A gauge that works!

nz

So reading on here inspired me the other day to actually get a gauge that moves, so I can see what my system is doing.



I carefully removed the old pigtail and elbow. I installed a new red brass pigtail (filled with water), red brass nipples, associated fittings, a 1/4" ball valve, a Ray Snubber, and Wika 0-3PSI gauge.



I was surprised to see that the system never got over 0.25PSI. It got to 0.1PSI when the steam reached the end of the mains (about 15 minutes), and 0.2 once the first and second floor radiators started filling. The system ran for about 45 minutes (my boiler input is 525,000 BTU/hr) to build 0.25PSI.



I also added some 3/4" brass pipe to the bottom of the low water cutoff cleanout, so I can be lazy and not lift up the bucket.



The 0-30PSI gauge is still there, but its behind the pressuretrol. It never moves. I was thinking I could add a vacuum gauge too - will that work on here, or should I add it near the main vent?



I have attached before and after pictures. I welcome your feedback.

Jean-David Beyer

30# gauge?

Can you and the inspector see the 30# gauge that seems to be hidden behind the pressure controller?

Mike Kusiak_2

Vacuum gauge

You already have a vacuum gauge. The original 30PSI gauge is a compound gauge which indicates both pressure and vacuum. If you look carefully, the graduations below zero are marked in inches of mercury, which are units of vacuum measurement.

nz

Visibility

Yes, its not fully from the front - but the side it is.

crash2009

Looks good

  If you wanted to see the 0-30, you could have the pressuretrol on the left.  Is the wire long enough?

nz

P-Trol

Thanks...



I could move it, but it would be tight.



That 0-30 gauge doesn't work. Vacuum or Pressure. You can see the gauge if you kneel down (the P-Trol is actually a little higher than it). But I've watched this thing for the 18 months I've lived here, it has never moved a millimeter.



I would like to get a vaporstat and another gauge in OZ once I get the system balanced properly.

Dave in QCA

code required gauge

As you know, the 30 psi gauge is required by code, but for atmospheric boilers it is generally useless unless you do have a problem... and if you have 5 pounds of pressure you would certainly want to know it.  I am sure the gauge would move it you actually had some real pressure.

You're improvements look great!

ChrisJ

3.0 psi gauge

My 3psi Wika gauge always ends up reading in the negative when the system is cold.  I guess because the water won't let the slight vacuum that gets created as it cools release.



Are others having the same issue and simply re-zeroing the gauge or is a vacuum breaker necessary?

Irv

My wika 0-5 lasted about 3 weeks

off a pigtail. It did however also go into the negative when the system shut down.

I dont really know if their that accurate.

jpf321

i have a wika 0-20oz...

and a digital pressure transducer (with 0.00 precision (a slight breeze of opening the door will change it's reading)) .. and they are spot on the same .. whether both are out or not, i can't be sure .. my wika is 2yrs old.



also .. i do have a valve (that I almost never open) to break the pigtail vacuum ..