running circulator pump independently of electric boiler

lauriel

It's a 4 lop system with a 4.5 kw thermo 2000 unit. I want to run the pump to even out the temperature in the slab. I only need the boiler when I am away. The solar input from the south window plus the cooking woodstove are keeping the house at the right temperature . I would like to run the pump to even out the heat gain through the slab from these 2 sources. What device could make it that the input from the boiler to the pump can activate the pump while disabling the manual or intermittent activator to the pump so that there is only 1 power source at a time at the pump? Also is it better to run the pump on constantly or intermittently?

EdTheHeaterMan

Interesting concept. The easiest thing I can think of is to disconnect the wire that goes to the pump. Place a female 120V receptacle (for repairing extension cords) on that wire. Get an extension cord and cut off the female end. Wire the cut off end to the circulator. Then just plug the circulator into a wall receptacle. The pump will run as long as it is plugged in to the wall. If you ever want to go back to automatic operation, just plug it into the wire from the boiler that now has the female receptacle.

Easy Pezzy!

Or we could design you a $1000+ control system with a relay and a switch, that can talk to the internet so you can do it from your smart phone, that will do the same thing with the push of a button. Just Ask @Jamie Hall

Jamie Hall

Power the pump independently in parallel with the boiler. I presume that the present arrangement has the boiler turn on the pump when the boiler turns on? The safest way to wire this will be to have the pump wired with a manual switch and, in parallel with that, a relay. The present control from the boiler to the pump would activate the relay, which in turn would activate the pump with no risk of an electrical connection between the two, and then the pump would run when either the manual switch was on or the boiler was on.

hot_rod

4 loops in a single zone?
This is a simple, true, constant circ option. Zone pump runs constantly throughout the heating season.
When the thermostat calls for heat the 3 way opens to the boiler and fires it on.

An ECM as the zone pump reduces power consumption, Mine runs 24W all season.

This works good in homes with radiant floor slabs that get a a lot of solar gain, moves that warm temperature throughout the zone.

Outdoor reset can get you close to constant circulation also.

You would have the boiler in place of the sep in this pic.

lauriel

Thanks a lot Ed Jamie and Hot rod, three very good ways.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Why not just put a 3 way switch or a relay with a single pole switch to bypass the boiler control. Flip the switch back to "boiler" when you go away.

jumper

I believe that motor and pump last longer if they stop/start less. That is worth electric cost for me.