I’ve recently installed a tekmar 260 on my 15 year old oil boiler,
164k steel single pass boiler downfired to 1.0gpm for an output of about 112btu/hr
Tekmar 260 with outdoor reset sensor and DHW priority.
Triangle Tube (weil mclain) 40 gallon indirect
Set for fin-type baseboard: Minimum boiler temp 130 degrees.
Set for AD (automatic differential).
Everything’s wired and working. When the indirect tank fires for DHW I get about 15 minutes of firing time and my flue temp hits about 500F. But I have noticed, however, is short cycling during one zone’s activity. It’s an in-law apt over the garage 800 sqft, and I’m guessing it sucks about 40% of my total oil bill. The AD setting doesn’t seem to be doing me justice, probably because the heat load for the apartment is 1/5 that of the boiler. I’m getting between 3-4 minutes. Boiler target temp is 140 and shoots to 145. Because of the outdoor sensor at 30-45 degrees the top temp is 140. I’m going to start fiddling with the manual differential, to see if I can get longer firing times.
just found this thread. Are these worth the money and how much do they cost?
That depends. How much $$$ can you shove in an envelope and mail to my house?
If you burn more than $3000 in fuel a year, and are mechanical enough to install something lilke this yourself I’d say yes. I picked up a NIB tekmar 260 for $150 shipped and installed it myself. To have this item installed for me would have been in the $800-1000 range, because its not a set-and-forget install. You have to fiddle with it (make multiple trips to the customer’s home). Being a service tech myself I expect a trip to cost money.
I haven’t noticed a major difference in oil comsumption after 6 weeks, but the only number I care about is the one at the end of the year. I will say the heat is more even. The temperature of the water circulating through the baseboards is 130-150f, and this low draw for heat seems to cylce the boiler more often for a shorter period (not good). Flue temp during this cycle is 450f gross which is I know is low , however, it hits 500f gross during DHW production. I’m slowly boosting the min temp on the boiler, I have no idea if the AD setting is supposed to raise the temp to keep me out of the condensation zone, but it ain’t.
How hard was the install? Was yours like the others as far as install? And would you recommend it someone with not much boiler exp.
Can you wire a 3 way light switch? Can you find a breaker or pull a firematic? If the answer is yes I’d say give it a shot but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t ask me if you can do it because I’ll say yes to anything.
Speaking about my own install it was a piece of cake but security/access control work is what I do for a living, plus my boiler was 5’ from where I located my outdoor reset sensor. I already rewired the circulators and aquastat for a 6 zone control (sr506), one being DHW set for priority so the 260 was needed. I’m sure the intellicon would be great depending on where you get your hot water, some models may have a trigger for it, I don’t know. If it runs off your boiler you need DHW or so I’m told.
Having installed the Tekmar 260 I would seriously look at the intellicon if theres a big difference in money/ease of installing outdoor sensor. I’m getting the impression the 260 is meant to function with the indoor sensor in lieu of a thermostat, which wouldn’t work in my situation because of the different zones/areas are split up in my house.
I installed a honeywell Aquatrol aq475 outdoor reset on my welmclain boiler 3 yrs ago. Nice unit, it’s keeps the boiler from firing on a call for heat but allows the circ to pump. Depending on the outdoor temp/boiler temp differential. I have 4 zones on a 1200sq/ft ranch. There was no need to have the boiler firing for one zone, it really works well. anyone else using this unit? I’d like to know what settings you are using.
I have installed quite a bit of the tekmar 260’s, Beckett Heat Manager’s, Taco boiler resets and the Intellicon HW+ 3250 and even a device known as the “heat timer”. Overall they all do what they are supposed to do (except the heat timer!) and that is, to save fuel. However as far as return on Investment, ease of installation and minimal maintenance I have to go with the Intellicon or Heat Manger, I pay about $200 for the device and charge another $150 for installation. The tekmar usually costs around $500 with another $500 for installation, plus $150 for each subsequent “profiling” visit, unfortunately I have seen all too many times the tekmar unit being “slapped on” to a system and not correctly profiled thereby the savings that should be realized never come to pass. I have also seen condensation issues as the control doesn’t let the boiler achieve correct operating temperatures. The taco integrates nicely with the zone controls and costs around $300 but I am not impressed with its working’s for several reasons. As I am an ME by trade I always lean towards the simplest approach which would be the Intellicon, besides the mfg guarantees at least 10% in energy cost savings or they offer a refund on the cost of the device which makes it an easy sell for me.
I have 3 zones and an Amtrol hot water maker. I’m told that the hot water runs as if it were a 4th zone when it calls to heat the water. Can anyone tell me if the intellicon needs any kind of modification to standard installation because of the Amtrol hot water?
Thanks
I have 3 zones and an Amtrol hot water maker. I’m told that the hot water runs as if it were a 4th zone when it calls to heat the water. Can anyone tell me if the intellicon needs any kind of modification to standard installation because of the Amtrol hot water?
Thanks
Hi No there are no modifications required (i.e. right out of the box ready) since your domestic hot water is treated as a seperate zone.
here is a link for the Intellicon HW+ 3250 installation instructions..http://www.mediafire.com/?djw4z0whmk2
Received it and attached it to the boiler but the young electrician I had here didn’t want to attach the wires. I guess he didn’t have enough experience with the aqua stat.
Anyone know of someone who can do it here in Milton, Ma. I really want to get this thing connected.
Thanks
