New Caleffi 132 Balancing Valve / Flow Meter Not Showing Flow. Missing a Part?

crj

I recently replaced the 60 year old gas boiler on a large 4 loop Monoflo system. The loops are 1" steel pipe in the basement and 1/2" copper risers to the convectors. I had them use 3/4" Taco ZoneSetter valves, since they have higher Cv than the 1" version.

I had the tech install a Caleffi 132 1-1/4" 5-19 GPM flow meter in the supply as a sanity check on the flow through the system with various combinations of zones open.

I have a Taco 0011 pump, so I figured that I would have at least 5 GPM to register flow on the meter. With the shortest zone only, I get no measured flow, and with all 4 zones open I get no measured flow. The system heats fine and the circulator sounds fine, so there is definitely flow.

The installers had never installed one of the valves, since I asked for it to be installed. When they took it out of the box, a cylindrical brass piece about 2" long and 1" in diameter fell out from inside the valve. It had an O-Ring and on the flat end and a conical flare on the other. I saw the part sitting on top of the boiler, so I'm almost positive that they installed the valve without the cylindrical insert in place.

My guess is that this piece not optional and that it is it required to provide the pressure differential that drives the flow meter. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Is there any possibility that a Taco 0011 would not provide a flow above 5 GPM with all 4 zones open?

Chris

mattmia2

Looks like there should be a venturi in the body of it and you have to pull the ring for it to read anything:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Caleffi-132772A-Brochure.pdf

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Caleffi-132772A-QuickSetter-Balancing-Valve-with-Flow-Meter-1-1-4

How is the balancing valve set? if it is closed or partially closed you could have less than 5 gpm.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@crj

@hot_rod

is the Caleffi expert on this site and I am sure he will see this post and respond shortly.

I agree it sounds like that part needs to be installed.

Maybe the attached will help.

Caleffi-132772A-User Guide.pdf

hot_rod

It takers a bit of force to get this spool out of the body? Matt took on off the shelf to see how it would disassemble.

Was it separated in an unopened box?

It definately needs to be in the body to read.

mattmia2

i'd imagine unless there is something supporting it that bouncing in a truck for a few hundred miles at just the right angle could pop it out of there.

GGross

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1901357#Comment_1901357

You'd have to see how they are in the box, not entirely supported necessarily, but they are wrapped in a form fitted foam insulation and pretty well secure. I would have never even known that part could come out if I didnt just see it for myself and i sell a couple dozen of these each year. I'd think its a bit more than bouncing on the roads. either a factory mistake or someone took it apart, put it back in the box and returned it to the vendor.