digital aquastat and timer EFM 520
- coalkirk
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- Location: Forest Hill MD
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal
So we are almost through February and here in the tropics of Maryland it's time to start thinking about off season maintenance and improvements. This off season I need to rewire my boiler with armored cable. When StokerDon and I installed it we did a quick and dirty on the wiring. It works fine but needs to be done with the correct wiring. When I do that I'd also like to replace the aquastat and timer with digital ones. The mechanical timer makes a loud noise under the family every half an hour and makes me and the dog jump. The aquastat is on the back of the boiler where it is difficult to read and adjust. It also does not seem to be all that accurate as far as the setting and actual temperature. I want to locate a new one on the side of the boiler where the taps are for the steam sight glass. Who has a recommendation for these controls please?
- McGiever
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Honeywell L7224 for aquastat is a digital...I use one.
Lot of digital timers out there...just watch the contacts rating do fit the motor well enough...you might get 100,000 cycles racked up on it. With some patience and some detective work you may find a real deal on an otherwise very expensive timer at ebay.
Lot of digital timers out there...just watch the contacts rating do fit the motor well enough...you might get 100,000 cycles racked up on it. With some patience and some detective work you may find a real deal on an otherwise very expensive timer at ebay.
- nepacoal
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I like the Hydrolevel 3250+ that came with my boiler. They sell a remote mounting kit for around $30 so you could use the same well and just mount it on the side. Or, install a new electrowell and also use the low water cutoff feature. I'm also looking for a digital timer and am so far leaning towards something like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B91KRZX/?coliid=I3JS ... _lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B91KRZX/?coliid=I3JS ... _lig_dp_it
- Rob R.
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
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If you want a remote mounted digital aqaustat, you are pretty much stuck with the Hydrostat 3250. I am not aware of any other unit that can be mounted remotely. This aquastat also offers some nice fuel saving features if you wire it up properly. Speaking of wiring...if you put all of the controls on the wall away from the boiler, you will probably need a lot less armored cable. One run to the motor and circulator(s) is probably all you need.
Tyler has some nice pictures of his install, which includes a Hydrostat and a Siemens control for a timer.
Hall's 1991 DF 520 Build Thread
Tyler has some nice pictures of his install, which includes a Hydrostat and a Siemens control for a timer.
Hall's 1991 DF 520 Build Thread
- CoalJockey
- Verified Business Rep.
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CK
Just a follow up to my thread that Rob kindly provided the link for:
So far the Hydrostat has performed very well for me. I say that with some slight caution as others here have not had a good experience, but for me it’s been good. The fuel saving features are easy to set and I feel they do extend the mileage quite a bit. Very often the boiler can satisfy the thermostats call for heat just by purging the hot water and not firing the stoker. Through the shoulder months I can heat the whole place on 150 to 160 degree water and the high limit will increase if there is more demand.
The Siemens timer controller was purchased on EBay and forum member VermontDay programmed the memory card for me. It will provide some fuel savings by resetting the timer every time the boiler fires, eliminating unnecessary burning. The program has options for draft control and multiple hour meters to track maintenance and run time. It does everything he said it would do and he was a pleasure to deal with. He has a thread detailing all of this, just search for “Siemens LoGo timer” or something similar.
Hope this helps. I hope others chime in here too, there are some great minds in this boiler section. I am certain there are many other options being used, I enjoy seeing the many different ideas on installs.
Just a follow up to my thread that Rob kindly provided the link for:
So far the Hydrostat has performed very well for me. I say that with some slight caution as others here have not had a good experience, but for me it’s been good. The fuel saving features are easy to set and I feel they do extend the mileage quite a bit. Very often the boiler can satisfy the thermostats call for heat just by purging the hot water and not firing the stoker. Through the shoulder months I can heat the whole place on 150 to 160 degree water and the high limit will increase if there is more demand.
The Siemens timer controller was purchased on EBay and forum member VermontDay programmed the memory card for me. It will provide some fuel savings by resetting the timer every time the boiler fires, eliminating unnecessary burning. The program has options for draft control and multiple hour meters to track maintenance and run time. It does everything he said it would do and he was a pleasure to deal with. He has a thread detailing all of this, just search for “Siemens LoGo timer” or something similar.
Hope this helps. I hope others chime in here too, there are some great minds in this boiler section. I am certain there are many other options being used, I enjoy seeing the many different ideas on installs.
- StokerDon
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Your aquastat and gauge are probably pretty accurate. The boiler water is not the same throughout the boiler, different parts are at different temperatures. On an EFM, the gauge is on the front and the aquastat is on the back, they will see different temperatures.
I wouldn't move the aquastat, EFM put it there for a reason. You want the aquastat to be on the same side of the boiler as the return ports. Otherwise response time could suffer.
-Don
- Scottscoaled
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I use the Hydrolevel 3250 also. No brainer. The remote is offered in two different lengths. 4' and 10'. Two cables for this setup. One for the remote and a jacketed cable from the controller to the stoker. It passes thru a low limit aquastat to shut it down in the event of an outfire. The 3250 is very accurate and you can see it with the lights out.
- Scottscoaled
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- Coal Size/Type: Lots of buck
- Other Heating: Slant Fin electric boiler backup
EFM puts the aquastat well near the domestic coil. So you don't have to take cold showers if that is where you get your domestic hot water from.
- coalkirk
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Thanks everyone for the replies. My only real issue is the mechanical noise the timer makes when it activates. So I think I'll keep the Honeywell aquastat, replace the time and rewire in the off season.
- McGiever
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- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
For the record, the Honeywell digital L7224 can be remote mounted same as a Hydrolevel.
- franpipeman
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wow that right long wire for sensor and all the other wires too . I use one based on McGievers recommendation and in my case to view all the details it shows i have to contort my body over the smoke pipe and under the pipe header, but your right i could mount it any where except all the other wires that would have to be moved too Circulator , burner zone but remote mounted it is capable.
- 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
That is a important detail for any remote install, good point to understand what all is involved in order to have it moved to remote, especially if it is already wired.
- nepacoal
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- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
My father in law uses a mirror to see and adjust the aquastat on his EFM...franpipeman wrote: ↑Sun. Feb. 24, 2019 8:15 amwow that right long wire for sensor and all the other wires too . I use one based on McGievers recommendation and in my case to view all the details it shows i have to contort my body over the smoke pipe and under the pipe header, but your right i could mount it any where except all the other wires that would have to be moved too Circulator , burner zone but remote mounted it is capable.