EFM 520 Highboy

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 9:20 pm

I'm looking for information on how to hook up my Highboy. My house has a one pipe steam system. Is there any detailed information out there on how to hook this stoker up? The stoker was setup for hot water so it needs to be converted over to steam. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks


 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Fri. Dec. 08, 2017 6:37 am

Page 13 in the EFM manual has the recommended piping layout for steam. You should check the pitch of your steam pipes and the condition of the vents as part of this project.

http://cdn.efmheating.com/DF520-Installation.pdf

You will also need to purchase the steam controls and a sight glass kit.

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 6:59 pm

What size pipe does the header have to be?

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 7:34 pm

How many square feet of steam radiation is in the system?

Running full size pipe from the boiler tapping to the risers would result in drier steam, but if your connected load is well under the boiler capacity you can probably downsize the pipe a little.

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 7:53 pm

360 square feet

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 7:58 pm

The tapping on the boiler now is 2" from the previous hydronic system. I don't know if I'm going to be able to get it out. I had a pipe wrench on it with a 4' extension pipe on the end and all it did was spin the whole boiler

 
User avatar
McGiever
Member
Posts: 10130
Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 8:51 pm

Both feet on the boiler and both hands on a bigger 'cheater' bar and 'grunting' will stop the boiler spinning. :lol:

But seriously, a Fire Wrench will help get it loose.


 
User avatar
windyhill4.2
Member
Posts: 6072
Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 9:03 pm

You could put it against a wall on 1 side & park a vehicle against the other side or a tractor if you have 1 of those.

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Thu. Dec. 21, 2017 9:31 pm

Those bushings are miserable to remove. I ended up cutting mine nearly threw with a reciprocating saw and breaking it out with a chisel.

I am not an expert on steam velocity, but I think 2" would be putting you at an undesirable velocity. For a little bit of work, I would remove the bushing and run 3".

Is the rest of your near-boiler piping correct? If you are not sure, you need to do some research.

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:04 am

Idk if the near boiler piping is correct. That's why I'm here lol. I would imagine it's not since there is a oil boiler in place now.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
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. Dec. 24, 2017 9:24 am

It's pretty difficult to tell if the near boiler pluming is correct without seeing it. A picture is worth a thousand words.

What happened to the steam plumber that you had?

-Don

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:38 am

I had 3 different plumbers give me quotes and the cheapest one was $5,000. So needless to say I'm going to attempt the install myself. I'll take pictures later and post them. I know the piping coming off the boiler as well as the mains are 2"

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:45 am

How many mains are connected to the header?

 
hardcoalhardcore
Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed. Jul. 26, 2017 9:03 pm
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa

Post by hardcoalhardcore » Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:48 am

Two mains.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
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. Dec. 24, 2017 10:01 am

hardcoalhardcore wrote:
Sun. Dec. 24, 2017 9:38 am
I had 3 different plumbers give me quotes and the cheapest one was $5,000.
Ouch!

Is this header a drop header, or did they just connect the two supplies into one pipe?

-Don


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”