CycleGard LWCO & Heat-Timer - Bad Match?

NTL1991

I’ve been thinking about the possible implications of using the CycleGard LWCO on a 1-pipe steam system controlled by a Heat Timer outdoor reset panel. I’m curious about your opinions on the two being used together.

My take, which might be overly simplistic, would be anything that introduces a burner-off phase that the Heat Timer doesn’t account for would be a bad thing, and could potentially cause issues satisfying the heating demand. Am I overthinking the effect a a 90 second intermittent test every 10/20 minutes, plus additional delay due to burner pre-purge, etc. might have on the system?

Does anyone have any experience using both of these devices together successfully? Could it be as simple as adjusting the Heat Timer to account for the burner off phase during the CycleGard test?

-Nick

EdTheHeaterMan

Outdoor reset and steam??? how does that idea work in your mind? You must imagine something about the burner operating less when the outdoor temperature is higher and the burner operating more when the outdoor temperature is colder. Heat timer can do that, but is that ODR?

When using hot water and outdoor reset the concept is the water temperature in the radiators will be lower (like 120°F) when the outdoor temperature is higher (like 50°F). When the outdoor Temperature is lower (Like 10°F) the radiator temperature is higher (like 180°F)

I don't see how to make the steam in the radiators a lower temperature than 212°F… Do you?

NTL1991

My apologies, Ed! I misspoke when I called the Heat Timer an Outdoor Reset. I simply mean to say the Heat Timer is firing the burner a calculated number of minutes based on outdoor temperature once the system sensor is satisfied.

My question is if there is enough of a deviation from this calculated burner runtime due to a CycleGard LWCO’s intermittent test, and associated lag time from burner controls, pre-purge, etc. to be a concern. And if so, is a CycleGard to be avoided on these systems, or is it merely something that can be adjusted for in the configuration of the Heat Timer panel.

-Nick

Jamie Hall

I would say that the Cyclegard is not gong to be a problem — or even if it were, a minor adjustment to the Heat-Timer would take care of it.

Too many other, bigger variables for it to show up.