeyB

STATS

I just Installed a new Burnham IN4 for a brother of mine, system runs good, all radiators get hot w/no pressure on the gauge, I might install one more for my curiosity to watch it operate on the ounce scale, and see if I can tighten up the balancing on the system a little bit, being it is my brothers house I could spend some time investigating & nosing around the system a bit further. Thanks again Brad, Do you think its worth the stat is worth the price tag? or maybe just leave the pressure trol

nicholas bonham-carter

new vaporstat principle

i think this is the posting you refer to

http://forums.invision.net/Thread.cfm?CFApp=2&&Message_ID=408053&_#Message408053

looks very promising.looks like they were ,as the dead men would have said,"thinking outside the pipe"--nbc

Brad White_203

Worth the Price Tag

It is one of those calls I cannot make for anyone but myself and a few close to me. I put one in for my wife's best friend (I know, I know, jobs best to refuse)...

The oil bills have not been tallied yet, but she gets steam to her radiators faster than without (by her experience, I have not timed it). So the fuel consumption will tell the tale.

But when you consider it takes less fuel to make lower pressure and lower pressure is faster... what can I say?

The price tag I paid for the V-stat was under $200, so shop around. You probably have floor mats in your truck worth more than that.

David Nadle

I have one of the newer non-Hg vaporstats, and I'm not sure where to set it. I also added a cute little digital gauge that can record peak pressure. Since these days the thermostat is probably satisfied before the rads are full, I'm probably recording the backpressure after the main vents close. It's been coming out consistently at 0.14 psi (2.25 oz./in.^2).

Is there a rule of thumb about where to set the cut-out pressure based on this? Or do I need to try to catch the pressure just as the last rad vent closes?

MikeyB

stats

It does sound tempting, I will see how this heating season treats my brother, I still have to convince him to have me insulate the new header i installed and the 2 steam mains in his house, My brother is a C.P.A, he is a little hard to convince on spending his money, being that his wife is looking for 2-new bathrooms and a new kitchen. I think my sister-in-law might win.... Thanks again Brad