Help with big purchase for newbie! :-)

JUGHNE

BobC, who ran the cable between the inside and outside units? And what type of cable? And does local code require a 3 pole disconnect at the inside unit? Always a grey area.

Don't want to turn this into a Mini-split thread......but it does get the lady's steam issue back to the top of the page.

BobC

@JUGHNE The contractor just needed the 240v power to the disconnect near the outside unit, they did all the other wiring as part of the installation. The refrigerant lines and control cable are enclosed in a duct between the inside unit and the condenser hanging on the wall outside.

I have 240 hours of training from the 70's on old style systems but I didn't want to buy the equipment (vac pump, nitrogen tank, new gauges, etc) to handle the new r410 refrigerant and i was also leery about my ability to do it all the right way (been 20 years since I worked on refrigeration equipment - r502 environmental chambers back then).

I just felt the money they were asking for running power to a disconnect was unwarranted.

Bob

lstevens

Glad to share my thread and very grateful for all the help! :-) The current boiler is plugged into a 120 outlet right next to it. There is no switch. So, does that mean I need to have an electrician put in a cutoff switch?
If so, is there other wiring on the boiler itself, or is it essentially plug and play?
If I AM required to have an electrician do a cutoff switch, is that a $5-600 job as I was quoted?

BobC

It's going to have to be done by code for safety and insurance purposes. I would try getting some other quotes; sometimes companies will offer a good deal on two hours of electrical labor
I would look for one of those deals if I were you.

Bob

New England SteamWorks

lstevens said:

The current boiler is plugged into a 120 outlet right next to it. There is no switch.

Oh Dear...

Well, let's start with the basics. Your boiler needs a dedicated 15 amp circuit in your breaker panel. I am going to assume that there is no breaker labeled "Boiler 15amp" in your panel

New England SteamWorks

From the panel we have to go to the first floor in the area of the basement stairs. Here we need an emergency shutoff switch. There must be a door between the boiler and the switch. So if there is no door in the basement for the boiler, the switch must be outside the basement stairs door. If there is a door for the boiler, it can be behind the basement door before heading down the stairs.

New England SteamWorks

After that we head to the ceiling above the boiler where we need a thermally fused electrical switch, common referred to as a Firematic. If the temperature exceeds 165 degrees at this switch, it will automatically shut the power off. Generally speaking, this is when your house is on fire.

New England SteamWorks

In MA all these things are supposed to be done by a licensed electrician. From the Firematic in the ceiling, - pipefitters, plumbers, and burner techs are authorized to complete the remainder of the electrical work.

New England SteamWorks

Don't laugh. I know. The simplest part of the entire circuitry for a boiler is the wiring described above. But for that you need an electrician. For all the complicated wiring that happens after the Firematic, -no electrician required!

GW

Bob looks like you were bamboozled, he gave you the price and then gave you the elec price? Sweet.

AMservices

https://www.thumbtack.com/profile/services/8PDUpOAIyNnXMw/
I own a small company just north of Boston in Danvers.
I can assist you with any mechanical contracting you need replacing your steam boiler, Electric included.
I'm also working with Igor izhadanovsky who is a engineer that also lives around Boston, that is trying to help people incorporate he's vacuum pump technology into steam systems.
The results from his testing are extremely impressive and you don't have to take it from me, you can read it yourself
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-5hKw5FhaA4am1Eb2VyaUNwR3c
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-5hKw5FhaA4RndtYjcxOWFSYWM
I'm very honest with my pricing and have no problem answering questions.
Hope this gets to you in time