Remote temperature senors and digital readout/data logger

[Jataylor]

I am installing a Econoburn indoor wood boiler with a 700-5 Hydro-Flex Storage Tank in the Lake Placid/Ray Brook region of Northern New York. The system has three remote sensors connected to the boiler control which has a digital readout. I would like to add additional sensors to the system. A friend had a Goldline TD-6 display which had the availability of 6 remote sensors. An extensive web search reveals that it and Goldline Controls may have out of production since the mid 2000's. I am looking for a simple way to monitor remote sensors. Any guidance/suggestion/vendors is appreciated.

 

[goosegunner]

I am installing a Econoburn indoor wood boiler with a 700-5 Hydro-Flex Storage Tank in the Lake Placid/Ray Brook region of Northern New York. The system has three remote sensors connected to the boiler control which has a digital readout. I would like to add additional sensors to the system. A friend had a Goldline TD-6 display which had the availability of 6 remote sensors. An extensive web search reveals that it and Goldline Controls may have out of production since the mid 2000's. I am looking for a simple way to monitor remote sensors. Any guidance/suggestion/vendors is appreciated.

Can't help you but you must have a new control from Econoburn. Mine does not have any remote sensors.

Can you tell me more how they function or what they control?

gg

 

[Jataylor]

Can't help you but you must have a new control from Econoburn. Mine does not have any remote sensors.

Can you tell me more how they function or what they control?

gg

The Econoburn EBW 200-170 Gasification Version 4.11 July 2015 Start up Guide indicates that they are a supply sensor (Tekmar RTD), storage sensor also a Tekmar RTD and a thermocouple sensor (stack Type K thermocouple). I am note sure how they work with the system logic, but I am sure they do. I would think that when the storage tank sensor reached the designated temp. the system would change to idle. Same thought that if the stack temp was to high or low the fan speed would change depending on the supply line demand. I am going to call Econoburn and get their insight this week.

What I am looking for is temperature sensor information for my own curiosity, ie. domestic hot water loop in and out, storage tank top, mid and bottom etc. I found a 8 channel temperature unit built in the UK but it was a $1000. I will build my own with single reading digital readouts if I can't find one that has multiple ports/channels.

 

[Ncountry]

Have you checked out nofossils control system? It does a lot more than data logging , but would be really nice..

http://www.vecs.org/

 

[eauzonedan]

Check out Web Relay. I've got one of their X300's and it's great. Handles up to 8 sensors lets you daisy chain the wiring so each one is not a home run. Dropped three sensors inside storage to monitor stratification plus both sides of the hx and a couple other places for Dhw control. Ties to a home network and I can watch it all on my cell phone. Only complaint is me not including a high temp sensor so I don't have to go to the barn to check flue temp during a burn. This thing also lets you kick up to 3 relays with monitored temp data and also keeps a log file of 5 min readings for over a month. Couple hundred with the first sensor. Dan

 

[eauzonedan]

I just re-checked and the max temp for the x300 sensors is +/- 250 degrees f. They do have a higher temp sensor - but it requires an additional control unit and more therefore bucks.......

 

[jebatty]

A couple of things I learned after extensive data monitoring/logging on several systems. 1) Data logging and then turning the data into usable graphs tells a lot about system performance over time, allows easy spotting of anomalies, and provides the data to diagnose problems. This further allows a person to really understand what is going on at important system points. My usual logging was in 1 or 5 minute intervals. 2) Digital panel meters now become even more valuable because, with what is learned from the data logging, and then visually matching that with the meters, you can gain the ability to manage your system with a glance and know exactly what needs to be done, if anything, to solve a problem. Almost more importantly, the meters will tell you everything is fine. After a lot of logging and graphing early on, I do very little of that now because I understand how my system operates and the monitor meters tell me just about all I need to know.

The monitors/logging I found especially helpful for day to day monitoring were: boiler output supply temp, boiler protection return water temp, middle of storage tank temp, stack temp, system supply temp, system return temp. For understanding storage tank charging/stratification: near tank top temp, middle of tank temp, and near tank bottom temperature.

Once you know supply/return temps, you also can calculate your boiler btuh, if you know or can reasonably calculate the gpm flow rate. Variable speed circulators would complicate this. Also, with knowing btuh and doing weighed wood burns, you can determine your system efficiency. And knowing stack temp will help to fine tune this.

In addition to everything else, with having a meter panel display lit up, you will impress your friends and give the impression you truly are a knowledgeable person, a hot water boiler system guru, if you like.

 

[Jataylor]

I just re-checked and the max temp for the x300 sensors is +/- 250 degrees f. They do have a higher temp sensor - but it requires an additional control unit and more therefore bucks.......

Thanks for this information. The Web x 300 may work well for me.

 

[Sparky]

I like the idea of building a panel with all the information on your boiler
Where can you buy the digital displays and temperature probes ?
All I found were really cheap ones on eBay probes were really short and you couldn't extend them?