radiator for dump zone

http://www.usboiler.burnham.com/contractors/tool-box-sizing

This might help.

When you say dump zone are you referring to a power outage situation?

I have been going to install a similar setup,In my case I believe it would be a rare situation when I would need a dump zone while the boiler is in operation with power on because it is constantly pushing against my storage,storage would have to be close to 200* before this would be a problem and I rarely take it past the mid 180,s before letting the fire go out.

Now a power outage is different.A smoldering fire could elevate temps into dangerous territory if there was no dump zone.In short I don't have an exact answer to how big a cast iron radiator should be but I bet it would not have to be huge.For one thing the bypass should be closed and with no fan blower on the temperature is going to increase slowly and not provide near the BTU's a boiler would normally produce, so my thoughts are that a radiator in the 30+ EDR range should handle a smoldering fire.you got to remember that the hotter the temp the more heat the radiator will dissipate and fast the boiler will cool.and you are starting with a radiator that is full of room temperature water.

Again in my situation, if gravity would start shortly after the power went out chances are the boiler would not be more than 190* (most likely less) and the radiator would not have to hard of a time keeping boiler temps at a safe level.

Since I haven't connect a dump to my system yet I can't be dogmatic,this is simply my thoughts on the situation.

I also am going to use a normally open Magnatrol valve instead of a automag because it uses 120 vac ,no need for a transformer and I can plug it into the same outlet as the boiler so it will activate simultaneous with a boiler power outage.

dswitham said:

I have some baseboard right now as a dump zone, but I know it's not enough. I would like to replace it with a cast iron radiator. On the next floor above my boiler, almost directly above it, is a spot I could put one to use as a dump zone. But I can't find how big of a radiator I would need to use. I know with the baseboard you can go by the length for figuring out the dump zone. Does anyone know what to use for figuring out the size needed for a cast iron radiator. I know it will be a big one, but not how big.

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How did you design your dump zone to your baseboards? That's the design I'm thinking about. Thks.