the dreaded short cycle better understanding please.

John Lasky

What a great site !! thank you all esp Dan.

Seems like heating season is here and many folks are starting things up and such.

im doing the same and have been taking care of problems as you can read in all my posts.

My last concern is the cycle time between cut in and cut out .

Now I know its not real cold yet in NY but the time between cut in and cut out is only a min or two at most??

from a cold start my system (one pipe Rads upstairs , 2 pipe baseboards downstairs) from a cold start iill have steam at the furthest Rad in about 7 mins now that I added vents and a few drips .

it takes about (right now in warmer weater) it takes about 40 mins to get up to 2 psi from a cold start 55' of baseboard and 4 avarage rads (5 sections) and a small one upstairs.

the concern is once im at preasure the system only takes about 1 min to fall to 1/2 psi cut in then I turn back on but it will only take 2 mins or so mins to reach 2 psi again.

should I wait for colder weather and check then??

I also turned my gas down as the boiler is rated 165,000 I clocked the gas at 174,000 at 3.5 psi (no wonder my bills were $$) little did I know

I now have the gas flow down to 143,000 and I still have pretty short cycle time between 2psi and 1/2.

this is my last hurdle to understand,

if this is a problem that I have to live with , since Im a electrical controls guy (electrician by trade) would it be feasible for me to intall a time delay after my boiler reaches cut in at 1/2 psi ? I sell industrial control eqipment (not a hands on guy anymore) I have stuff in stock that would perform a time delay functoion or anything I needed.


any insite will be welcome

"John"

Bill Nye_2

What

You really need is to get away from the house for a while. Get a hobby, go see a movie, exercise, volunteer. Forget about your boiler.

When it doesn't heat your house, worry, but until then there are much more important things. Do something with your kids, help an elderly neighbor. Just do something to take your mind off your heating system. It runs the same amount of time when you are at work,on vacation, asleep, or dead.

Too many people worry too much about this. I have seen journal entries, listened to tape recordings, even know of people who will not leave home in winter in fear that the boiler will "do something".

In short it will run longer when it is cold out, less time when it is warmer. Are your mains insulated? Is your house insulated? How accurate do you think the pressuretrol or gauge are? All new vents?

The pressure drops for a couple of reasons, the steam condenses, or it is leaking out through a vent or a radiator valve packing or union nut?

Sorry John, I guess steam is a good hobby. I have seen maybe 200 cycle or short cycle posts here on the wall and I just took it out on you.

John Lasky

Hi Bill,

No problem Brother I hear what your saying!!



Unfortunatly Im a techie nutcase and my heat bills have been through the roof the last few years and I now know why.

yes all the vents are brand new.....

You have a point by leaving it alone, I tell many customers that with electrical control stuff.

I guess the short cycle issue is a concern as its not clearly defined !!

in the electrical control business short cycle means device chater or severe hunting when using a PID loop to contol a kiln or such,

Again no problem.

just want to save some green stuff $$$ Im a darn good trouble shooter with many types of disiplines but I knew knothing about steam untill I ventured onto this site to solve many problems I was having at home now I want to get it right.

have a great weekend and ill try and go fishing or somthing

Bill Nye_2

So many variables

Near boiler piping, water condition, firing rates, etc. the list goes on. Truly not a black and white thing.

First, I never trust old gauges or pressuretrols. I would look at pipe insulation [do you have it?] and I would look at end of main vents? Is your pigtail to the pressuretrol clean to assure accurate reading?

Down firing or derating the burner is not always best because you could make wet sloppy steam. The wet steam costs more to heat with. Dirty water etc., same thing more money.

Did you read Lost Art Of Steam Heating, or We Got Steam?

http://www.heatinghelp.com/shopcart/index.cfm?category=2