Beckett/Intellidyne Heat Manager query

Steve_35

with the Heat Manager Beckett is marketing? It's made by Intellidyne. Intellidyne called it a IntelliCon - HW. It looks pretty slick. Just wondering if anyone has used one of these yet.

I think I may throw one on my boiler. I'd rather test it in my home than a clients.

John Boyer

Beckett/Intellidyne Heat Manager query

Steve,

How do you like your Becket HeatManager? I am considering this for my residential Weil McLain Boiler.

I was also considering their Intellicon-AC systems as well - they quoted me $240 each and a 10% discount for more than 3 systems before install, s&h.

Seems to makes sense from the materials I've read and the Beckett quality/support behind the OEM product.

Looking forward to replies,

Shawn

Steve_35

I just installed one

> Steve,

>

> How do you like your Becket

> HeatManager? I am considering this for my

> residential Weil McLain Boiler.

>

> I was also

> considering their Intellicon-AC systems as well -

> they quoted me $240 each and a 10% discount for

> more than 3 systems before install, s&h.

>

> Seems

> to makes sense from the materials I've read and

> the Beckett quality/support behind the OEM

> product.

>

> Looking forward to replies,

>

> Shawn

Steve_35

I just installed one

about a month ago. It's too early to tell if there are any savings. It seems to want the aquastat set higher than I normally had it. I raised it from 180 to 190 and the controller seems happier.

From a comfort standpoint we don't notice any change. We have baseboard so that should be a worst case scenario.

Mad Dog

Fuel savings is where you should see the difference

If u can, try to track and document it. We'll all be watching. Thanks for experimenting. Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Ron Schroeder_2

I have been playing around with one for a while. It does not seem to respond to outdoor conditions very well since it is only looking at boiler outlet water temperature. It does create a larger differential between burner on and off which helps with short cycling losses. I see no real improvement on a single zone system over an aquastat that can have the high limit differential adjusted to 25 degrees but it seems to be a big improvement if the aquastat differential is fixed at 10 degrees. I think it would be more effective on an oversized boiler than it would be on a properly sized one.

It may work better on a multizone system since it would detect a greater number of zones calling for heat in cold weather than would be calling for heat in warmer weather.

It does save fuel and is easy to install but I don't think it is as effective as other boiler controls.

Ron

eleft_4

Ron, on the heat Mgr

What is the number and the brand aquastat that has a 25 degree differential on the high limit?

I would like one for my own boiler.

al

Steve_35

> I have been playing around with one for a while.

> It does not seem to respond to outdoor conditions

> very well since it is only looking at boiler

> outlet water temperature. It does create a

> larger differential between burner on and off

> which helps with short cycling losses. I see no

> real improvement on a single zone system over an

> aquastat that can have the high limit

> differential adjusted to 25 degrees but it seems

> to be a big improvement if the aquastat

> differential is fixed at 10 degrees. I think it

> would be more effective on an oversized boiler

> than it would be on a properly sized one.


Aren't all boilers oversized 97.5% of the time? Assuming you use the ACCA design temp.

> It

> may work better on a multizone system since it

> would detect a greater number of zones calling

> for heat in cold weather than would be calling

> for heat in warmer weather.

>

> It does save fuel

> and is easy to install but I don't think it is as

> effective as other boiler controls.


I think what they're looking for is a decent bang for the buck. This is something much less expensive than most other boiler controls opening up the number of people that may be interested in it. It's not something to compete with an outside reset control but rather a lower priced alternative.

Jay_12

tekmar 256

Consider using the tekmar Boiler Control 256. It provides an automatic adjusting differential plus the added benefit of outdoor reset.

Independent studies have found that outdoor reset on a boiler saves on average 12%.

Jay www.tekmarcontrols.com 250-545-7749

Jack, CVMS

Beckett Heat Manager

So far this fall we've installed 4 of the Heat Managers - all on multi-zone systems. The concept it good, and I've been able to watch the way the Heat Manager adapts the differential to varying heating requirements as outdoor temperatures make considerable changes (-25°F to +25°F). But on the down side, 3 of the 4 have given us trouble and have had to be switched out of the control loop, as they caused the boilers to refuse to come back on with a call for heat.
With Beckett's reputation for customer support, I have no doubt this will be taken care of, but for now I'm warning customers to switch the Heat Manager off if they will be away from home for more than a day.

Ron Schroeder_2

Hi pitman9,

I have heard as many as 99.9% are over-sized.

Ron

Ron Schroeder_2

Hi al,

I am currently using the low limit of a L8124G as a high limit. I am not using the circ control output of the L8124G. I am using one of the contacts of a Honeywell relay for circ control and the other set of contacts in series with the B terminal of the L8124G to the burner. The thermostat goes to the TT terminals on the relay instead of the L8124G.

But things change on my system often. I am now testing an outdoor reset that doesn't use an outside sensor.

Ron

Plumbob

I have heard that 0.00001% are undersized

Ron Schroeder_2

That was probably because the installer thought the house was 200 sq. ft. not 2000 sq. ft. ;-)

Ron

tom_49

Steve, I have one on my boiler. I think it does make a difference as far as fuel consumption goes. For instance, when the boiler temp. drops below the differential set point the burner wants to start but the Heat Mng. wont let it. I think the min.low temp it will let the outflow temp. get to is 145oF. I noticed today it kept the burner off ( after call from b1 term. on relay ) for 2 1/2 minutes before it let the burner come on again. That 2 1/2 min. could/should add up after a while. I have my high limit set at 175o, any lower and it tells you to turn it up.

Steve_35

> Consider using the tekmar Boiler Control 256. It

> provides an automatic adjusting differential plus

> the added benefit of outdoor

> reset.

>

> Independent studies have found that

> outdoor reset on a boiler saves on average

> 12%.


I think the Beckett controller is somewhat less expensive and can be installed directly on the aquastat in most instances. And Beckett guarantees a minimum 10% reduction in fuel usage. Time will tell.

> Jay www.tekmarcontrols.com 250-545-7749

Jack, CVMS

Follow-up on Heat Manager

As I reported earlier, I have experienced intermittent problems with 3 of the 4 Heat Managers we have installed this fall.
Called Beckett and talked with John Coster. He said they had found that a brief low voltage could cause the symptoms I described, and the manufacturer had come up with a revision to cure it. They would exchange the 4 I had for the newer revision. Very good service as far as I am concerned.
Today... I got a call from the device's inventor asking more questions. He is very interested in making these units as failure-proof as possible. As a result, I will be sending these 4 back to him for upgrading - he's promised a one-day turn around - and he will even make a special modification to one that is presently running on an inverter that provides square wave (rather than sine wave) current so that it can be powered by 12VDC. Now that's what I call SERVICE, and bolsters my confidence in the Beckett Corporation.
From my experience so far, with the units on boilers, as well as the after-sale support, I don't hesitate to recommend these controls as something that will do what Beckett says they will. Not as comprehensive as a Tekmar with outdoor reset, but a step in the right direction at least.

soot_seeker_2

tekmar 256 vs bectkett hm

don't ignore the tekmar 256 product too quickly....

it usually runs about 2/3 the cost of the beckett HM & has adjustable controls, an lcd info panel, an outdoor AND indoor (pipe) sensor and is a more mature product. the tekmar switches the burner via the TT dry closure terminals rather than interupting the line voltage 'call for heat' from the aquastat - if semiconductor based switching is used there it may explain the higher failures rates if something was overlooked design-wise. maybe someone can explain the failure modes of those boxes. those canadians take their heat savings very seriously up there in british columbia and the yukon territory. brrrrr....

Allied

Tekmar 256 vs Beckett HeatManager

Tekmar is $20 more than HeatManager for me, but seems worth it for the reasons stated.

Information:

HeatManager (several links under Technical Information, also a demo)

tekmar

J. Koster

HeatManager rebate

FYI - Beckett is currently offering a $25 professional use rebate to any heating pro that wants to try a HeatManager in his home. This brings the cost of the unit down significantly.

If you haven't received a rebate card in the mail, just call Beckett customer service and we'll be happy to send one to you.

John Koster
R.W. Beckett Corp.