My Burnham IN6 steam boiler shows two pressure readings

TRob

The "factory" gauge shows 14 psi while my added gauge shows a minimal areading - up to the 0.8 psi cutout of my modified L408.

Is this normally seen, or is there some kind of internal clog on the water side?



I have a photo to show, if I can figure out how to upload it!

lutorm

Sounds like a bad gauge

My neighbor had a factory gauge that showed 23psi and it turned out to be faulty. My hypothesis (entirely unsupported by facts) is that they aren't made to take the high temperatures (this one was screwed directly into the boiler) and the spring goes soft. Or maybe corrosion?

Unknown

Pigtails

It sounds as though the gauge is either bad or the pigtail and /or gauge is plugged up. As a cost cutting measure a lot of the factory gauges don't come mounted on a pigtail. Pigtails offer protection from live steam therefore the controls / gauges should be mounted using them.

I remove, clean and inspect my pigtails at the beginning of every heating season.

If you have a plugged /corroded pigtail it is generally easier to just replace them than go to the hassle of cleaning them out. Use "bronze" (AKA red brass) pigtails as they are more corrosion resistant. If you have a problem getting them locally, a good source for pigtails is Mc Master Carr http://www.mcmaster.com/#pressure-gauge-pigtails/=5fia0z



How to load pictures:- After writing a post scroll down to "File Attachment" just below the post writing area and use the "Browse" button to find the file (picture ) on your computer you want to upload. I believe a picture file format has to be a jpg type.

- Rod

TRob

How to tell a bad gauge?

You are so correct. The Gauge would start at 0 and go up to about 12 psi, but what was the 18 mo old gauge really measuring?

So I replaced the original with a siphon loop and a 0 - 15 psi gauge that I had (I know').



If I can upload the photo you will see two gauges reading just about zero psi and the steam is up, believe me. You will also note the oversized bellows assembly on the modified pressuretrol, so the cutout is now 0.8 psi. Reducing the pressure has calmed down the 1 pipe system.

Unknown

Gauges

Looking at the picture, the 0-3 PSI gauge needs another elbow. Gauges should be vertical otherwise condensate (moisture ) will accumulate in the gauge and you want this to drain out. Whether this has damaged it or not  it's hard to tell. Are you sure you are making steam? Is the water is the sight glass bouncing up and down slightly?

- Rod

TRob

We are making steam

After about 40 min of running the low press gage rises off the zero pin and will get readings up to the pressure drop out.

Yes, we have steam and the water is bounding slightly in the sight glass.

You might be interested in this observatioin:

I thought the boiler was clean enough as the water bounced less than an inch.  Then I installed the 0 - 3 psi gage.  After coming off the pin the gage indication was very unstable.  This was showing a dirty water situatioin.

I followed the cold skim procedure for> 1hr. After that the indicating needle wavered only a slightest amount up to the .8 psi cutoff.  A big improvement.

Thanks for the suggestion of going bottom-down for the gage installation.

Conclusion, the gage can show relative water cleanliness!

burnham_steam_system

Burnham steam system pressure gauge

Rod,

Thank you for the link to the pigtails.  Do you have a recomendation on where to get a replacement steam pressure gauge for a burnham unit?  According to the manual I found online it is part number 8056010, but I can not locate that anywhere.

Also when using the pigtail, should the pigtail hold water in it or should it be dry when installed?  (I read somewhere that water in the pigtail stops damaging steam from reaching sensitive equipment such as the cut out valve)

Rod

Steam Gauges

Hi- Good gauges are available on the internet from the Gauge Store.

http://www.gaugestore.com/default.asp

For insurance /code purposes you need to have a 0-30 PSI gauge on your boiler. (this figure is twice the pressure of the safety valve).



However for monitoring your steam pressure most use an additional  0-3 PSI gauge

http://www.gaugestore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=33020

 as your steam system should never run over 2 PSI and most if possible, run their systems at much lower than that which saves fuel.

Pigtails- When reading the specs for the above 0-3PSI gauge you will see that it is rated for 140 degree max.  This isn't a problem as the pigtail protects it from live steam. Just add a bit of water to your pigtail when you install it and after that, the condensing steam will keep the pigtail's loop filled with water.  If your present 0-30 PSI gauge isn't attached to the boiler with a pigtail you probably will need to install a pigtail for the new gauge. Some of the factory gauges have their own internal pigtails as bought in bulk, this saves money however the singular replacements are expensive.

- Rod

- Rod

ChrisJ

gauges

I have to wonder if this is one of the reasons the gauge on my old V83 failed.  It was screwed right into the block.  I assumed Burnham had sold it like that, maybe not?