Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: Bluegrass Wood Burner on December 04, 2016, 06:04:52 PM

Title: Indicator light
Post by: Bluegrass Wood Burner on December 04, 2016, 06:04:52 PM
I'd like to have a light come on when my boiler is calling for the draft blower to be on. A light I could see out the window to let me know how long it's taking to heat up . That would tell me how much wood is left in the firebox. My boiler is the old fashioned type with not electronics in it. Also thinking of putting a digital temperature controller on front of it rather than the aquastat. Any suggestions on either of these.
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: mlappin on December 04, 2016, 08:36:45 PM
You do have a solenoid to open and close a flapper? If so simply tie into the two wires to the solenoid and run them to a small indicator light.
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: slimjim on December 05, 2016, 01:20:02 AM
As Mlappin says, use the two connections on the solenoid or blower to run a hot and ground to the light, digital aqua stats are available at just about any local hardware store or supply house, Ranco and Johnson are both very good, they both use a dry well for the temp probe and a wiring schematic will be included in the box, be sure to get the 120 volt version as they both also build a 24 volt version.
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: shepherd boy on December 05, 2016, 04:03:33 AM
I think his unit is a copy of a Taylor which does not use a solenoid, so he needs to use the blower wires.
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: Bluegrass Wood Burner on December 06, 2016, 05:49:49 AM
No solenoid. I found some post from the past that helped me with my plans. I'd just like to look out thier at night without having to go out there and make sure everything is going well. If I had a green light to come on when it's idling letting me know it's all good. Just a small light enough I can see.
Thank you all for your replies
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: RSI on December 06, 2016, 05:05:25 PM
You should be able to tie into the existing aquastat easily. What kind of aquasat do you have?
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: Bluegrass Wood Burner on December 06, 2016, 05:27:55 PM
It's a white Rogers
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: RSI on December 06, 2016, 08:41:08 PM
Do you want a light for when it is idling and another light when it is calling for heat or just one light?

If it is a normal aquastat, you can easily run a 120v light either way. Like mentioned earlier if you want it on when calling for heat, it is probably easiest to just connect to the blower power.
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: Bluegrass Wood Burner on December 06, 2016, 08:55:18 PM
Either would be ok. I probably should rig up one of those maverick temperature sensors. It's good to check on it to make sure it's ok and looking out window at night you can't. I've had my draft flapper door to stick closed couple times. When it does that it never gets up to idle temperature. A light that indicates idle would tell you that it's working ok
Title: Re: Indicator light
Post by: patvetzal on December 09, 2016, 11:23:13 AM
I tied a short female half of an extension cord into the blower of my P&M boiler. Then I plugged in a string of LED Christmas lights that hangs in the tree.