MegaSteaming In The Islands (Long & Rhode)

@RI_SteamWorks

Very nice!

Are those king valves full port gate valves?

Also, how was the loop pitched before you made the 2 zones out of them: up from the boiler on both sides to where you made the cut?

Install looks beautiful!

@RI_SteamWorks beautiful install as always.

Nice job! @RI_SteamWorks

How could anyone look at that and not be thrilled as a customer? Everything neat, orderly, workmanlike. I especially like the file holder for all the manuals convenient. Gauges just so, no stooping to look at them. Well done!

Speaking of Robert Heinlein, my favorite quote since I was a kid. I remember first reading it when we were kids at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound school in Maine.

I'm still working on the list...

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love[1][2]

I don't see any issue with the way he upsized his risers. I'm not a steam guy beyond what I've learned reading both this site and Dan's books, but to me, it would seem like any water droplets making their way up the risers would say "Weee!" and drop right out of the steam and down into the header once they hit those nice, wide, 3" riser drops.

If I was his customer I'd be MORE than perfectly happy with that install...it's mechanical artistry. Nothing wrong with going above and beyond on pipe sizing...and I bet it actually does make a difference.

Great job (and cute pup).

No longer living in oil country, but when we were I had a great relationship with our oil jobber. I knew bupkus about oil burners and the guys in the shop were very patient with me when I would bring in the old Lennox asking questions.

RI_SteamWorks said:

No, it's not easy, is it? (Especially if you haven't got Ilka!) But that is a fine looking install. Well done. And a beautiful boiler, that MegaSteam. You do her credit.

And in your honor, I will change the title of this post. A little tropical flair, if you will.

I was so jealous of the job you recently did re-piping that house with steam. That was nice work! At least with this job, I can repipe an addition.

Question: CycleGuards drive me nuts and normally I can sell a SafeGuard as an add-on. In this job I could not. But I see your boiler has a McDonnell Miller. How did that come about?

Great looking job as usual.

I'm trying to get Burnham to step up to the plate and deal with the two cycleguards on the MegaSteams we put in the church a couple weeks ago. So far, they haven't called me back even though they keep promising.

Not only is the off cycle function counter productive, the two don't cycle in unison after about 30 minutes of run time.

They say the function is to "help stabilize the water level". I take that to mean "we're trying to compensate for a knucklehead that installed the boiler on a system that has a clogged return". The control should have a means of disabling that "function".

Maybe if enough of us start hollering loud and long enough, they'll do something bout it.

@RI_SteamWorks, I'm honored with the thread name change! It certainly would have been a luxury to have another day, or if Burnham made a 3" kit that was meant for the 288 (it took a little mixing and matching to make the 3" kit work on the 288). But, just like you started 3" at the top of the risers, it was worth it.

Sorry, I missed your question @RI_SteamWorks, the McDonald Miller came packaged with the boiler. Maybe something new?

Ironman said:

It makes about as much sense as stopping your car every 10 minutes to get out and check the oil.

It is, after all, a LWCO. If that's really their concern, why not just increase the off time and fill delay if the water level gets too low. That way, it would only address a problem that actually occurred, not one that was perceived that might occur.

I purchased mine last year and it came with the MM electronic. The IOM mentions at least 2 electronic units as well as the 67 float type. There is a page that gives the tubing cut sizes and required materials for the 67 as a diagram. If yours came with Hydrolevels they were ordered that way , or maybe just what was readily available to ship , but Megasteam does not require the Hydrolevel ( POS ) ...as of last year at least.

MST options attached , from page 9 and 19 of my install manual.

From My treestand....somewhere on The Isle of Long. Very windy today. EXEMPLARY work, man. Georgeous Shepard..is he yours or homeowners? Mad Dog

Hatterasguy said:

RI_SteamWorks said:

"It would be preferable to run the 2" risers and put in the Safeguard for about the same cost."

Not even close Batman. The extra nipples and fittings cost less than $80.

Being as how this thread has already incorporated a bunch of idioms, another might be in order:

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach

I found the Safgard for $75. and got rid of the Cyclegard. Beats your $80. (which bought you nothing).

Nice insult to Dan Holohan, probably the best teacher you'd ever find. Some people actually know more than you do.

I know prices are a no-no but I couldn't resist. A Hydrolevel Safguard 400 for $75? Where.. please.. at that price I'll buy a few dozen this season. My supplier can't come anywhere near that price.