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Help Identifying a C-Wire

I’m trying to determine if I have a C-wire in my boiler (Weil McLain EG-65). My Nest thermostat is currently working but recommending that I add a C-wire to prevent potential power problems in the future.

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,593

    Is this steam or hot-water?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • RyanNYC1
    RyanNYC1 Member Posts: 4

    Steam

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,593

    Post a pic of the left side where the controls are. We need to see what's on the other end of those wires.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • RyanNYC1
    RyanNYC1 Member Posts: 4
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,593

    Thought so. You'll need to create an independent 24v circuit for this, since your limit controls (low water cutoff, pressure control) are cutting off the voltage to the Nest. You can use your existing transformer though, and won't need to alter the factory wiring. Get one of these:

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Resideo-R8222B1067-24V-General-Purpose-Relay-with-SPDT-Switching

    Mount it on the inside of the boiler jacket a few inches above the transformer. Connect the thermostat wires on the boiler to the normally open (NO) contacts on the relay. On this one it's the outer two. You'll need some push-on terminals for this.

    Connect one side of the relay coil and the common wire in the thermostat cable to the C terminal of the transformer. Connect the red wire in the thermostat cable to the R terminal on the transformer, and the white wire to the other side of the relay coil.

    This will provide a constant 24v feed to the Nest whenever the boiler power is on. When the Nest calls for heat, it pulls the relay in, completing the thermostat circuit on the boiler to start the heating cycle.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    RyanNYC1
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,036
    edited February 3

    This comment tells you why you need the relay

    Here is the diagram from the comment:

    And to add the relay would look like this based on your equipment's diagram

    The relay on the top that I added may look like the transformer that is powering the burner, but it is not, The top Transformer.Relay Combination is the additional isolation relay that is needed to properly set up your Nest Thermostat:

    But your equipment may not be wired according to the original factory diagram, since I see some components that are not original to the equipment that have been added.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?