Too much pressure? Or reading the wrong gauge?

JamesC in Stamford CT

Hello all,



I am new to steam, and have not yet read the books cited on the board. I plan to do so soon. But in the mean time I have what might be a stupid question, and hope you indulge me by answering. My pressurtrol (at least I think that's what the Honeywell gadget at the top left of the photo is called) is set to cut in at between 1/5 and 1 psi cut in. That I understand is appropriate. But there is no gauge connected to the area near it or the pigtail etc.



And there is a big round pressure gauge on the right of the boiler -- that one hovers just under 10 psi, I think it goes down a couple of pounds lower sometimes. Is that big round gauge telling me the pressure is too high?



Thanks,

James

BobC

Bad gauge

The box in the upper left is called a pressuretrol and that front tab should be set low, about 0.5 PSI; taking off the front cover will reveal a wheel that should be set at 1. Thet tab hjas two scales the right habd scale is PSI.



The 30 PSI gauge should read zero when the boiler is cold or warm, when it has been steaming for a while it should read no more than 2. It sounds like your gauge never gets down to zero the way you describe it.



Those 30 PSI gauges really are not much good when your trying to see low pressure. A lot of people mount an auxiliary 0-3PSI gauge off the same pigtail that the pressuretrol sits on using a few fittings you can buy at the hardware store. All the fittings are 1/4".



Bob