Gentleman janitor/Efm s15

I started burning coal for the first time in Oct 2019. My Stoker Don built boiler heated my house better than ever. Steady 71 degrees in down to 0 temps out with wind. It also idles with out problems 65- 70 degrees outside just running on the timer. 4 air 4 clicks. Second floor windows always got moisture build up in the past. Not this winter. This forum is excellent . I would not have been successful with out you. Burned about 5 1/2 ton rice. No drama until yesterday. I decided to upgrade my Honeywell 400a timer to an electronic one. I built the timer nepacoal invented , I watched Robs video and thought I was good. Removed the Honeywell attached the new one and it would not fire the stoker. The supply indicator light showed steady green, but the output red light just flashed. During this time the boiler went thru 1 heat call all normal. So I hooked the old Honeywell back up. Nothing. Upstairs I turned up the thermostat and I heard a pop in the basement. The mercury tube popped. I disconnected the timer. Now the Honeywell l8124a aquastat low will not shut off the stoker, the high will. So I am sure I damaged the aquastat , I must have miss wired it. I plan to get a new aquastat and start over carefully.

Scott, the red light comes on when the timer is active (power at terminal #18). I think you do not have the red dials adjusted properly if the red light was blinking. That would also explain why the stoker did not shut off unless you turned the high limit down (bc the timer was making the stoker run).

By the way, nice clean install, and nice looking boiler.

Thanks for the replies. I tried to do this in a hurry and screwed up. My wife has lost confidence in me. Been there before! I switched over to oil for now. In a week - 10 days I am sure she will soften up. When I get my stimulus check I might buy a new Honeywell aquastat. Ill get it fixed. Rob - I think your right , those dials are hard to read. I pulled the smoke pipe and brushed/ vacuumed pipe/boiler. Temporary pause.

Your timer wiring looks correct. Rig it up with a cord and a light bulb so you can bench test it.

Good idea Rob. I bench tested the timer with a light bulb and it works as it should. Thanks.

Scott in nwct wrote: ↑

Wed. Apr. 22, 2020 4:23 pm

Good idea Rob. I bench tested the timer with a light bulb and it works as it should. Thanks.

Glad to hear it. Any more thoughts on a new aquastat?

I run a pair of Honeywell single aquastats on mine. One for a high temperature limit, and the other to control the boiler temperature.

I like my Honeywell set up. I will probably stick with it. I only switched out my timer because the boiler idles fine with 2 min every hour. The 400a gave me 2 min every 1/2 hr. Do you need two wells with 2 aquastats for your setup . I redid the timer more like nepacoal. I also got a concrete distribution box for a septic system and will place a coal barrel on top of it. The box has several different holes that pop out. The worm looks like it will line up. We will see. Scott.

Scott in nwct wrote: ↑

Fri. Apr. 24, 2020 7:08 pm

Do you need two wells with 2 aquastats for your setup

Scott,

Yes you need 2 wells if you want to run 2 aquastats. If I remember correctly, that boiler has 2 wells on it already, doesn't it? One on the right side and one in the back near the DHW plate.

I remember drilling and tapping the one in the side.


-Don

Scott in nwct wrote: ↑

Fri. Apr. 24, 2020 7:08 pm

Do you need two wells with 2 aquastats for your setup.

You either need two wells, or the second aquastat has to be the type that you strap on a pipe. I just mentioned it in case you think it is a good fit for your setup. I keep my boiler at a steady temperature and have a circulator that says on all the time, so this setup works good for me.

Yes Don you are right on 2 wells one is on the back , one on the side. Scott