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Safgard 1150 LWCO question

MaxMercy
MaxMercy Member Posts: 521
in THE MAIN WALL

My brother in law called me for no heat on his oil fired boiler. There was no power to the burner and I traced it back to the LWCO, a Safgard 1150. The yellow low water light was on but the boiler showed about 10lbs of pressure with the temperature below 70F, so I think he's got enough water over the boiler.

I jumped out the cutout and the boiler fired. I ran it a few minutes while I looked up the manual for the Safgard and the yellow light on the Safgard went out, so I removed the jumper.

I didn't remove the sensor because I didn't have any tools on me save for my meter, but my question is whether the sensors in the cutoffs go bad or if they need any kind of periodic cleaning. I left him with heat and the LWCO in place but I know if it tripped once it's either bad or there's low water (no leaks found).

Ideas? Thanks.

Comments

  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 942

    We have seen the probes fail. Much more often we find the probes are dirty, often covered with rust or a silt like substance. I would start with draining the boiler and removing the probe, if dirty clean it and re-install.

    MaxMercy
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,624

    But don't use pipe dope or tape on the probe when you put it back in. It must have a good ground connection from the probe to the boiler and thence to building ground.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    MaxMercy
  • techforlife
    techforlife Member Posts: 64

    As long as you know that the water content is appropriate, since it is a hydronic boiler, replace the entire LWCO. Steam can dirty up the probe but unlikely on hydronics. Electronics get intermittently unreliable all the time.

    MaxMercy
  • MaxMercy
    MaxMercy Member Posts: 521
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1845073#Comment_1845073

    Thanks Jamie. This house is on a well system, so it's not automatically grounded through the water pipes - any chance this is a weak ground connection?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,467
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1845073#Comment_1845073

    You need to use thread sealant of some kind.

    They don't recommend PTFE tape because it could cause issues but dope will just get cleaned off the threads by normal tightening.

    I don't think the building ground matters at all as far as LWCO operation?

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,624

    Right, @ChrisJ , It's the solid connection to the boiler that counts.

    Now for @MaxMercy — I do hope, if the boiler isn't solidly grounded through the water pipes, that it is bonded instead? And that there is a good building ground?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • MaxMercy
    MaxMercy Member Posts: 521

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1845219#Comment_1845219

    I don't know Jamie, I was only there for about 30 minutes getting his burner running - I didn't investigate any of the electrical except for the LWCO.

    What I can tell you is that the house is from about 1960, but it had two additions done to it over the years - the last about 20 years ago when a family room and bedroom suite were added to the first floor when my in-laws got older. The electrical panel seems up to date, and the town the house is in is generally a stickler for permits and inspections, although of course that means nothing.

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