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[urgent] Is there a way to limit maximum firing rate for Lochinvar Knight boiler?

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lkhelp
lkhelp Member Posts: 38

Woke up to a cold house and no hot water. Lochinvar Knight boiler starts up - the firing rate climbs up and then it shuts down at 98%. Repeat 5 times, then red lockout screen with "flame fail running" error. If I'm lucky - tech will come tomorrow, but it's c-c-c-cold!

I tried switching DHW type from Zone to Normal hoping that space heating demand will take over and it would use a ramp up curve that I have (which I can limit last stage to 90% for example), but it looks like DHW demand requires max firing rate regardless. I also tried to set SH/DHW Switching time to 0 and the other one to 15 min, and vice versa - but regardless - it still tries to ramp up to a 100%…

Thank you all!

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,565

    the manual explains the many control functions

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • lkhelp
    lkhelp Member Posts: 38

    yes, i looked at those ramp settings, thank you. unfortunately for me, they only apply to space heating. when DHW heat comes in - the boiler tries to get to a 100% and i can't find a setting that would limit or override that…

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,851

    You need to confirm that you’re getting sufficient flow through the boiler and indirect. A failing circulator or air binding can cause what you’re describing.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,522

    What problem are you hoping to solve by limiting the dhw firing rate? There are some legitimate answers to that but I don't see anything in your question to indicate that would solve your problem but maybe you have some information you didn't mention. If it isn't burning correctly, lowering the firing rate won't solve the problem. If there is some sort of issue with the gas supply then it could work around that problem temporarily

    That being said, you could turn off DHW, then it won't make a DHW call.

    JohnNY
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,238

    Your trying to make hot water that's why you don't limit the firing rate. As the boiler approaches 180 it will modulate down to try and maintain 180.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,502

    Possibly the issue has something to do with the indirect water tank or controls.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,565

    you can in fact change the temperature the boiler run on a DHW call. Factory default is 180, I don’t remember the adjustment range.

    If you had an indirect with dual coils, or a high output HeatFlo, you could generate DHW and tun low enough to condense.

    Same with adding an external plate HX. With a close approach HX design the B side can get within a few degrees of the SWT.

    Generate 120 DHW with 125 supply, for example. A plate HX is a much more efficient way to exchange temperature.
    It’s the key to the EK efficiency, the plate HX for DHW.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    mattmia2GGross
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,216

    This is old literature, but 4 tries and lockout, symptoms are the same.

    Screenshot_20250109_200834_Samsung Notes.jpg
    JohnNY
  • lkhelp
    lkhelp Member Posts: 38

    resurrecting the old thread. issue is coming up again. last time it ended up (most likely) being issue with propane regulator upstream. started happening again this year. so, is there a way to limit the firing rate to some number below 100%? the reason why i want to do that is to keep house warm until technician gets here, which might be few days at least if i'm lucky…

  • lkhelp
    lkhelp Member Posts: 38

    I'm trying just to keep house warm until tech can get here and fix the underlying issue… is there a way to lower the maximum firing rate below 100%? thank you!

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,522
    edited December 11

    look at the manual and the installer menu items. i'm sure there is the option in there.

    check the vents on your regulators, if they ice over then the regulators for the propane won't work right.

    you can also have too much drawdown from a tank for its size and the ambient temp and it can't boil off enough propane to cover the demand.

    lkhelp
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,565

    From the manual, the ramp delay allows you to limit the 6th final ramp output.

    So maybe start with 5 minutes on each step, put the last one to 50% or whatever you want to limit the max firing rate to.step 1 10%, step 2 20, step 3 30, step 4 40, step 5 50% and whatever you need on step 6, maybe 60%

    Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 2.13.15 PM.png
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    mattmia2
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 26,565

    This first

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WTdTwcmxyo

    The password to access to the installer access comes from this song. 5309

    It is easy to get kicked out of service mode, until you get the buttons sequence memorized, so the song keeps the 5309 in your head, to jump back in.

    In this section you will find the ramp delay parameter. The factory default once you enable this parameter are 15, 30, 45, 60, 80, 100% 2 minute on step 1, 1 minute on the rest.

    You could leave the time intervals and just change the ramp %. End up on step 6 at the % you want.

    Page 60 of the I&O manual explains the settings

    Page 25 in the Service Manual has a graph showing the ramp delay setting intervals. I made notes right on this graph of my settings

    If you have a newer version Knight Smart System with a twist knob, there is a USB port to insert a stick and save settings.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    lkhelp
  • lkhelp
    lkhelp Member Posts: 38

    fantastic, thank you all!!