Pressuretrol connection

btc

Where would the Pressuretrol go, if not on the LWCO? It seems like the opening is there just for that purpose--but then again, I learn something new all the time. Thanks. Brian

Gary Myers_2

Pressuretrol connection

Hello,

When firing up my one-pipe steam boiler from a cold start I am getting 2 psi on the pressure gauge at the end of the heat cycle, yet the additive Honeywell pressuretrol (0.5 psi cut-in, 1 psi + 0.5 psi cut-out) is not shutting the burner off. I checked the pigtail, it is not plugged.

Can anyone explain to me (can't remember my high school physics) how the pressuretrol can see the same pressure as the steam pipes when it is mounted on top of the LWCO? I would think the water in the LWCO would seal the pressuretrol off from the steam pressure. See picture below.

Thanks!
Gary Myers

John@Reliable_2

It could be two things?

1) gauge is off 2)But very common with that pressuretrol it's not that sensitive. Beware through about turning it down to much as you will end up with it not turning on. I run into this allot as the units get a little time on them,they get "stuck" off. Pressuretrol works because it's a closed unit at top where diaphragm is,space in pigtail,then water line,as pressure is maded it pushes up causing diaphragm to move and break or make switch. Did you take pigtail completely off and check? if so and burner won't shut-off replace pressuretrol. Hope this helps John@Reliable

Steamhead

Gary, does the pressuretrol

stop the burner at all? If not, replace it. Also check the wiring, someone may have jumpered across it. Not common, but it happens.

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Gary Myers

Pressure

Thanks John & Frank,

I did take the pigtail completely off and checked that I could blow through it. I have not ever seen pressure on the gauge before but that time the boiler ran for about an hour on a cold morning and I watched it expecting to see the Pressuretrol kick in. I will check the wiring.

Gary

Edward A. Carey

LWCO

Gary,

If you flushed that LWCO correctly, you would be scalded. Read the instructions for the control. They have several locations where they require a pipe be connected to the bottom of the blow down valve, so when you blow down the boiler under full steam pressure, your hand is not exposed to the flow of the BOILING WATER AND STEAM. If you read that very small print on the handle of the valve, it should state that the LWCO must be flushed on a weekly basis with the boiler operating, and under full pressure. In the absence of that pipe, your hand would be in the flow of the discharge when you are closing the valve.

Regards,
Ed Carey

Edward A. Carey

LWCO

Gary,

If you flushed that LWCO correctly, you would be scalded. Read the instructions for the control. They have several locations where they require a pipe be connected to the bottom of the blow down valve, so when you blow down the boiler under full steam pressure, your hand is not exposed to the flow of the BOILING WATER AND STEAM. If you read that very small print on the handle of the valve, it should state that the LWCO must be flushed on a weekly basis with the boiler operating, and under full pressure. In the absence of that pipe, your hand would be in the flow of the discharge when you are closing the valve.
BTW, MFG also states that it must be compeletely disassembled on an annual basis, and cleaned of debris.

Regards,
Ed Carey

Bill @ Boro

Relocate &...

Never had luck mounting a pressure control on the low water cut off. I would not only relocate it, but I would also use an L404 instead.

Gary Myers

Point well taken, Ed. I guess I somehow mastered the art of getting my hand out of the way quickly, as I still have all my skin after 5 years of flushing under steam pressure. However, piping the spout out of the way of the handle sounds like a good idea to me.

Regards, Gary