steam boiler control

Tom_40

Does anybody know of a control that can operate a single steam boiler in a building with 12 apartments and has one thermostat. I am looking to modulate operation by the outdoor air temperature

RayWohlfarth

@Tom_40 I like the Tekmar controls. they are easy to set up and reliable

Jamie Hall

Cold you be a little more specific? Are you looking to control cycle timing? How long it is on vs. how long it is off? Presumably independent of the inside thermostat? And, presumably, without overriding the boiler's own pressure controls?

Tom_40

The inside thermostat will be abandoned. The boiler operation will be on a 1 hour cycle, with operation time calculated on outside air temperature. The colder is becomes, the longer the on time will be.

Steamhead

Tekmar 279. Make sure the "steam established" sensor gets put in the right place.

HVACNUT

Shouldn't there still be a centrally located thermostat or sensor even with ODR on a steamer?

KC_Jones

The way the ecoSteam is set up, the thermostat does call for heat, but is essentially a high limit. I set my thermostat at 72, the ecoSteam at 70. The thermostat usually only stops it when it's above 35-40 or so.

I don't know how any of the other systems work.

Before the OP asks, ecoSteam never really made it to market, only a few of us have it and there wasn't enough interest to keep it going. For what I paid it's an awesome system, can't talk price, but it's a lot cheaper than some of the other similar products on the market.

Steamhead

HVACNUT said:

Shouldn't there still be a centrally located thermostat or sensor even with ODR on a steamer?

Not necessarily. If you set the 279 up correctly, it can operate solely from outdoor temperature.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Tekmar or Heat Timer. TekMar works well. Heat Timer is more $$$$$

Tom_40

Ray, Thank you very much. The Tekmar 279 steam control fits my needs perfectly.

LarryL

Steamhead said:

Tekmar 279. Make sure the "steam established" sensor gets put in the right place.

How updated are these products from Tekmar, Heat Timer, etc - more and more controllers are going connected and incorporating sensors. Post COVID, I'm seeing some controllers now offering on room head counts and air quality - should something like the 279 have this by now? What does the industry use to include features like this?

JohnNY

I've been installing the tekmar 279 for many years and really like it for its simplicity and price. For better or worse, it's the same product now as it was since its inception following the 269 model.
However, the Heat-Timer MPC is far more advanced and has far greater capabilities. It's also 3x the price and the accessories can easily bring the system to a 5-digit installation cost.
I must admit though, I love it. I use the app. I watch the room temperatures, cycle length, sensor readings, etc, all with the app on my phone or on my laptop. I can force the system into winter/summer mode or bypass remotely. It's the best thing out there. But, again, you pay hard for it.

LarryL

Thank you, John. That is really helpful. I will have a closer look at the MPC. Seems to be a case of striking that cost vs benefit balance we all seem to be dealing with more and more right now. I suspect users have been asking for these connected features more often than before after COVID despite the higher cost. Have to do some legwork on this.

EBEBRATT-Ed

The problem I have with Heat Timer is yeah, they are good controls. You install one and 10 years later you can't get parts and they say it's obsolete. Nice but not wort the extra $$$$$$