I love storage!

[mikefrommaine]

Only question is why did i wait so long to add it?

Been burning with storage for about a week now. And the added convenince has been great. The house is staying at an even temp and I don't have to run downstairs to add wood last thing at night and first thing in the morning. It was around 0*F last night and storage kept my house at temp all the way down to 119 at the top of the tank. Oil would have kicked on at about 110.

Here is what I started with, which worked fine but I wouldnt want to go back to it.

 

[mikefrommaine]

And here is the near boiler piping mods.

 

[mikefrommaine]

The control box.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I also upgraded the near boiler pump. I found a 26-64 new in the box for $100 on craigs list. It was just what I needed, it moves 20 gpm at ~9' of head. The existing 00r which i relocated provides the required 10gpm at ~3' to pull heat out of storage. The storage tanks are on the far side of the basement but so far so good. I've yet to put the boiler into idle mode with storage. When no zones are calling for heat and a full load of wood the boiler cruises along at 192 at 50-60% fan speed.

I've also noticed that the secondary flame gets very blue at times. More than I remember seeing before. It used to have a slight blue tinge. But now it's more like smurf blue after the boiler has been running hard for a while.

 

[Fred61]

You have to experience it It can't be conveyed any other way. I know how you're feeling right now! Congratulations

 

[kopeck]

Great isn't it?

Is that STS (or something like that) box? I was going to get one of those but I kind of made my own, not as pretty but it works for me!

My oil boiler is set to come on at 140 F, I know I could get away with 135 F easily (all base board) but the folks I purchased the boiler from suggested 140 since it's close the the pump set point on the loading valve.

K

 

[McKraut]

Mike,
I am jealous. I am a couple of seasons behind you. I just put my EKO in my shed yesterday. I am planning an installation that will look a lot like yours. I was wonerding if the unit puts out enough heat to keep the room warm, or if I need to install baseboard. In your last picture, in the background, is a grill. Is that for your fresh air intake?

Congrats on enjoying your success and hard work.

Bob

 

[Tennman]

Yep... add me to that jealous list but ain't no maybe about having storage for next season. Since you and I have the same boiler be prepared for me to suck your brain dry. Did you go 1000 gal? I'm looking to do two vertical standing 500 gal propane tanks. Way to go! Yep..... I'm gonna be storin' too in '13.

Anyway... all these guys who start off with storage from jump street miss all the joy of babysitting that boiler like we did for years. I feel sorry for you folk who never experienced the JOY of NON-STORAGE operations It's like not experiencing the JOY of the first 4 weeks with a newborn in your home. Who in his right mind wants to miss THAT!

BTW Mike.... My nozzle now in it's 4th season looks shot. Opening on the uppper chamber side is much wider this season. We 60 owners need to get a plan on how that ceramic block comes out. I'll be calling NH to see if he stocks them.

 

[maple1]

I knew that you would.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Great isn't it?

Is that STS (or something like that) box? I was going to get one of those but I kind of made my own, not as pretty but it works for me!

My oil boiler is set to come on at 140 F, I know I could get away with 135 F easily (all base board) but the folks I purchased the boiler from suggested 140 since it's close the the pump set point on the loading valve.

K

It is the stss control box with a couple slight modifications. I picked it up on clearance so it was cheaper to buy than make my own. It appears to be very similar to the tarm 'blt' control box. I had to add another relay so that it would work with white Rodgers zone valve which requires 24v to open and close. The blt/stss box is wired for a spirng return zone valve.

I used last night to as a test to see how low I could go on storage. I was expecting to wake up to a cold house since I have mostly baseboard and a few kicks pace heaters. If I go any lower on storage temps I won't be able to keep my indirect water heaters up to temp.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Yep... add me to that jealous list but ain't no maybe about having storage for next season. Since you and I have the same boiler be prepared for me to suck your brain dry. Did you go 1000 gal? I'm looking to do two vertical standing 500 gal propane tanks. Way to go! Yep..... I'm gonna be storin' too in '13.

Anyway... all these guys who start off with storage from jump street miss all the joy of babysitting that boiler like we did for years. I feel sorry for you folk who never experienced the JOY of NON-STORAGE operations It's like not experiencing the JOY of the first 4 weeks with a newborn in your home. Who in his right mind wants to miss THAT!

BTW Mike.... My nozzle now in it's 4th season looks shot. Opening on the uppper chamber side is much wider this season. We 60 owners need to get a plan on how that ceramic block comes out. I'll be calling NH to see if he stocks them.

Went with two 500 gallon horizonal tanks. Ask away with any questions

I made a nozzle overlay as part of my upgrades. The pictures actually make the nozzle look worse than it was. Should be able to get at least three years out of mine. Maybe more with the overlay. The nozzle lifts straight up an out. Just have to remove the upper chamber ceramic plates first. There is a rope gasket under the nozzle that you will have to make sure you get back in the same place.

I actually ordered a couple spare nozzles just to have on hand. Ordered them on a thursday night around 10. New horizon contacted me the following Monday apologizing they had not been sent out on Friday. I had them in hand on Wednesday.

Here is the thread

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/nozzle-overlay.101557/

 

[mikefrommaine]

Mike,
I am jealous. I am a couple of seasons behind you. I just put my EKO in my shed yesterday. I am planning an installation that will look a lot like yours. I was wonerding if the unit puts out enough heat to keep the room warm, or if I need to install baseboard. In your last picture, in the background, is a grill. Is that for your fresh air intake?

Congrats on enjoying your success and hard work.

Bob

The boiler is fairly well insulated. I get more heat off the uninsulated pipes. The room stays quite warm but it is not in a shed, it's a self contained boiler room in my basement. That is a grill that connects to the unfinished part of the basement. I plan to add an outside air intake now that all the piping is in place.

Thanks for all the compliments

 

[evamaxx]

The boiler is fairly well insulated. I get more heat off the uninsulated pipes. The room stays quite warm but it is not in a shed, it's a self contained boiler room in my basement. That is a grill that connects to the unfinished part of the basement. I plan to add an outside air intake now that all the piping is in place.

Thanks for all the compliments

very clean instal weres the tank? some body said something about sst tank is that the edpm liner /no presure tank? what i whats the best choice presure tk or non psi. good luck

 

[mikefrommaine]

I have the tanks in the middle part of the basement. It's about 60' of pipe each way. I used 1 1/2 pipe. Had some salvaged copper valves and pipe that I used for the final connections at the tank.

 

[Clarkbug]

very clean instal weres the tank? some body said something about sst tank is that the edpm liner /no presure tank? what i whats the best choice presure tk or non psi. good luck

Pressurized vs. non-pressurized will vary depending on a lot of things. Pressurized storage can typically be pushed hotter, but needs expansion tanks. Non-pressurized tanks fit in tight spaces, dont need expansion tanks, but need somewhat expensive heat exchangers. There isnt a universal best choice, unfortunately.

 

[711mhw]

Is there a preferred orientation for tanks? (v/h) I read about stratification but don't really understand it. I'd think idealy you'd have as close to your target water temps in the whole tank but I remember reading a post here from someone with 3 or more temp readings on a good size vertical tank. The difference (to me) was amazing but if I remember correctly, the poster was pleased. I guess insulation is next for you? Looks great and congrats.

 

[kopeck]

It is the stss control box with a couple slight modifications. I picked it up on clearance so it was cheaper to buy than make my own. It appears to be very similar to the tarm 'blt' control box. I had to add another relay so that it would work with white Rodgers zone valve which requires 24v to open and close. The blt/stss box is wired for a spirng return zone valve.

I used last night to as a test to see how low I could go on storage. I was expecting to wake up to a cold house since I have mostly baseboard and a few kicks pace heaters. If I go any lower on storage temps I won't be able to keep my indirect water heaters up to temp.

I'm 99% sure the STSS and the BTL are the same thing. I made a very simple knock off that involves a JC A419 and a RIB DPDT relay. I have a switch to do the oil/wood/auto bit but didn't install it since I was crunched for time. I'll get it in next summer.

K

 

[mikefrommaine]

I'm 99% sure the STSS and the BTL are the same thing. I made a very simple knock off that involves a JC A419 and a RIB DPDT relay. I have a switch to do the oil/wood/auto bit but didn't install it since I was crunched for time. I'll get it in next summer.

K

You have a diagram of your knockoff? Might help someone else down the road save some money.

I may have an older version of the stss box. But I noticed a couple differences with the blt intstruction sheet and wiring diagram I have. My box only has a 2 way switch, for oil only and auto backup. No wood only mode, which I plan to add once I pickup a 3-way toggle switch. For now I switch power to the oil burner off on the oil boiler. The blt wiring diagram shows 24v across terminal 1 and 2 all the time, the blt only has 24v at 1-2 when there is a call for heat. Not a big deal for me since I already had a 24v transformer to power the no power dump zone valve. It would be simple to change the wiring if needed. And finally I don't have the led indicator lights.

 

[JP11]

Those tanks don't look much different than the last time I saw them. Glad the deal worked out for both of us.

I think I used zoro tools online.. kept buying up a box of pipe insulation at a time. Made a BIG difference. I'd much rather run my boiler room radiant infloor than have it be hot in there.

Congrats. Great convenience, isn't it?

JP

 

[kopeck]

You have a diagram of your knockoff? Might help someone else down the road save some money.

I may have an older version of the stss box. But I noticed a couple differences with the blt intstruction sheet and wiring diagram I have. My box only has a 2 way switch, for oil only and auto backup. No wood only mode, which I plan to add once I pickup a 3-way toggle switch. For now I switch power to the oil burner off on the oil boiler. The blt wiring diagram shows 24v across terminal 1 and 2 all the time, the blt only has 24v at 1-2 when there is a call for heat. Not a big deal for me since I already had a 24v transformer to power the no power dump zone valve. It would be simple to change the wiring if needed. And finally I don't have the led indicator lights.

I could probably come up with something. The down side would be that mine is designed for my setup so it might not just plug into everyone else's operation but I sure it could be made to work with some fiddling.

K

 

[mikefrommaine]

Those tanks don't look much different than the last time I saw them. Glad the deal worked out for both of us.

I think I used zoro tools online.. kept buying up a box of pipe insulation at a time. Made a BIG difference. I'd much rather run my boiler room radiant infloor than have it be hot in there.

Congrats. Great convenience, isn't it?

JP

The tanks were pretty much set up perfectly for my system, thanks again.

Never thought about using zoro tool. They just had a 26% off everything sale on new years and they did 40% with free shipping on cyber Monday. Could have saved some money... I'm not too worried about the pipe insulation for the winter but will have to do something before it starts to warm up this spring.