Midco EC200 Power gas conversion burner

KeithC

Hi all,



Does anyone have experience with the Midco EC200? I've been putting in a bunch of Carlin EZ gas burners and they're very loud. Wondering if the Midco (which is a bit more expensive) would be quieter.



Thanks

Keith

Steamhead

A lot depends on what you're converting

some boilers are rather loud. Tell us what boilers you're converting and which diffusers you're using (A, B, 9-slot)- sometimes one works better than another.



The EC-200 is a nice burner, but it doesn't have the static air pressure capability that the EZ-Gas does. I wouldn't use it on a boiler that has a lot of back-pressure to fire against, such as a modern 3-pass, but it'll work fine on something like a Slant/Fin Intrepid.

KeithC

burner

Steam Head,



In general I'm mounting these units onto Burnham V series boilers. I'm picky about what I put a conversion burner on. I trust that the Burnham will hold up.



I sprung for a copy of ANSI Z.28.1 this year. It was expensive but well worth it, and the local inspectors appreciate that we're doing the job well.



Keith C.

Tanglewood

YOU CANNOT DO A CONVERSION

Burnham under no circumstances permits an oil to natural gas burner conversion. It clearly states this in all of the manuals.



If you do, you are on your own, and full legal and technical liability falls completely on you. You also have the duty to inform your customer and your local city permit inspection office of this fact as well and get approvals.



Your only legal option that is allowable by code is to replace the entire boiler with a new Burnham or other brand supported natural gas model.

CMadatMe

Piece of Advice

I'm in the same market as you. Inspectors are failing oil boilers being converted to gas. Already have run into it and spoken to 3 boiler mfgs and all are seeing and hearing the same thing. Just dot your i's and cross your "t''s".. Because your on your own. Not saying it cannot be done from an operation standpoint and work, saying from a liability stand point you own it. That goes for the remainder iron warranty on the boiler too.



One job was from the same mfg boiler your converting. Was a couple year old V8H and the contractor had to rip out the boiler and replace it with a gas boiler as well as eat the EC Burner..

nan

conversion to gas

My childhood home, built in 1939, uses steam, heated by oil. The boiler, if not the original, is close to it. I'm exploring replacement, as well as switching to natural gas. So far, the 2 companies estimating have come up with a boiler size without measuring radiators, but using square feet of the house. In any case, 1 of the guys who says he's had steam experience of 30 yrs. plus said that oil is a more efficient way to heat steam, vs. natural gas. Please advise, thanks!

Steamhead

There is no technical or safety reason

that a modern oil-fired boiler can't be converted to gas using a current model conversion burner. For a more in-depth discussion of this, go here:



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/146733/Gas-Conversion-Burners



We haven't had trouble with inspectors here. I have to wonder what motivates the ones you guys keep mentioning. Since the EZ-Gas, EC-200 and other gas power burners are listed for upgrade and conversion as well as OEM use, that should be enough to satisfy Code authorities. Commercial and industrial jobs don't seem to have this issue, as far as I know, so why are they picking on residential?



As for Burnham, they seem to want to turn away business with their anti-conversion stance. Their MegaSteam is far and away the best residential steamer in the business, yet they are determined to limit it to the rapidly declining oil market. This makes no sense whatsoever.



Keith, if the Burnhams you are working with are out of warranty, this whole issue is moot.

Steamhead

With a boiler that old

I'd recommend replacement too. But you need a REAL steam man to do it, and you haven't gotten one yet. Where are you located?

nan

conversion to gas

I am located in Westchester County, NY

Steamhead

Try

the Find a Contractor page of this site. I think you'll discover some of the best.

KeithC

thanks

thanks for that link. It's a good one.



The diffuser that I order with the EZ gas is generally the B, which falls into the btu range of boiler that I seem to be working with most of the time. I've played around with the air shutter a bit and managed to quiet it down, but it's a fine line between 40 PPM and 2000 PPM of CO and I like to err on the side of caution, open that shutter up a hair, which brings the noise back up.



As for Chris' insistence that we're all going to rue the day we decided to install the burners... The Fuel Gas Code and ANSI Z28 say that as long as we follow the procedure set forth by the code, we're in good shape. I have a long checklist that I fill out on every job, down to clocking the gas meter and adjusting my gas valves. So I feel comfortable being challenged by anybody. And unless Chris sprung the $600 for the code, I'll take your word over his.



Long island has 108 municipal governments, and every one of them has their own line of BS with the inspectors. There are a few spots that won't permit the conversion burners. But I call ahead on every job to make sure that it's OK with the inspectors, and I haven't had one problem. I'm sure as hell not going to eat a boiler. Read my contract and try to make me ha.



Should I try out the Midco? Or stick with the Carlin?



Thanks

Keith

Steamhead

Actually

I would go with Tim McElwain's word- he knows more about gas, and has done more conversions, than the rest of us put together.



If you're having noise problems, try an EZ-Gas air tube with the 9-slot diffuser. I don't have the part number handy and anyway it would depend on the air tube length, but you could get it from Carlin tech support. The 9-slot overlaps the lower part of the A diffuser's BTU range and the higher portion of the B diffuser's- roughly 70,000-230,000 BTU per hour when firing against zero back pressure. It also produces a more compact flame which helps if you don't have a lot of firing-zone volume.



The EC200, as noted previously, works well in some boilers but not in others. In a high-static application that would use a Beckett NX, Beckett AFG with L or V head, or Riello burner on oil, forget the EC-200. But it runs well if it doesn't have to fight a lot of back-pressure.



You might also have a look at Riello's power gas burner. I've never used one but have heard good things about them. However, some applications of Riello oil burners are kind of loud too, not sure if this also applies to their gas ones.

Tanglewood

Free Advice

You are asking for trouble trying to do a conversion with a Burnham.



If you inspector calls them, you will fail on your inspections.



Burnham does not ever approve gas conversions. EVER.



Your best bet, no matter how old the boiler is to rip it out and replace with a new one.

CMadatMe

Sharing Advice Keith

Never said they couldn't be installed and work rather well when installed and set up correctly. I said, dot your "i's" and cross your "t's" as the boiler mfgs are beginning to see inspectors failing them in our market and will no longer turn a blind eye to a leaking section with a gas conversion burner on it. It's just not Burnham either.

Steamhead

Two questions

1- In what "market" are you located?



2- What other manufacturers are parroting Burnham?

Steamhead

What market are you in

in which the inspectors are giving you trouble with conversion burners?