Emergency Power

Rookie

If it can be done what size , how many watt inverter would be needed?

Rookie

Oil Burner power

In case of a power outage is it possible to power up an oil fired boiler with a riello burner using an invertor, if so how many watt unit would you need? I have a 300 watt continuous and 600 watt surge power inverter we use to power a tv for tailgating at Patriots games.In the case of an emergency would this be suffient to power my oil fired boiler, if not how many watts are needed.

Mark Eatherton1

Do the math...

Watts divided by volts equals amps.

So, 300 divided by 120 = 2.5 amps.

I doubt it, but you'd know better than I how many amps the blower/ignition coil/relay package on your boiler draws...

To do the math the opposite direction, once you have figured out the amperage draw, multiply that times the operating voltage and you'll have watts.

ME

Craig_8

does your boiler use a circulating pump or is it a gravity system?

Rookie

Inverter

What I have is a primary/secondary system so it has six circulators total, so with Marks formula I should be able to figure out the amp draw.We are just getting hammered today with snow, I have no woodstove so if we lost power there maybe a problem.

Jim_47

Emergency Power

I have a common boiler with 3 compact circs and a Beckett burner. My 1400 watt Honda Generator had a hard time with this configuration. I changed the motor to a PSC motor and now it has no problems. Don't forget starting currents are higher. 1400 watts is as small as I would suggest.
Coleman has a nifty 1650 and 1800 watt reasonably priced rigs. As far as an inverter vs generator??? I'd go with a well maintained generator thru the day light hours and switch to the inverter/battery back up during the night.
Here is a ponderable: How about when the aquastat is satisfied and the burner shuts off, the aquastat controls a relay that then allows the unused generator capacity (because the oil burner is no longer running) to switch to charge your battery bank.

jim P._2

Backup power

Would the computer backup battery units work to keep the circulators going on a hydronic system? Jim

Constantin

If you're really serious about this,

...consider the Marathon genset. Runs on methane or propane, produces 2-4kW of power, and heats the home at the same time. That should maintain some of the heat loss and enable the main boiler to kick in and out as needed.

The question is how well the unit would tolerate being used as a emergency genset vs. the baseline use its maker is apparently envisioning for it.

hr

I'd second the generator

batteries and inverters are a hassle. Plus you will be very popular with the neighbors if you have a generator to lend

The new Honda etc, start easily, light enough to carry, probably last your lifetime with light use like that.

Computer backup have very small batteries, can't imagine they would even run a circ for more than a few minutes.

Inverters need to be sized bigger than the actual current draw numbers add up, to allow the higher draw of a motor starting. Invertor dealers have the multiplier for this type of load.

I had a 2000 watt invertor under the hood of my last truck. Figured it would provide some power for drills, small compressor, etc. Burned it out twice, barely would power a 1/2" drill motor.

hot rod

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Rookie

Marathon genset

do they Marathon Genset have a web site, after reading Hot Rods post it maybe wise just to get a system to do a little more.

Constantin

Post above has been updated...

... to include a link to marathon. The unit you'd be interested in is the Cogen. Cheers!

Jim_47

generators

To many jims here....
Remeber when choosing a "general purpose" genset regardless of MFG, Size eats fuel
My Honda 1400 watt uses 1/2 gal every 3 hours or approx 1.5 gal in 8 hours under load.
My buddy has a 5500 watt noisy large gas eater running his uses 5 gallons in 9 hours.
20 gallons syponed off from the service truck will last days with mine.
Buy a generator big enough to do the job + a little more. Rent one to see if it will do your job before you buy it.

Rookie

Thanks

Cogenerators does anyone on the list have one ?, what are the typical cost ?, the web site didn't really have a lot of info.I'm interested, but the Honda generator maybe something that will get more use, I mean how many storm or power outages do we get here on this Island.

Me_8

early 2005 release on the marathon ones . My money would go to a more conventional generator... worked on a couple dozen of the heat pumps those engines were in and wasn't too too impressed with them. Belive Mr. Yates has some experience with the heat pumps they were in also.

Rookie

Marathon?

Still not sure about this cogenerator, do you pour a pad and hook it up outside then wire to your house or it it portable?.It runs on what propane or natural? i went to the web site and didn't have much info, or pricing.What does it co generate? Any dealers in Mass?

Ron Schroeder_3

What I use....

> What I have is a primary/secondary system so it

> has six circulators total,


Hi Jim,

That's one of the reasons why I prefer low wattage zone valves. My DHW circ draws 85 watts but it doesn't run much. My main heating circ draws less than 18 watts and each of the 11 zone valves draw between 2 and 3 watts. With the Riello burner, I have run the whole system on a 300 watt inverter but I have a 3000 watt sine wave inverter and a very large battery bank to run everything in the house.

Ron