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LWCO help

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JoeSchmoe
JoeSchmoe Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam

Last year I became a proud owner of Burnham PIN5SNC-ME2 manufactured in 2003. I cleaned the combustion chamber and burners, preemptively replaced thermocouple and removed and checked the pigtail for obstructions. Everything is good here.

It has McDonnell and Miller LWCO with no model number that I can see on the housing that also controls the automatic water feeder.

20260919_125539 (1).jpg

Several times during the winter months the LWCO was malfunctioning i.e. red and green light were flashing and the relay was clicking while the water level was well above the probe. Power cycling the boiler was bringing it back to normal operation. I want to replace the probe and see if that takes care of this problem. Judging by the condition of the burners, I suspect it's never been replaced.

What's the correct probe for this application?

Also, several times I noticed the LWCO making repeating ticking sounds, kind of like a mechanical clock, with no other symptoms. Usually a light tap or two on the housing made the sound stop. Is it something to be concerned about? Maybe it makes sense to replace the entire LWCO together with the probe? If yes, what's the proper replacement?

Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,420

    "Usually a light tap or two on the housing made the sound stop."

    Maybe a loose connection inside.

    image.png image.png image.png image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,654

    Very unlikely that the probe is the cause of the problem. I would suggest replacing the whole water cutoff. It's a pretty important component!!!!

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 18,050

    i would be worth it to pull the probe and make sure it and its connection to the inside of the boiler is clean. it isn't by any chance doing what it is supposed to because the water in the boiler is surging or something like that?

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,654

    Boiler water surging, is unlikely to cause the low water to cut off to click. And certainly would not be resolved by pushing the body of the low water cut off. All signs point to an electrical issue

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