Keystoker Thermostat Question/Hot Water Circulation

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coalboy2017
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Posts: 4
Joined: Sat. Oct. 07, 2017 4:22 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Auto Feed Boiler
Coal Size/Type: Rive Coal
Other Heating: Crown Boiler

Post by coalboy2017 » Sat. Oct. 07, 2017 4:34 pm

Hi, I bought a house last year. It has a keystoker auto coal feed furnace with a thermostat on the 2ND floor. And I also have an oil furnace with a thermostat on both 1st and 2nd floor

Both furnaces are hot water baseboard. I think they are tied together. My oil furnace is dual zone. First and Second floor can be heated to different temperates. The Keystoker thermostat is on the 2nd floor. I think I wanna try coal this year. Before I buy 3 ton, does this mean that my coal stove may be set up dual zone too and I may only get heat on the 2nd floor? Please help me. I'm new at this. Logically I would like to believe it will satisfy heat on both floors. But I know nothing about pumps and how a keystoker would even do that. Thanks!

 
lzaharis
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Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
Location: Ithaca, New York
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: former switzer CWW100-sold
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused

Post by lzaharis » Sun. Oct. 08, 2017 4:10 pm

If you can upload pictures of your heating system,
the piping and fixtures in and around both the boilers including the boiler bypass if it has one
and the expansion tank and air scoop or the steel expansion tank in the ceiling and images of
the triple aquastats with the covers off and pictures of the wiring diagrams under each triple aquastat
and pictures of the dump zone aquastat with the cover(s) off that will help.

 
coalboy2017
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Posts: 4
Joined: Sat. Oct. 07, 2017 4:22 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Auto Feed Boiler
Coal Size/Type: Rive Coal
Other Heating: Crown Boiler

Post by coalboy2017 » Sun. Oct. 08, 2017 5:24 pm

Thanks! First 8 pics are keystoker and around it. Picture 9 through 15 is what's going on in other side of wall with switches/labeling/ oil furnace. That's about all I can get for now

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StokerDon
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Location: PA, Southern York County!
Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Oct. 08, 2017 8:56 pm

Welcome to the forum C.B.
There are a few different ways a coal boiler can be connected to an existing oil boiler. That system you have there looks like someone spent a lot of time putting it together to fit there needs. It will likely work very well once you figure out which valves to turn and switches to throw.

For me, it's difficult to tell what is what in the pics. If I were there in person, I could probably figure it out. Are the switches and valves labeled? Are there any notebooks or drawings of the system layout?

-Don

 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2366
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
Location: Ithaca, New York
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: former switzer CWW100-sold
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused

Post by lzaharis » Mon. Oct. 09, 2017 1:53 pm

Adding to what don has so wonderfully explained we also need to know if the boilers are piped in parallel or in series and whether the diaphragm bladder expansion tank is valved and shut off from the system when the coal stoker is running.

Would you mind taking more photos around the steel expansion tank please. if both the bladder diaphram expansion tank and the steel expansion tank are in the plumbed into the system with no shut offs the circulator(s) have no point of pressure change.

Just so you know; your steel expansion tank is not valved off from the system and is probably water logged due to the diaphragm bladder expansion tank IF an automatic fill valve is in the system and not shut off,

As Don said if one of us was there we could more quickly find out how the twin boiler plumbing is set up.

 
coalboy2017
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Posts: 4
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Auto Feed Boiler
Coal Size/Type: Rive Coal
Other Heating: Crown Boiler

Post by coalboy2017 » Mon. Oct. 09, 2017 9:06 pm

Thank you all for the great responses. I appreciate it. I will try to get more pics tomorrow. Facts I know. When I had someone over to clean the keystoker they told me:
Steel expansion tank is currently empty(above keystoker).
When the oil furnace runs the keystoker just acts as a radiator(I guess that isn't always the case but doesnt really hurt anything.)
The Keystoker can provide domestic hot water.
There are alot of pipes running parallel above the keystoker.
You all clearly have awesome amounts of knowledge for things I read on this forum. I wish someone could explain it all haha. I live in western pa in coal country. But nobody really services coal :/


 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Thu. Oct. 12, 2017 9:19 am

Western PA, what county?

 
coalboy2017
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Auto Feed Boiler
Coal Size/Type: Rive Coal
Other Heating: Crown Boiler

Post by coalboy2017 » Thu. Oct. 12, 2017 4:04 pm

Somerset County

 
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tikigeorge
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Post by tikigeorge » Sat. Oct. 21, 2017 8:41 pm

Look into a TACO control for your t stats. Makes thing easier. You can use existing stats to operate both boilers and remove the stoker stat when you get your system piped correct.

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