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K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 9:20 am
by JOE.G
Hi, I am ordering a K6 this week, my home is about 2,400 hundred square feet, basement first and second floor. I have the old cast iron hot water raditaors.
1,500 SQ ft of the house is new construction well insulated. Do you think the K6 is up to the job of heating a house of this size?
My wife likes it pretty warm low to mid 70's.
Is the K6 a good well made long lasting stove?

1. I was wonder If any one know where there is a diagram to show my plumber the diffrent options on hooking the coal boiler to my current oil boiler. I want to have it hooked up the most efficent way, I have a indirect hot water tank also.

2. Is there a way to make my thermostates control the coal boiler,I have 3 heat zones and a hot water zone.

3. I would like to not have my oil boiler come on at all but be able to come on by it self if need be.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 9:39 am
by coaledsweat
The Keystoker is a great unit and yours is sized well, the indirect DHW is good too (no scalding situations).

It can be plumbed in series, parrallel or in a loop from the coal boiler to the oil with a seperate pump triggered from the Keystokers aquastat. The thermostat need not be connected to the coal boiler with option three, the two prior will need a temp switch or additional thermostat for the changeover if you want it automatic. Set up right, the oil will never fire unless the coal boiler fails to provide heat.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 10:22 am
by JOE.G
Thanks for the reply, Can I get directions and diagrams to show me the 3 diffrent options of hook up. What are the pros and cons of each hook up? thanks

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 10:49 am
by Sting
If this is your first time -- May I suggest you pause and read these books.
**Broken Link(s) Removed**The folks that have followed this tidbit of advice from me have lamented it was the best 80 bucks they spent on their heating hobby.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 4:36 pm
by Yanche
And if you want to know the "why" part of those heatinghelp.com books and want to engineer it yourself buy the book, "Modern Hydronic Heating, 2nd edition by John Siegenthaler.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydronic-Heating-Residentia ... 102&sr=1-1

Comes with a scaled down version of John's analysis program for designing hydronic systems. Digest the book and you will know more than your plumber. Covers everything from heat loss calculations, all kinds of convection heat emitters, radiant floor, wall and ceiling heat, simple to complex thermostat and boiler controls, etc.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 8:45 pm
by JOE.G
I have thought about buying the books from heating help for a few years now, just never have, Now that I am buying a boiler putting up a chimmney, and not able to get the stove intill dec/jan do to backorder I will have to fill my oil tank so basicaly I am broke.

Anyone able to help me with the diffrent hook ups thanks alot

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Tue. Jun. 24, 2008 10:52 pm
by Sting
Most any example you covet will be useless if you don't understand why you need to follow or deviate from said example because EVERY installation is different and holds unique opportunities to cheat and pitfalls to overcome.

Examples would be similar to advice as: "hold this end of the gold club" for a man who never walked a back nine.

I submit - understand why --- or you may/will have drama in the next heating season that will cost you more than a few books you can buy for cheep or may simply be able to read in the public library.

Kind Regards
Sting

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Wed. Jun. 25, 2008 7:14 am
by CapeCoaler
Those very questions and more are answered within the forum archives. Use the search function, top right.
Here is a start in the right direction
**Broken Link(s) Removed**

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Wed. Jun. 25, 2008 10:21 pm
by JOE.G
I ordered one today, they had a K2 and a K8 there for me to look at, the K8 was ouite big. Basicaly I just want to hook it up to my oil boiler and when my thermostates call for heat I want the coal boiler to kick on and heat the house, and not have my oilboiler come on very often. I hear things like hook it up parreal in line and other terms I was just wondering what the benifits are to each.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Thu. Jun. 26, 2008 8:35 am
by LsFarm
Hello Joe,, look back several month or maybe into late last year,, there were several threads or topics on the various methods of hooking up a boiler to an existing boiler..

Some are more complicated, and require some replumbing of the existing system, other methods are a bit simpler, but may not be quite as efficient..

It is not a 'one size fits all' answer.. there are many variables with how where, why to plumb the boilers...

I'd suggest getting the books as well..

Greg L.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Fri. Jun. 27, 2008 4:57 pm
by e.alleg
Buy the books or check them out of your public library and you might decide to install it yourself. That way you are guaranteed to get what you want not to mention the money savings. In most localities you aren't allowed to go into business without a plumbers license but you can certainly install your own boiler.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Sat. Jun. 28, 2008 2:44 pm
by JOE.G
I have searched and searched, I would just like diagrams of teh diffrent set ups and the pros and cons of each. Thanks for anyhelp you can provide.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Sun. Jun. 29, 2008 7:59 am
by gaw
JOE.G; I got my plumbing degree by spending nights at a Holiday Inn Express so I can't give you much information myself. I found a couple of threads that I remembered from the past that may be of help and answer your questions or at least some of them.


How to Plumb a Harman VF3000 Boiler

The fact that the discussions may not be about your particular boiler is irrelevant.
There is a wealth of knowledge buried on this site, if your searches come up dry try keying in other words.

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Sun. Jun. 29, 2008 11:10 am
by Sting

Re: K6 ? New to This . Hook up and General Coal Boiler ?

Posted: Sun. Jun. 29, 2008 12:04 pm
by JOE.G
1.http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/boilers_in_tandem.htm Is this considered parrell or in series?\\

If I run it parrell how do I control the boilers so the coal is heating the houes and if need be the oil would kick on automaticaly?

Same goes for the series.

It seems that the only disadvantage to the parrell would be intial cost.

I may use the coal boiler all year, I have a indierct hot water heater, both my coal and oil boiler have coils the coal boiler one I will take out prioir to useing the boiler, the oil one I left in just not useing it.
I
I want my oil boiler to work normal if I go away for a week or so, or if I can't get coal I would rather spend a little more now and have a smooth runing easy to operate efficent system. Thanks