Latest MegaSteam!

Steamhead

This long-time customer decided it was time for a new boiler. I had been maintaining and upgrading this system before Gordo and I started All Steamed Up, and we brought it into the company at that time.



The old boiler was a Weil-McLain 6-66. In past years we had upgraded the burner from an ABC 45-CU sootmaker to a Beckett AFG with valve-on delay, replaced the firebox and added our signature sight glass blowdown. I don't have the piping diagram for the 66-series, but feeding two well-loaded 2" mains from a 2" header certainly wasn't doing much to keep the steam velocity down.



The 66-series still had push-nipples. I think it might have been the last W-M residential boiler built like this. All the later ones we're familiar with had gasketed section joints.



The existing pedestal wasn't the proper size for the MegaSteam, so we poured a new concrete pad.

Steamhead

MegaSteaming!

a MST-629 this time. The house was missing most of the third floor radiators so we left enough capacity to add them later.



We used most of the Burnham piping kit on this job, but substituted two 3x2 tees for the single 3" tee furnished. This way each steam main has its own header connection.



And does anyone else think the Field RC draft regulator looks like an evil face when you look straight at it?

JStar

MegaSteam

Another gorgeous job.



Agreed on the draft control. The movie version would be played by Boris Karloff.



I love the cooking pot, scale...any means necessary devices.

ChrisJ

Beautiful

work as always.



This is the second time I have seen something about replacing a firebox.  Is the firebox simply the blanket on the bottom and the target wall?



Evil face.... yea it does and I'm glad I don't have it in my basement.  My basement is creepy enough without help from the boiler.   After living here almost two years my wife still refuses to go down there.   Guess where I hide a lot of presents?

icesailor

Two draft controls, now one:

I know why you had two RC's on the old boiler, when you relined it, it probably had enough draft to suck the feathers off a crow bar.

How come only one now?

I have always found Becketts to be extremely sensitive to fluctuations in draft pressure. And that they absolutely HATED positive pressure.

You really know how to screw pipes. A lost art now a days.

Steamhead

The MegaSteam

has one 8-inch baro instead of two 7-inchers. Both chimney connectors were 7-inch, but we're going back a few years- at the time I hadn't learned you could use a baro one size bigger than the chimney connector. The reason for both techniques is as you say- that's a three-story chimney with way more draft than needed, and we had to control it.



MegaSteams do actually run with positive pressure over the fire. This one has an AFG with a V-head instead of the more-common F-head, so it can handle the back-pressure. You can also get Carlin or Riello oil burners on these boilers. We're still waiting for Burnham to come to its senses and approve power gas burners for the MegaSteam- why anyone would want to limit such a fine product to the declining oil-heat market is beyond me. It doesn't make any business sense.

Steamhead

That's correct

the target wall, rug (blanket)and the front refractory which protects the burner mounting plate.



Thanks all for the kind words!

Dave in QCA

Beautiful!

Steamhead, another beautiful install!  Congrats!  I too am waiting for gas burners for the Megasteam, but I just couldn't waiting any longer for my own project.  Darnit!

SWEI

under the Hartford Loop

holding up the return pipe in photo #3.  Some kind of adjustable platform?



My attitude improves a bit with each post showing real craftsmanship.  Hope Burnham comes to their senses soon.

vaporvac

Someday

That's beautiful. At the rate my jobs going, it might be approved by then. However, Megastem wrote  not sure....A lot of regulations need met to make that happen.



Regards,



Customer Care



US Boiler Company, Inc.



I wonder what regulations those are?

Steamhead

Yup

one of Gordo's techniques to hold the pipe up when soldering. I think it's a piece of lab equipment.

Steamhead

Whatever they are

they haven't stopped Columbia, Slant/Fin and Smith. I think it's a political issue. 

Gordo

Adjustable Platform

That device is usually called a "lab jack".  It's very useful for dialing in slopes and supporting copper pipes whist soldering 'em up, as you can see.



It's basically a mini scissors lift.  It is rated for 100lbs. (although I wouldn't want to test that!).



It harkens back to my days as a research lab tech.

BobC

Excellent work

But we know that is just how you folks always do it. That homeowner will be a happy person for a long time.



I just had a Smith G8 installed with the EZ Gas in October and really would have liked to use the Megasteam instead. At my age this will be my last boiler so I'll never know how good it could have been.



I just could not afford to throw away the 10 year boiler warranty by putting the EZgas onto the Megasteam.



Bob

Hap_Hazzard

Any progress on that front?

I'm dreaming of a MegaSteam with one of those radial burners for my next boiler. Have you gotten any response out of them that might be even remotely encouraging?



Excellent work, as always.

Steamhead

With apologies to Irving Berlin

"IIIIIIII'm dreeeaming of a gassssss MegaSteam"



I mention this every time I talk to them- don't know what else I can do. Maybe if everyone in this thread does the same, we might see some action.

Steamhead

Hey Burnham

are you listening? BobC, DaveinQCA, Hap_Hazzard and VaporVac all wanted a gas MegaSteam! And these are just the ones who post on this forum. Why are you turning away so much business in the face of the declining market for oil-fired boilers???

BobC

I contacted them last spring

and told them I'd love to be able to install the Megasteam with gas because of the improved performance vs the atmospherics and they said they were looking into it.



Given that any body who can is converting to gas they are missing out on business that is going elsewhere.



Maybe in the next life?



Bob

Steamhead

The G-8, Intrepid and CSFHE boilers

we install with gas burners are all good units, are reasonably efficient and can be expected to last a long time if properly cared for. But the MegaSteam's three-pass design with ALL the heat-transfer surface below the waterline is the best, most efficient and has the best warranty in the business.



If Burnham doesn't step up with a gas-fired MegaSteam, they're leaving the door wide open for someone else to come out with a three-pass, gas-fired steamer. I don't know of anyone who is actually working on such a boiler, but if I owned a boiler company.....

SWEI

MegaSteam and gas gun

There is, of course, an ongoing experiment http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/142964/New-Mini-tube-installation

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Sight Glass Blowdown

Frank & Gordo:



Yes, another great job! Can we get a close-up of your sight glass blowdown. I think that's the bees knees. Also, the lab jack - what a time saver.

Gordo

Sight Glass Blowdown Valve

Sorry to say we did not get a close-up on this install of the blowdown  valve. 



On the MegaSteam, we install 1/2" x 2" brass nipples and 1/2" brass tees (plugged at the end) to offset the sight glass fittings so we can install a proper blowdown valve without hitting the burner door. 



That little so-called valve on supplied sight glass fittings is a joke and should be replaced on ALL sight glasses.



That being said, the kit supplied with the MegaSteam is pretty good.  It has real brass protection rods and stainless steel friction washers rather than the usual rust-o-matic steel components.

ChrisJ

Valve

Gordo if you don't mind me asking, where did you find the 1/4" hosebib?

I can't find one anywhere

Rod

Nice Work!

As always, you guys do exceptional work!  The blow off ball valve- I've never seen one like that - FPT x Male Hose. What is the make and model and what is it normally used for?

- Rod

Hap_Hazzard

Maybe we need to light a fire under 'em.

:-)

Hap_Hazzard

That's not a hose bibb.

It's a full port ball valve. I'm not sure where Gordo gets them, but the one in the picture looks like one that's used on industrial air stations to purge water from the air lines so it doesn't wreck the tools. I can find one for you if you can't, but your best bet is to look for it in air tool accessories where you shop.



Here's the one I use. Not as nice, but I like that it has a male thread.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Dahl

has a 1/4" FIP x hose bibb ball valve, model 221-51-04.



Thanks for the pic, Frank.

Gordo

Special "Hose Bibbs"/ Full Port Ball Valves 1/4"mpt x MH

Thank you all for the kind words!



We get them from N.H.Yates in Cockysville, MD.  They are usually used for purge cocks on strainers on balancing valves.  Ask for Matt Spratt.

Rod

Thanks!

Thanks Gordo ! That's a lot nicer setup than having to string 4 fittings together.

A very Merry Christmas to you and Frank!

- Rod

Enreynolds

Nice!

I love the Megasteam I installed for my mini-tube system, though my install doesn't hold a candle to yours.  And to weigh in on the Megasteam/EZ-Gas debate:  I have had absolutely NO PROBLEMS whatsoever, unless you count never getting out of vacuum, and thus never dropping down to low fire.  My efficiency is running at 84.3 %.  So I cannot understand why Burnham wants to alienate so many potential customers.

Merry Christmas to all.

Eric

gerry gill

Very nice job guys!

as always a hearty well done! Always enjoy looking at pictures of your work.

Gordo

Thank You, Gerry

For you support!



For the record, please note the brass pigtail replacing the iron one supplied with this boiler (why do they do that?).  We also installed a 1/4" tee and low pressure gage to allow easy testing of the system and pigtail.



Burnham likes a wye connection at the Hartford Loop.  Not a bad idea, really.  We transitioned from the steel to the copper using brass bushings to reduce corrosion at the wye.  We used a 1-1/2" cast iron tee to better tolerate corrosion where we tied the copper back into the boiler's return.



Weil-McLain sorta allows their oiler fired boilers to be used with gas burners.   It largely seems to depend on who answers the phone when you call.

tim smith

Megasteam and gas gun

Yay on the gas Megasteam, I vote for it too. Cannot figure what Burnham is thinking. There are now so many more gas boilers than oil that just shear numbers should drive them there. 

Dave in QCA

Maybe they have already tested it?

......But don't want to tell us the results--and don't want to put it on the market.



Right now, the Megasteam is the most efficient steam boiler on the market--period!   It tests at 86% on oil and that is amazing.  However, when looking at many other boilers firing on oil, the Megasteam is only 0.5 - 1.0% above them.  That is a small difference, but still significant when they are at the top of the heap.



Of course, when comparing gas firing to oil firing on other boilers, there is always a significant difference between oil firing efficiency and gas firing efficiency with the gas being1.5 - 2.5% less efficient.  If you apply that difference to the Megasteam, it might test out at 83.5 - 84.5% efficient on gas.  This is still better than their Independence model, but not by much.  I suspect that more importantly, that amazing 86% rating would become confused and its stellar rating would become a little tarnished.  Thus, it all comes down to the marketing department and where they think the business lies.  Right now, they are enjoying the position of having the most efficient steam boiler in the world.  I am sure they don't want to confuse or diminish that status.



I think the questions that only the future will answer are:



1  What will become of the Megasteam model in a decreasing oil market?

2  To what degree to patent rights that Burnham owns restrict other manufacturers development of a 3-pass boiler with all fire surfaces located below he water line?

3.  What is going on in research and development at Burnham Commercial, Weil-McLain, Peerless Boiler, Utica, etc. in regards to their power burner boilers and experimenting with configurations similar to the Megasteam.



I realize that my own situation is a tiny portion of the market, but, if the Megasteam had been available in gas, I would have purchased 2 of them!  But, since that is not the case, I purchased a Weil-Mclain 680 instead.  I am running at 83% combustion efficiency on low fire, and that ain't bad.

Steamhead

Not Necessarily

here is the brochure for the Solaia residential boilers, which are 3-pass hot-water units available in either oil or gas. Except for one model, the AFUE difference is slight.



http://www.boyertownfurnace.com/ResidentialProducts/solaia4pager7.pdf

Dave in QCA

Only Trying

Only Trying to find a rational reason for their course of action, which seems to be so irrational.  Maybe it there is some stubborn guy somewhere in the chain of command who made a decision.... and for whatever reason, he's determined to stick with it.



Maybe they'll introduce a new model with a new name, perhaps they call it the "Ubersteam" or something.  And it might consist of what is essentially a Megasteam block, with a modified cabinet and a gas burner train.  I have a feeling that they're never going to backtrack on this "no gas for Megasteam" decision, unless someone gets fired.



For some reason, this just made me think of a Burnham boiler that was listed on ebay for quite some time.  It had a major typo in the title, and thus it was listed as a "Burnaham" Steam Boiler.    I hate to stoop to silly ridicule, but somehow "Burn-a-ham" has a certain ring to it.