Oil Primary Controls Truck Stock

offdutytech

After years of not working on oil the small company I work for part time seems to be getting more oil work because nobody wants to touch it anymore or has the knowledge. A oil delivery company keeps recommending us after working on their equipment. At any rate the supply houses here in SE MI don't stock oil parts anymore. 
Aside from nozzles, filters, electrodes, couplings, ignition transformers I am looking at newer style primary controls. What are the pros / cons of the Beckett GenySis vs Honeywell primary controls? Just looking to have a few parts on the van for service calls. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

Lots of Carlin controls around but. I am not up on the new stuff.

@offdutytech are you in Detroit? There was a fellow on here that needs a repipe. Did @alexh get in touch with you?

STEVEusaPA

I stock the Carlin ProMaxx almost exclusively, it has the most advanced features, and I keep a universal Honeywell. I also went back to the iron core transformers, but that’s a different story.
Also stock some 14-3 MC. Modern controls are easier to set up with constant power, and you’ll need constant power for converting burners to post purge, and for reading fault history.
Beckett‘s new Genysis control requires you to read/program using an app on your phone. I’m not a fan of handling my phone while handling oil. The older version requires a special contractor tool.

offdutytech

Mostly Beckett AFG around here a few Wayne. Yes sir Detroit area. Most of the oil we service is an hour north. I did send alex a message. 

offdutytech

@STEVEusaPA thanks for the info. I'll checkout the Carlin Promaxx

EdTheHeaterMan

Agree with Carlin controls for the standard replacement control, I would keep at least 3 on my truck(s). One of the L8184M for that special purpose job. There were only one every 2 years or so that could not be upgraded to the Carlin. If it needed the larger transformer and the add on AC ready kit wasn't going to solve the problem, then the L8184M is what they got. When I was not on a limited time service call, I would spend the few extra minutes to add the extra power (L1) wire to get the use of all the features. Best control ever. Lower cost than the 3 wire primary and a much longer warranty. What more can you ask for?!?

Check out supplyhouse.com for next day delivery.https://www.supplyhouse.com/Carlin-Combustion-70200S-Pro-X-Universal-Oil-Primary-Control-120-VAC

offdutytech

@EdTheHeaterMan I just watched the Carlin video training on that control. Im sold on that primary control! Pretty impressive for the price. Now if I can find a good source for Delavan nozzles i'd be all set. My go to place was Supply House but looks like they are hit or miss with what they have in stock. Our nearest Sid Harvey's is in the UP over 8 hours away

EdTheHeaterMan

I got my nozzles from R E Michel. Any of those near you? I had my stuff delivered. Johnstone Supply also had oil burner stuff. Nozzles and the like. They were about 1 hour drive one way, so delivery was my thing. Although I did like to bring my nozzle boxes in to the counter and fill in all the empty spaces at the beginning of clean-out season. Easily bought 100 nozzles that day. The other customers would ask "Why so many?" I would just grin and say that "the more nozzles I had the more I could sell."

Steamhead

I prefer the Beckett GeniSys control, the original 7505 series. This requires a special tool to reprogram it, which reduces the chance of a building owner messing with it unless they spend the money on the programming tool. I find that if someone can mess with something, they often will.

The Carlin and Honeywell controls are nice, but too easy to mess with.

EdTheHeaterMan

You have a Johnstone in Detroit and others around the state. Get an online ordering account and place orders for next week delivery. Each location is a separate ownership so you may need to open up an account with a store that stocks more nozzles than the one near you. But you can have them ship top your location.
The book prices are not what you actually pay

offdutytech

@EdTheHeaterMan
I actually bought most of the stock that one of the local Johnstone locations had. I did try and order a few additional nozzles but it was a long lead time and I needed them quickly. I have a love/hate relationship with Johnstone. One had the prices are good for simple things. However if it's not a furnace or ac the counter people often have no clue on hydronic or steam parts, let alone oil stuff. I had to order them on Amazon. I'm starting to make a list of what my customers have so I can be more prepared. Oil work for us isn't an everyday thing, more a few a month. It's just a balance of having some parts to repair stuff. Luckily a few guys my boss knows had new old stock so they were happy to give it away. Just frustrating not being able to have easy access to parts at the supply house like 25 years ago. At least my dad is getting a kick out of the pics I send him from time to time on the oil stuff I work on. 

@Steamhead that's a valid point on being able to push buttons.

EdTheHeaterMan

I find that counter persons can be very knowledgeable. Those guys, however, are few and far between. The average new counter person takes time to become knowledgeable on the products they sell. That job falls on the vendors to talk to them and promote the products offered. If there is little demand for nozzles, you won't ever see a rep for Delavan have a Counted Demonstration day at the supply house.

When the vendors do have products to offer the employees of that supply company need to be interested in actually learning what the rep can teach them. Some people only see being a counter person as a first step in the business. They just don’t seem to have their heart in the job.

When you find a counter person that is a true professional, you will be a happier customer.

JUGHNE

I spend a lot of time on Utube. Like to watch others work now that I don't have to.

A favorite one is Steve Lav, (the guy with the little dog) in MA I believe.

He does a lot of oil, I watch a lot of those although I haven't seen an oil burner in decades.

For oil he usually had everything on his truck.
Newer NG FAF, a fair amount.

He is restocking his new "Fedex" type box truck, I think 8-10,000 GVW.
He has done a walk thru on his old truck. Perhaps will on the new.

If contacted about oil parts he might do a special....proud of his trucks.

STEVEusaPA

Parts are easy. Have a database populated with every component you may need for every piece of equipment. Use that to build your inventory. You'd be surprised how much you don't need. And carrying a lot of parts gets expensive.
For oil, only carry nozzles for the customer's equipment you service. Each summer I re-load, one for each customer, plus 1 of every different type of nozzle in the customer database. And with quality being what it is now, I don't buy them all at once, and I don't buy them all from the same place. I keep one small container of odd balls, but when I took over service a long time ago, I literally pulled out about 200 nozzles I would never need.

offdutytech

Thanks @EdTheHeaterMan and @STEVEusaPA for the suggestion on the Carlin Promaxx. Purchased one for truck stock and used it today on a unit heater. Being able to adjust the timing functions was a huge help in the burner start up sequence and the prime function was a slick feature. Going to make sure one is in my van now!

Big Ed_4

I stock the Honeywell R7284U which would cover all the burners . I always carry two ....

EdTheHeaterMan

Big Ed_4 said:

I stock the Honeywell R7284U which would cover all the burners . I always carry two ....

I used to use that control until I found the Carlin has more features and longer warranty.

Big Ed_4

Good to know , I will check it out, thanks

Robert O'Brien

offdutytech said:

After years of not working on oil the small company I work for part time seems to be getting more oil work because nobody wants to touch it anymore or has the knowledge. A oil delivery company keeps recommending us after working on their equipment. At any rate the supply houses here in SE MI don't stock oil parts anymore. 
Aside from nozzles, filters, electrodes, couplings, ignition transformers I am looking at newer style primary controls. What are the pros / cons of the Beckett GenySis vs Honeywell primary controls? Just looking to have a few parts on the van for service calls. 

Check out the new Beckett 7565 Genisys, it raises the bar. The Carlin guys aren't resting on their laurels either. Honeywell 7284 is another fine option. Supplyhouse.com stocks everything if local suppliers can't help.
https://www.beckettcorp.com/product/genisys-7565-120v-advanced-oil-burner-control/

EdTheHeaterMan

Robert O'Brien said:

offdutytech said:

After years of not working on oil the small company I work for part time seems to be getting more oil work because nobody wants to touch it anymore or has the knowledge. A oil delivery company keeps recommending us after working on their equipment. At any rate the supply houses here in SE MI don't stock oil parts anymore. 
Aside from nozzles, filters, electrodes, couplings, ignition transformers I am looking at newer style primary controls. What are the pros / cons of the Beckett GenySis vs Honeywell primary controls? Just looking to have a few parts on the van for service calls. 

Check out the new Beckett 7565 Genisys, it raises the bar. The Carlin guys aren't resting on their laurels either. Honeywell 7284 is another fine option. Supplyhouse.com stocks everything if local suppliers can't help.
https://www.beckettcorp.com/product/genisys-7565-120v-advanced-oil-burner-control/

Not a fan of the Genisys control. you need a contractor tool or other app to program them, unless they have changed them. Carlin is still the best in my opinion. Lower price, longer warranty, more features. What else can you can ask for?. Maybe it can come with an installer to put it in for you?