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Installing a Pigtail

Kool Rod
Kool Rod Member Posts: 175
in THE MAIN WALL
I thought maybe it had to be filled with water first to work properly or prevent any damage to the gauge.

Comments

  • Kool Rod
    Kool Rod Member Posts: 175
    Getting Water To Stay Inside

    Hi. I'm installing a low pressure gauge on one of my rads. I feel dumb asking this question, but how do you get water into the pigtail? I poured a little bit in until it came out the other end, figuring there would be a resevoir left in the pigtail, but when I turned it upside down to see how much was trapped, almost nothing was there. I guess once the water gets flowing it all flows out. So I'm stumped. I'm using a 6" pigtail. Maybe I need a larger size?

    Thanks.
  • Brad White_191
    Brad White_191 Member Posts: 252
    Pigtail

    Reminds me of the ejector seat instructions on a clear decal pasted to the jet canopy. Step one was to eject the canopy and by golly, there went the rest of the instructions with it... :)

    Install the pigtail first, (with the system off and cold of course), then pour in water and then install your gauge. The siphon tube (the "loop") will hold what it does.

    Pre-filling it then turning it upside down will demonstrate more about gravity than thermodynamics. ;)

    In normal operation, a few cycles of operation will fill the pigtail and that is that.
  • Kool Rod
    Kool Rod Member Posts: 175


    Thanks. That is what I'll do.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 672
    brad

    i'm new to steam, but wouldn't it fill with steam during operation and turn to water/condensate 'fill' on it's own?
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    yes

  • Pat_35
    Pat_35 Member Posts: 19
    actually,

    i missed the gauge specification in the initial post, and i'm refering to the siphon tube on the pressuretrol. the gauge on the boiler that i was working on didn't have a tube on the gauge
  • an old wrench puller
    an old wrench puller Member Posts: 73


    Let it fill on its own. You do not need to prime it. The very first wiffs of vapor coming off the water surface will condence and fill the loop long before any pressured steam can get past to do any damage .
  • Kool Rod
    Kool Rod Member Posts: 175
    Picture of Pigtail

    Installed and ready to go.
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    new concept

    on a radiator... i love that !!
  • Brad White_191
    Brad White_191 Member Posts: 252
    Soooo-weeeet!

    Nicely done, Frank.

    BTW: the only reason I recommend priming a gauge is if it is of the kind not rated for steam temperatures. Some have a limitation of 140 degrees or so. The priming eliminates that first charging with steam, takes it out of the equation.

    In truth, I have seen many "naturally primed" in operation without incident, but in practice, I have to follow the equipment listing.


    For normal gauges actually rated for steam temperatures and self-priming is ok by me.



    PS: Can you post a picture of the gauge, "in action", so we can see what you get?

    My inner engineer says that a live web-cam would be the equivalent of "engineer porn" ;)
  • Kool Rod
    Kool Rod Member Posts: 175


    I got the idea from nbc.

    Thanks go to him.
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    steam extremist

    i think i will one up him & relocate my boiler w/ six inch drop header to my living room.
  • Brad White_191
    Brad White_191 Member Posts: 252
    And you know what?

    You really would!

    (I would too, or move my living room to the basement...)
  • Perry_5
    Perry_5 Member Posts: 141
    A different take - You've got to be kidding if you want to try..

    I read the tittle of the thread and here is the scenerio that popped into my head.

    First you have to get a pigtail. So you have to catch a pig, wrestle with it to gain control so that you can cut off the tail. Assuming of course that you could succeed in the first place.

    Now; tail in hand you are asked to reinstall the pigtail...

    Oh man... Do I want to watch - while you try to reinstall that pigtail on that pig....

    :)

    Perry
  • Brad White_191
    Brad White_191 Member Posts: 252
    Today I learned something new....

    Perry has a sense of humor!

    Dry, Perry. I like that.

    :)
  • Supply House Rick
    Supply House Rick Member Posts: 1,399
    more instruments for the \"dash board\"

    taylor make a range of indoor/outdoor wireless thermometers which can be used to monitor different areas of our bldg. about 4 brick walls can be transmitted through before they lose the signal. i can see from my living room the temps [including max/min] in 3 apts on the 2nd floor above me. i have another set on different frequencies to check the outside temp, so as you can see, i am a great believer in instrumentation! i don't mind going down to see the boiler, and gaze in silent contemplation at its warm power, so i will not even bother to ask "she who must be obayed" if i can move it upstairs!--nbc
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