Manometer and Heat Commander

[NSGUY]

I have 2 separate questions about this,

I have had my Heat Commander now for a few years, really like it, but just a couple small issues

First the Manometer, its a Dwyer Mark 2 , I had it installed when I put HC in, but a couple things I noticed, the gauge never seems t be calibrated to 0, and stay there, its always on/ in the negative when nothing is in use, before when I open my basement door it would generally come up a bit to or even above 0 maybe, and I'd just calibrate it to 0, Now I noticed this year as we're just getting into fire season, my meter again was hard in the negative with no fire or anything, I open the basement door to I guess equalize the air pressure, but the meter never came up at all, and my dial was turned all the way up. I made a fire anyhow, once the fire was going the meter came up to .4-.5 But I don't know if that is accurate as my meter wasn't zeroed at the start, and I had no adjustment,any ideas why that is, is meter faulty, does it require more red oil? how would I know ? hopefully I explained that ok.

Second question , on the HC when I push the green button when starting a fire should both Dampeners open, I'm sure I remember they did, I noticed this yer when I pushed the green button the right side dampener opened fully but the left side only open up about 1/3, is that right?

Thanks for any help

 

[brenndatomu]

Sounds like your meter is a bit low on oil.
Adjust the knob to roughly "the middle" of its range, add oil until you are roughly at zero.
Once you are heating again, pull the manometer tube off and zero the meter once the room (meter oil) is at "normal operating temp"...mine goes below zero in the summer too, but comes back up once the furnace room warms up.
Make sure the meter is level and plumb too.
As for the dampers, they both open, but I had it in my head that one was only partially...someone else will likely remember for sure...

 

[Whitenuckler]

t

I have 2 separate questions about this,

I have had my Heat Commander now for a few years, really like it, but just a couple small issues

First the Manometer, its a Dwyer Mark 2 , I had it installed when I put HC in, but a couple things I noticed, the gauge never seems t be calibrated to 0, and stay there, its always on/ in the negative when nothing is in use, before when I open my basement door it would generally come up a bit to or even above 0 maybe, and I'd just calibrate it to 0, Now I noticed this year as we're just getting into fire season, my meter again was hard in the negative with no fire or anything, I open the basement door to I guess equalize the air pressure, but the meter never came up at all, and my dial was turned all the way up. I made a fire anyhow, once the fire was going the meter came up to .4-.5 But I don't know if that is accurate as my meter wasn't zeroed at the start, and I had no adjustment,any ideas why that is, is meter faulty, does it require more red oil? how would I know ? hopefully I explained that ok.

Second question , on the HC when I push the green button when starting a fire should both Dampeners open, I'm sure I remember they did, I noticed this yer when I pushed the green button the right side dampener opened fully but the left side only open up about 1/3, is that right?

Thanks for any help

The manometer should be set to zero not connected, and both ports clear.

 

[NSGUY]

Sounds like your meter is a bit low on oil.
Adjust the knob to roughly "the middle" of its range, add oil until you are roughly at zero.
Once you are heating again, pull the manometer tube off and zero the meter once the room (meter oil) is at "normal operating temp"...mine goes below zero in the summer too, but comes back up once the furnace room warms up.
Make sure the meter is level and plumb too.
As for the dampers, they both open, but I had it in my head that one was only partially...someone else will likely remember for sure...

Thanks you , I go check to see if I can find my oil, I sure I had some left, I check that dampener to hopefully its just sticking or something otherwise I do have another Dampener/motor I can put on and see how that works.

 

[NSGUY]

Update on the dampener, I figured since I had a spare I'd just change it, when I took he cover off to get to the motor I noticed it was quite warm, borderline hot, the other one was barely warm. so I changes it out powered it back up, It did the same thing only opened a bit its maybe 1/4 open., I guess now I'll wait and see if that motor gets hot, thinking there maybe something else going on.

 

[NSGUY]

Ok so here is where i'm at, new Damper only opening 1/4 way and getting hot just like the one I took out, Hot enough you can't keep your hand on it.

I called SBI, Now I know everyone can't know everything lol, but the person couldn't tell if the 2 dampeners are supposed to open fully or not when pushing the green button when starting fire, so they didn't know if the left one just opening 1/4 is right or not, they also couldn't tell me if the both of those motors getting that hot was normal or not,

So this all could be proper or it may not be, if anyone has any answers to this I'd appreciate it, just in case something is not right. Thanks

 

[travis8352]

Im pretty sure thats how the dampers open when you click the green button

 

[Laynes6999]

The dampers should fully open. Sometimes unplugging the unit will reset, or there's a tab that can be adjusted to fine tune.

 

[NSGUY]

The dampers should fully open. Sometimes unplugging the unit will reset, or there's a tab that can be adjusted to fine tune.

Thanks for the reply, Not meaning to question you, but under the scenario, where there has been no fire, everything is cold, push green button both Dampeners should full open correct? I replaced the dampener and motor, and switched out motherboards. That left side dampener will still only open up a 1/4 or less. right side fully opens. I have noticed though on the left side , that tap on the bottom of the dampener where it closes, if i push that down after the dampener opens to its 1/4 , the dampener then will fully open, is that the tab your speaking of to adjust. Thanks

Also could maybe a faulty thermocouple cause this?

 

[travis8352]

Ill know when i fire mine but i swear when i press the button, 1 damper fully opens and 1 is 1/3rd or so. Maybe im misremembering and they both fully open and then once fire is established, 1 closes to half way and the other to a 1/4th or so. Honestly typing this to this point i no longer remember for sure

 

[brenndatomu]

i swear when i press the button, 1 damper fully opens and 1 is 1/3rd or so

How I remember it too, but I haven't run that machine day to day for a bit now...

 

[NSGUY]

Ill know when i fire mine but i swear when i press the button, 1 damper fully opens and 1 is 1/3rd or so. Maybe im misremembering and they both fully open and then once fire is established, 1 closes to half way and the other to a 1/4th or so. Honestly typing this to this point i no longer remember for sure

For so reason, I have it in my head from last year that they both opened fully, lol, I could very well be wrong and are starting to think I am, either way the furnace is working fine otherwise as is.

 

[NSGUY]

Sounds like your meter is a bit low on oil.
Adjust the knob to roughly "the middle" of its range, add oil until you are roughly at zero.
Once you are heating again, pull the manometer tube off and zero the meter once the room (meter oil) is at "normal operating temp"...mine goes below zero in the summer too, but comes back up once the furnace room warms up.
Make sure the meter is level and plumb too.
As for the dampers, they both open, but I had it in my head that one was only partially...someone else will likely remember for sure...

So I got more oil today, making a fire tonight as it will be chilly, So really the only question I have is should I open my basement door when I adjust the level to zero?

I heat the basement first, pull the tube off zero it, and yes i have it nice and level and plumb too.

Thank you,

 

[brenndatomu]

So really the only question I have is should I open my basement door when I adjust the level to zero?

No.