Weil McLain Lgb 6-23 battery backup

leaking

Does anyone know approximately what the unit draws in watts - it is 120v. I’m not near the unit and did not find it in a manual . I was thinking of getting a 1000-2000WH battery generator like Echo flow or Jackery . Any suggestions or warnings?

Jamie Hall

I don't have the manual either — but if it's more or less typical and on a 15 amp fused circuit, I'd make a quick guess — probably close enough — that it draws somewhere between 500 and 1000 watts running, and around 1.5 kW starting (briefly).

Two things to consider on the battery "generator". First, check the surge output capability. It must be at least 1.5 kW. The second, though, is this: either unit you mention, if they have the surge capacity, should be able to run the boiler. For a while. Remember that unlike a fuel fired real generator, these things are really batteries with an inverter — and when the battery goes flat, that's it. You can't just pour in more gas and off you go. With the larger unit you mention, and the smaller draw I estimate, you'd have no more than 4 hours of operation — and going the other way, you're down to one hour (powering nothing else). Is that long enough to cover your needs?

Edit: I notice that the Jackery web site cheerfully notes that when the battery goes down you can recharge it from solar (with the sun out and a good big array) or a USB port (but what is powering that?) or plug it in (to what????)

leaking

I’ll put an amp meter on it tomorrow, but from what I see I don’t think more than 50-150 watts. There are no motors. Just a thermostat, two gas valves and two electronic units that run cool to the touch. And at idle probably no more than 10 watts. But I’m guessing. A small furnace with a blower for a home uses about 450 watts with an AC blower. This boiler has none of this .

Jamie Hall

atmospheric steam? You may be right. Hot water? Don't forget the circulating pumps…

leaking

yes steam, no pump no blower. I will test it with an amp meter soon.

EdTheHeaterMan

Will you have a generator available to run the battery charger if the power goes out for several days?

leaking

Yes , I have a nice small Yamaha inverter generator that would charge batteries. I’m getting a real small Tri fuel Honda Eu 2000i Inverter Generator, NG , Propane, Gas. It is a conversion added to the generator.

Jamie Hall

I imagine you could run the battery powered one at night, if you objected to the noise of the gasoline or LP fueled ones. That would work…

One thing about it, though — it would take the 2,000 watt gas one running flat out for an hour to charge the 2,000 Watt-hour battery. Couldn't run anything else during that time.

I must admit that yeah, it all will work… but it surely is the hard way to do it, unless you live in a jurisdiction which has prohibited or severely limits fuel fired generators…

leaking

no battery of 2000w can take 2000w in an hour to charge it, it will kill the battery. It might take 12 hours at least. I could buy car batteries and an inverter, I don’t know yet. Today I should know power consumption, I think it’s low enough to get 2-4 days running off batteries . My electric usage doesn’t go up much in winter, I don’t think power consumption is much. This might never get used, it’s in Chicago where power is good. So I will do it inexpensively

leaking

The Weil McLain 6-23 consumes .37-.40 amp running. That’s 48 watts . That is nothing , A Comcast cable box takes more than that on standby ! I have not run numbers but a car battery or two will keep it running for many days . Just a saftey set up since anything can fail. Even my old service !