vigas boiler

[JP11]

I like it.

You have me way beat on Y strainers and dirt separator. Of course... My system took out a circ on my DHW loop.

Sorry.. but I was laughing at you. Or with you.

It's Lambda control. You said Lambada.. which is a dance! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambada

Lambda... whole different ballgame. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda

Do you WANT heat in that area. I quickly starting wrapping the heck out of my exposed copper. You won't believe how much 190 degree pipes will throw. I'm pretty sure I used (broken link removed to http://www.zorrotools.com). Lots of different kinds of pipe insulation. I did a little at a time.. starting with the out leg of wood boiler.. figuring to wrap hottest stuff first.

You're gonna heat up your buderus jacket to same temp as storage and tanks? probably not a big deal, as you won't have much loss at all because you went power vent on that, right?

You're close.

 

[nrcrash]

I like it.

You have me way beat on Y strainers and dirt separator. Of course... My system took out a circ on my DHW loop.

Sorry.. but I was laughing at you. Or with you.

It's Lambda control. You said Lambada.. which is a dance! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambada

Lambda... whole different ballgame. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda

Do you WANT heat in that area. I quickly starting wrapping the heck out of my exposed copper. You won't believe how much 190 degree pipes will throw. I'm pretty sure I used (broken link removed to http://www.zorrotools.com). Lots of different kinds of pipe insulation. I did a little at a time.. starting with the out leg of wood boiler.. figuring to wrap hottest stuff first.

You're gonna heat up your buderus jacket to same temp as storage and tanks? probably not a big deal, as you won't have much loss at all because you went power vent on that, right?

You're close.

Ya ur right. I did say lambada. Guess I don't perform my best on camera!

I am going to insulate all the pipes and tank once she's up and running. I plumbed it myself so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a leak or two or three.

 

[Gasifier]

Congrats on the VIGAS nrcrash. Looks good. Keep us up to date on the test.

 

[nrcrash]

Have a leak somewhere.... Lost 10 pounds of pressure in 2 hours. Now I have to try to find it...

 

[Gasifier]

Good luck to ya nrcrash. I hope it doesn't cause you to much trouble.

 

[BoilerMan]

Soap&water in a spray bottle are your friend. Also get the air pressure up to at least 25 psi. Check that relief valve with the soap and water too. It's much easier to fix a leak when there is no water in the system yet. Once I "think" all the leaks are fixed, I leave the system aired up for at least 48 hours and re-check the pressure. I had a leak in my system that lost just 1psi a day. It took several minutes for the soap to bubble, but it did! Threaded fitting right off the boiler. Had to cut some copper and remove the iron fitting. Threads were boogered up, replaced the Chinese fitting with a good Ward USA one (much heavier and better quality) cleaned up the boiler threads with a file, refitted the iron, soldered the copper back up, and retested for another couple of days. Pressure stayed at 25psi and filled it up without a hitch.

Some don't agree with this method and say it's easier to find the leak when water drips out. Patients with the air now saves draining water and boiling water with the torch so the steam won't blow the solder out of copper later IMHO.

TS

 

[nrcrash]

found a leak where in the same spot directly off the boiler at the thread fitting!

 

[nrcrash]

Soap&water in a spray bottle are your friend. Also get the air pressure up to at least 25 psi. Check that relief valve with the soap and water too. It's much easier to fix a leak when there is no water in the system yet. Once I "think" all the leaks are fixed, I leave the system aired up for at least 48 hours and re-check the pressure. I had a leak in my system that lost just 1psi a day. It took several minutes for the soap to bubble, but it did! Threaded fitting right off the boiler. Had to cut some copper and remove the iron fitting. Threads were boogered up, replaced the Chinese fitting with a good Ward USA one (much heavier and better quality) cleaned up the boiler threads with a file, refitted the iron, soldered the copper back up, and retested for another couple of days. Pressure stayed at 25psi and filled it up without a hitch.

Some don't agree with this method and say it's easier to find the leak when water drips out. Patients with the air now saves draining water and boiling water with the torch so the steam won't blow the solder out of copper later IMHO.

TS

Funny you mentioned the fittings. It was actually a Ward 90 degree fitting that was mis-thread. Had to replace it with a made in china because it was all I had on hand.... But no more leak

 

[nrcrash]

Wiring and firing tomorrow

 

[nrcrash]

Just in time!

 

[BoilerMan]

What is that thingy??? Some kind of bank statment-o-meter? Looks like your outta funds

TS

 

[nrcrash]

What is that thingy??? Some kind of bank statment-o-meter? Looks like your outta funds

TS

That's a understatement!

 

[BoilerMan]

You know, there is something to having all the heat you need for winter.....before winter is here. I'd find piece of mind in having enough fuel oil storage to make it through a whole winter. All set and ready to hunker down for winter kinda thing. Good thing we don't have to worry about enough fuel oil for winter...... It's sad when I go to the bank and see them advertising heating fuel loans for 2.5%. Wow, not only I can't afford to heat my house, now I can even get a loan to do it, and pay back even MORE than it cost in the first place. Some people don't have brains in their heads if thats how they live from year to year..... oh and I won't mention any politics that relate to this whole idea

TS

 

[JP11]

Just in time!

They call that.. MOTIVATION to keep the boiler loaded.

I filled my tanks.. solely for the SHOCK value to my wife. She saw the 1700 dollar bill and decided she'd like to KEEP that oil in the tanks.

JP

 

[willyswagon]

They call that.. MOTIVATION to keep the boiler loaded.

I filled my tanks.. solely for the SHOCK value to my wife. She saw the 1700 dollar bill and decided she'd like to KEEP that oil in the tanks.

JP

I hear ya.
We were in the hot tub last night and my wife commented that she got a smell of wood smoke.
I said yes and we can make it go away by filling the oil tank.
She near $hit when I told her that it would be about $1100 for 900 litres( 233 US gal)

Yep $4.72/ USG

 

[nrcrash]

I hear ya.
We were in the hot tub last night and my wife commented that she got a smell of wood smoke.
I said yes and we can make it go away by filling the oil tank.
She near $hit when I told her that it would be about $1100 for 900 litres( 233 US gal)

Yep $4.72/ USG

That why I shut off the oil burner a couple weeks ago so my wife COULDN'T turn on the heat. I've been burning wood in a regency 2300 fireplace insert to make it tolerable. I just can't see filling the tank after I just dumped about 12k into the Vigas system. But only a 3 year payback. Then FREE HEAT!!

 

[nrcrash]

I hear ya.
We were in the hot tub last night and my wife commented that she got a smell of wood smoke.
I said yes and we can make it go away by filling the oil tank.
She near $hit when I told her that it would be about $1100 for 900 litres( 233 US gal)

Yep $4.72/ USG

How's the Empyre working out for you?

 

[willyswagon]

How's the Empyre working out for you?

So far so good. There has been no cold weather to test it.
So far the test has been how little wood do I need to bring the system up to 175* and have no fuel left in the box.
By doing so it completely stops my furnace from cycling until the the water gets back down to 140*F. Between the water in the wood boiler, the water in the oil boiler and the piping between the two, I have about 120 gal of water so it takes a while for it to cool down a these temps.
So that is the game I'm playing for now.

 

[nrcrash]

Reached gasification 11:32pm!! Still have a lot to learn about the system, but started a small fire tonight. Can't wait until tomorrow

 

[infinitymike]

Reached gasification 11:32pm!! Still have a lot to learn about the system, but started a small fire tonight. Can't wait until tomorrow

CONGRATULATIONS! If you want I can send some of my wood gun gremlins to help you with the learning curve.
Nice thread, I like the video. Funny thing is, I left my cursor right where the play button is and it seems to follow each pipe as you move through the video!

Good feeling to get the thing up and running before the cold kicks in. Where are you located. Are you going to be effected by Sandy?

Burn safe and be warm.

 

[JP11]

Reached gasification 11:32pm!! Still have a lot to learn about the system, but started a small fire tonight. Can't wait until tomorrow

Great feeling. Glad you're going. take it slow!

 

[nrcrash]

CONGRATULATIONS! If you want I can send some of my wood gun gremlins to help you with the learning curve.
Nice thread, I like the video. Funny thing is, I left my cursor right where the play button is and it seems to follow each pipe as you move through the video!

Good feeling to get the thing up and running before the cold kicks in. Where are you located. Are you going to be effected by Sandy?

Burn safe and be warm.

Ya, send Gizmo over to give me a hand!

Glad you liked the video. To bad I couldn't edit the narrative. Apparently my Vigas does the Lambada!!

I couldn't have cut it any closer. My oil tank is empty and my wife thought she was going into labor on sat (false alarm).

I'm located in southern Mass. So it looks like we are just going to get some wind. Good luck down there in NY, it looks like your going to get is worse than us.

 

[nrcrash]

I do have to comment on the service I have received from Mark at AHONA and Patrick (my dealer from NH). The two of them have exceeded my expectations. Every time I have called either of them, they have answered their phones or call me back shortly afterwards (even on Sunday nights). I can honestly say that this install has not been the easiest project I have tacked. I am not a HVAC or plumbing contractor but I installed the entire system myself so that I would have a better understanding of it as well as saving money. Even though it has taken me longer than I had anticipated, now that I have a better understanding of the system, I know I would not have a system that is incorporated into my existing system as seamlessly as this one is.

I would recommend the two of them to ANYONE interested in a wood boiler.

 

[JP11]

I would recommend the two of them to ANYONE interested in a wood boiler.

Ditto!

I talked to Mark for two years running at the fair. He is the reason I picked Vigas. A wealth of knowledge and a true gentleman. He answered, taught, and answered some more along the way.

JP

 

[JP11]

Reached gasification 11:32pm!! Still have a lot to learn about the system, but started a small fire tonight. Can't wait until tomorrow

So.. you've had some cold weather to run it... how's it going?