Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => Central Boiler => Topic started by: woodisgood on October 15, 2012, 07:21:33 AM

Title: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on October 15, 2012, 07:21:33 AM
  Was on the CB website lastnight and see they have alittle up on the new Firestar XP Controller remote monitoring system looks like the MSRP is $295.00 plus a data fee for each year. Looks like it will be a pretty neat system to keep an eye on things. My E-2400 was built last monday and I'm hoping they have them ready to ship out with my boiler. Don't know a ship date yet but I'm hoping this week. I'm all ready for it so all I really need to do is the outside hookup fill it with water and watch her go!  If anyone knows anymore on the new remote monitoring system please share what you know. I'll be sure to keep everyone up to date on how it work out for me.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on October 27, 2012, 03:56:44 PM
   Just an update for everyone got my E2400 delivered lastnight after work got it hooked up this morn and started a fire this afternoon. About an hour and a half in my waters at 125 degrees and alittle over 400 in the reaction chamber I figure my reaction chamber temp will get higher once I have a good bed of coals going.  Also hooked up my firestar xp monitoring and so far so good with it. It's def nice just looking at that instead of running out to the stove espically being a newbie and making sure im not screwing nothin up. As far as checking it from my phone I'm still working on that will keep u posted so far everythings gone really well hooking up the stove and the XP. I'll try to keep everyone up to date on my progress.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: Roger2561 on October 28, 2012, 05:53:04 AM

I'm glad to hear that it's operating nicely for you.  Continued good luck with it.

I need to check with Central Boiler to see if they provide the same product for the E-Classic 1400.  This is my second year with it and although I'm a bit more comfortable operating it, it would be nice to monitor it from indoors instead of having to dress up to satisfy my curiosity.  My unit is only 25 feet from the house but I'm out in the open and there is absolutely nothing to stop that north wind from penetrating to the bone.  Roger   
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: boilerman on October 28, 2012, 06:13:49 AM
Roger, I went to the centralboiler.com site and read up on this new XP monitoring system...pretty cool! From what I read, sounds like there is a kit so it can be added onto your 1400 and my 2400 too. Can read the water temp and reaction chamber temp from inside our nice warm houses. Special software so we can monitor operation on our home computers too. I have not advanced to having a "smart phone" yet, cause I don't think I'm smart enough to use one, but says you even can check on your furnace from anywhere  you have cell phone service. Out on the tractor, at work of wherever. I will try to get more information from my dealer buddy this week.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on October 28, 2012, 08:58:58 AM
It was pretty easy to hook up I pulled a data cable this last week from the house to the pad thru my conduit then when I got the boiler theres just two wires you hook onto in the air box then inside the house you hook up the power supply box to two of the other wires in the data wire (I used Cat 5 wire) then hook your two wires from boiler and the two wires from the power supply into the XP Monitor and thats it. I'm messing around this morn trying to figure out how to get it up on my laptop and I-Phone. All in all it was pretty easy to hook up. I've got the monitor sitting on my bar in the basement but sum time this week plan on pulling a wire thru my one wall from the basement to the kitchen and mounting it in one of my cupboards.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: Roger2561 on October 28, 2012, 11:33:23 AM
Roger, I went to the centralboiler.com site and read up on this new XP monitoring system...pretty cool! From what I read, sounds like there is a kit so it can be added onto your 1400 and my 2400 too. Can read the water temp and reaction chamber temp from inside our nice warm houses. Special software so we can monitor operation on our home computers too. I have not advanced to having a "smart phone" yet, cause I don't think I'm smart enough to use one, but says you even can check on your furnace from anywhere  you have cell phone service. Out on the tractor, at work of wherever. I will try to get more information from my dealer buddy this week.

Boilerman - Thanks for the info.  I'll have to give my CB rep a call for pricing.  If I can monitor my furnace from inside the house, or at work even, it will offer me a piece of mind. 
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on October 28, 2012, 11:46:02 AM
It cost me 295 for the XP unit plus another 85 for the wall mounted unit I think it cost 10 bucks more for the desk top unit. Central boiler sells the data cable for around $1.00 a foot I believe in comes in 100 or 1000 foot rolls. I think you can find a cheaper cable else where though like I did.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: Roger2561 on October 28, 2012, 04:59:47 PM
It cost me 295 for the XP unit plus another 85 for the wall mounted unit I think it cost 10 bucks more for the desk top unit. Central boiler sells the data cable for around $1.00 a foot I believe in comes in 100 or 1000 foot rolls. I think you can find a cheaper cable else where though like I did.

Thanks for the pricing info.  I now know what to expect when I call them.

Do you know if the cable is cat5 ethernet or better?  If it is, at work I have access to the short runs that are useless that they toss out.  I'll grab some of it.  Roger
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: pwdiver on November 02, 2012, 05:55:08 PM
will this work on a 5036 classic boiler ???
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: boilerman on November 03, 2012, 02:30:49 PM
Roger, it is an industrial shielded cat 5 cable.
Only available on E-Classics with Firstar2 computer upgrade on them from what I understand.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: Roger2561 on November 04, 2012, 05:10:43 AM
Roger, it is an industrial shielded cat 5 cable.
Only available on E-Classics with Firstar2 computer upgrade on them from what I understand.

Boilerman, My e-classic 1400 does not have the Firestar II, it's just the lesser, Firestar.  When I get a few minutes, I'll call CB during one of my lunch breaks and see if they have the Firestar II upgrade for my 1400 and at what cost.  I have a feeling it'll be costly just for the upgrade.  Roger   
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: sam-tip on November 06, 2012, 12:16:12 PM
Just ordered my kit for my E3200.  $600 for the Firestar II controller and $385 for the XP kit. Plus shipping and wiring kit.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: pwdiver on November 09, 2012, 03:02:06 PM
So I guess the Firestar 11 cant be adapted to the 5036, thanks for the info :-X
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: Jack72 on November 09, 2012, 07:19:28 PM
Just ordered my kit for my E3200.  $600 for the Firestar II controller and $385 for the XP kit. Plus shipping and wiring kit.
                                         I dont want to be negative but I have a camera pointed at mine that I can look at anytime to give me a readout of what is doing from a pc or phone unless that readout of the cycles is that important to everyone        you can buy six cameras for that price   
Thats always a option for you PWdiver
Thats just my 2 cents

Jack
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: pwdiver on November 10, 2012, 03:29:27 AM
I used to have some X-10 outdoor camera's , Thank you for the info Jack :thumbup:
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: dwneast77 on November 11, 2012, 09:33:36 PM
pwdiver, I also use a camera.  I have a DVR based camera system which allows me to view in home or remotely via the internet.  It's older and not compatible with smart phones, but then I'm not that fancy anyway, don't have a smart phone.  But I could not imagine not having the ability to monitor the system.  I can even see the little dot telling me whether it's currently running or not.  I am familiar with X10 cameras but I recall having some trouble keeping them tuned in with wireless setup.  Nowadays, DVR systems are quite affordable and easy to install.  Plus you get the benefit of remote monitoring and recording.  It's always running without designating a computer to run all the time to monitor the cameras with.  With my greenhouse business, I like that I can look back at any point in the night and see when a problem may have occured (not that I can do anything about it. by the time I've looked back at the video I've already been out to find the problem and resolve it.  But still, I can see when it happend).  Some IP cameras can be useful too esp. if it has a built-in SD card slot. 
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: sam-tip on November 16, 2012, 10:15:11 AM
Just got my XP controller and XP module installed.   Went smooth except for the very tiny power supply for the xp module.  So small I connected it wrong and fried it.  My eyes are not that as good anymore.   So used a 9 volt battery to test it.  It works great with my large electronic power suppple adjusted to 8 volts DC.  I really like looking at the logged data to monitor history of the burns and temps.  The manual for the install is not to clear on what to do.  But I figured it out.  Pulling the new wires is challenging but using a fish tape helped a bunch.  I used underground Cat 5 wire to connect XP module to the XP controller. 

If electrically challenged dont do it your self.   I am very skilled with electronic instrumentation and I still fried the $15 power supply.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on November 17, 2012, 05:12:44 PM
   I installed my XP monitoring system acouple of weeks ago when I received my new stove it always gave me the water temp and reaction chamber temp but could never get it to hook up with my wireless router i could pick it up with my laptop but could never do anything with it other than that. Once you power up the system there is a blinking blue led light on it after acouple of minutes the light is supposed to go solid but it would never do this. So I called CB the other day and told them my problem it seems you have to have version 6.4 software in your firestar controller I figured I would have the newest version since my stove was built in the second week of October of this year but mine has version 6.2 so hopefully by the end of this nxt week I'll have her telling me more info than I need to know just sum food for thought for everyone. I couldnt be anymore happy with my stove or the customer service I have received from my dealer and dealing directly with central boiler. If anyone has any questions about the system or installing it let me know.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: sam-tip on January 20, 2013, 10:13:42 AM
My XP module died on me.  It still displayed the temps but the blue light started flashing.  I added a wireless repeater and that helped for a month.  Then the blue light started flashing again.  I had to replace the XP module.   Now the new XP module connects to the internet but I can’t see the readings on line.  The module says OK if I push the down button.  So the new xp module is  connecting to Central Boiler.  I have checked the serial number.  I have reentered the serial number.  Central Boiler did say there is a bug in the software on the first units.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: boilerman on January 22, 2013, 05:47:52 PM
Sam, other than this snafu, how did you like the XP? Have been considering putting that option on my 2400 so I can monitor from my smart phone.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: woodisgood on January 22, 2013, 06:40:46 PM
  I got my xp hooked up right when I got my stove it would always give me my readings and setting on the display but I could never get it to hook up to my wireless router CB sent me the updated software I loaded it in and same thing. They ended up sending me a new XP unit I hooked it up and finally got it to link to my router. The program worked great for the last month then all of the sudden that dam blue light started flashing and I cant get it to link up again. Ill call the IT department tomorrow an see if they have any sugggestions. Theyve been very good to work with I've been dealing right with a rep and the IT and engineering department I think theyve been learning as much as me thru the whole ordeal. Oh well atleast my stoves been running like a champ! Luv seeing the wife run around half naked in the winter time! LOL!
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: sam-tip on January 23, 2013, 03:00:50 PM
boilerman I love the wireless XP.   The problem was on Central Boilers end.  It took the  IT guy about 3 minutes to reset something and it was working.  I use the history graph to monitor how the boiler runs over night.  I can tell if the wood is getting low by watching the temps on the graph.  Or when it ran out of wood.  Also by watching the history I can predict when is the best time to put more wood in without getting lots of smoke in face.  If I load it just before the boiler turns on for heat demand I don't smell like smoke.  The wireless XP is a very useful tool.  I have made a few changes to the timing by going over the history logs and it has decreased my wood usage.
Title: Re: Firestar XP Monitoring
Post by: cgbm on December 07, 2014, 09:20:22 PM
Has anybody tried to build their own module to monitor there boiler?  I'm thinking of hooking a micro controller up to the Firestar module in my boiler and seeing what data I can pull during operation.  If I can make sense of it, I can tap it with Cat5/6 or a homemade wifi module.  Would be pretty cool to have a digital display in my house.  With a little more tweaking I could have the system update a webpage and be able to view the info from anywhere.  I can't stand monthly monitoring fees.  Just wondering if anyone has messed around with this before.