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1

Central Boiler / E-Classic 1450 Transformer Question

« on: September 09, 2017, 03:53:39 PM »

Getting our E-1450 ready to go for our 4th season today....I powered up the unit today and noticed that I am not getting any power to the Firestar Controller on the side of the boiler (no display).  I do have some power running to other things such as the bypass handle alarm and LED lights.  I started checking out the electrical connections at the rear of the boiler.  I am not very knowledgeable about electrical components.  I thought that the 24 VAC transformer may have gone bad, so I unscrewed it from the top of the electrical box.  I started cleaning up some of the connections, etc. and was about to give up, when all of a sudden the Firestar controller fired up and was displaying power.  Everything on the boiler started working including the fans.  I then shut it off again and remounted the transformed on the box.  Went to power the unit back on and again it would not work.

This is our 4th year with the boiler.  Is it common for these transformers to go bad?  I have ordered a new one to replace it, but want to make sure I'm on the right track in trouble shooting the problem.  Am I missing anything else that I should also be looking at? 

Thanks in advance for any assistance/insight...

Papa Tango

2

Central Boiler / Re: E1450 clogged heat exchanger tubes - creosote

« on: March 10, 2017, 07:15:14 PM »

I have an e1450 and if I don't clean out the tubes once every two weeks they will get clogged up where the tool won't fit down the tubes. I use a small piece of wire like a coat hanger and run it up for the bottom and down from the top to break it up. I then pull the scraper tool with chains on both ends down through the tubes. One thing a learned is that if you remove the weak chain that came with it and put a heavier duty chain on the tool it will pull down easier.  Glad you were able to clean out the tubes and it's important to keep them clean. I use a shop vac during clean out to remove all ash and debris off the top of those tubes as well.

3

Central Boiler / Re: FireStar XP Module

« on: January 07, 2015, 07:34:58 PM »

I've had it up and running now for the past week.  This is the icing on the cake for sure.  Got text while at work yesterday that the water temp was dropping below 160. Had to call the wife and tell her to go out and poke the fire, I think the wood was bridging in the fire box.  She asked if I was serious and what she would get in return.  I asked her if she wanted to stay warm with it being 4F outside and she would get warmth in return.  Needless to say she took care of the boiler.  This FireStar XP is awesome and I agree with the other posts that you know when the best time to load is without going outside.

4

Central Boiler / Re: FireStar XP Module

« on: January 01, 2015, 08:33:45 PM »

Thanks...I got it hooked up using a Cat5 direct burial cable and it is working great. Sure is nice to see how it is doing from inside and knowing the best time to go out and re-load.

Thanks for the response.

5

Central Boiler / FireStar XP Module

« on: December 30, 2014, 04:03:23 PM »

Looking to install a Firestar XP wall mount module on my e1450.  What is the best cable to use other than buying it directly from Central Boiler?  I think I've seen someone post that Cat5 cable can be used and if so do I have to use the white wires together with the corresponding colored wire to make the connections or is  it okay to just use one of the wires in the Cat5 to make the connection.

Also when hooking up the power supply I assume just a normal indoor electrical wire works to hook up the 120VAC.

Thanks for any advice you can give. Looking forward to getting er hooked up and be able to view remotely.

Thanks,
PapaTango

6

Central Boiler / Re: E-Classic owners, let's talk temps

« on: October 20, 2014, 06:42:24 PM »

Mfrankm,

Too funny. I feel the same way. This thing is awesome and I couldn't be happier. After last winter and 3.95 a gallon propane fill ups, I had enough. Should've done it years ago and my wife is happy. We have had the same temps in Michigan recently and my wife loves it set at 72 degrees in the house.  I might have to crack a window open in the winter. My wife asks me if I'm talking to my friends again online. I can't stop laughing as this is the first time I've posted on a forum, but the information I've read in these posts are invaluable.

I think you have the list of cleaning chores spot on and I do the same every two weeks. I clean out the selenoid every month or give it a check atleast. Has not been bad so far.

Take care and happy burning. PapaTango

7

Central Boiler / Re: E-Classic owners, let's talk temps

« on: October 19, 2014, 08:02:43 PM »

You are on the right track.  Try and make it pulse more frequent and longer. You are correct that it can be set to more than 50 seconds.  Like yours I get reaction chamber temps very close to the same temp as my water temp when it is in idle mode.  Most of my constant glowing coals are near the center near the charge tube.  I have only witnessed an even bed of glowing coals across the whole bottom when it had been in high demand over night.  I think you will see that it will become like that as it gets colder and the demand is there.

I might check back with you later to see how you like the Firestar XP.  I'm interested in hooking that up to mine later this winter. 

8

Central Boiler / Re: E-Classic owners, let's talk temps

« on: October 18, 2014, 09:24:39 PM »

I also have an e1450 and have been keeping it running since June. Not much demand other than dhw over the summer. I set my idle pulse time to kick on for 60 seconds every 10 minutes. The fire has not gone out yet and during the summer I was getting 24 hour burn times. Now with cooler weather and the heat on I load for 12 hour burns. I would test some shorter pulse times and the goal is to just keep it burning. Once the demand is there your reaction chamber will heat up just fine to get back to your high set point. I've left mine at 185 and the low end at 175.  I wouldn't be concerned at all about reaction chamber temp while the thing is in idle mode. It doesn't have enough time to heat up while pulsing. Hope this helps a little.

Also make sure you clean out the ash from the reaction chamber. I do it about every 3-4 days and keep your primary air holes clean.  I've been giving mine a thorough cleaning every 2 weeks. 

9

Central Boiler / Re: HI All !

« on: October 09, 2014, 06:17:27 PM »

Roger,

Thanks for the advice...I've been using that method as well to keep the hot coals to re-kindle the fire after clean out.  I give it a good cleaning every two weeks which includes a thorough cleaning of the primary air holes.  On the 1450 the primary air holes are on three removable plates on each side of the fire box.  These plates can be removed by acorn nuts which exposes the entire primary air channel along the side.  I take them off to clean out the channel every two weeks.  It's a bit of a pain but ensures that the channel is clean.  Does the 1400 have this similar set-up?

I've also learned from this site about removing the primary air solenoid and giving it a good cleaning.  I've only done it once now, but will take your advice and clean it out about once a month.  The solenoid is also located in the back in the air box on the 1450.

You are right that there is a learning curve, but by reading posts on this site it has helped speed up that curve.

I appreciate all the help.  Thanks

10

Central Boiler / Re: HI All !

« on: October 08, 2014, 08:28:28 PM »

I'm also new to the forum and have been running my new E1450 for about 5 months now throughout the summer, heating dhw.  Got a large demand for hot water with 4 kids in the house. I do not have a rain cap on my stack and I have had no issues with build up or problems (even during summer rain storms, the thing still ran like a champ). I inspect the stack from the clean out every two weeks and haven't seen any problems. If it were me I would just keep your rain cap off of the stack and like Roger said put a bucket on it in the off season.  Those are my thoughts from a new guy. Hope you are able to diagnose the problem.

11

Central Boiler / Re: E1450 Reaction Chamber Temperature Sensor

« on: October 05, 2014, 07:04:37 AM »

Thanks for the advice.  I was able to push it down from the air box and it is now protruding into the reaction chamber about 1/2 inch (recommended by the manual).  Got temps in the 900's down there after fixing it. Haven't seen that in a few weeks and now she has no more smoke rolling out it. 

I really appreciate the help and it's gotten me back on track.  Looking forward to snow flying and the propane man driving by.

Thanks,
Papa

12

Central Boiler / Re: E1450 Reaction Chamber Temperature Sensor

« on: October 04, 2014, 07:32:34 PM »

Thanks for the information, I think I may have inadvertently pushed it up into that round housing. It only protrudes out of the housing about a 1/4 inch. Do you know if it is better to pull on it from the reaction chamber or open up the airbox and try and push it down from there. I don't want to damage it by trying to pull on it because there just isn't enough protruding to get a hold of.

13

Central Boiler / E1450 Reaction Chamber Temperature Sensor

« on: October 04, 2014, 03:54:06 PM »

I purchased an e1450 about 4 months ago and I've been heating dhw all summer.  Seems like I'm not getting as high of a temp down in the reaction chamber over the last few weeks. I've cleaned out the air intakes in the firebox, cleaned the silenoid elbows, kept reaction chamber clear of ash, been burning dry wood, etc.  I'm wondering if anyone knows the location of the temperature sensor in the reaction chamber?  I'm wondering if it needs to be wiped clean or inspected?

Any assistance would be gratefull. 

Thanks,
Papa Tango

14

Central Boiler / Re: CB 5036 vs 6048

« on: March 17, 2014, 06:12:08 PM »

Trust me I look forward to day the propane man just drives by the house.  Thanks for the information about the loop and pumps, makes sense. I think I'm leaning toward the 6048 and just hook up the DHW and furnace the first year. I can then plan appropriately for additional loops to the garage/bonus room and basement. Better to get knowledgable about the system and plumbing first before getting too complicated. Your feedback is appreciated and I see there is a wealth of information on this forum to learn from others.
Thanks again.

15

Central Boiler / Re: CB 5036 vs 6048

« on: March 16, 2014, 08:12:19 PM »

Thanks for the feedback....I'm leaning toward the 6048 to be sure I have enough size to handle everything.  I like the gasser concept, yet I'm hesitant as someone who is just getting into this.  Rather have a basic unit that burns more wood and reduce the chances of complications or operator error with the gasser.  We primarily have a westerly wind that may push some smoke northeast toward my neighbor, but being 300+ feet away I think I should be OK.  Straight east of us is nothing but woods.

When adding such things as a garage heat exchanger, space heater in bonus room, space heater in basement on top of DHW and the furnace, should I be looking to run two lines into the house from the boiler or will the one work?  If one line is sufficient do I need to add any additional pumps inside the house?