OMG!!! Finally!!! A real human being explaining real world issues! Like I said, 'YOU' are getting your Wings! "Remember no man is a failure who has friends!"
6:01 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Just watched it! Right now it's not a wonderful life as the supplyhouse sent an LWCO instead of the feeder! Someone is not getting their wings over there! BTW Mike, SUBBED!!! You are getting your wings! 🪽🪽🪽😇😇
Thank you for sharing this video learning experience. It was informational and informative. I would like to see more videos. Thank you all, you do. I love your show.
Excellent presentation, you should be teaching at a trade school, we need tradesmen,. I started working on high and low pressure boilers half a century ago , I commend you!!
Not just the knowledge and expertise but also diction and properly pronounced language this young gentleman is gifting us in this video. Almost annoying
Great video , well explained . I have a question, my automatic feeder continues to go in to loc mode. It never satifies the the low water cut off. Even if i change it from lwco or 1-5 gallons . What never drops lower than site glass. Seem like the automatic feeder isnt feeding at all.
Excellent video. I've hear what is measured is a voltage to ground continuity which determines whether there is water to the appropriate level. I've also heard that the resistance is measured. Do you know what the LWCO is actually testing for at the probe?
I think it's to ground. I've seen quite a few lwco not work because too much Teflon tape was used to secure it in the block and that insulated it too much causing problems.
@@JerseyMikeHVACit is that connection - my question was whether it was a voltage or a resistance related continuity test. Older LWCO's did not have the ground on the base of the probe, but on the screw terminals of the probe to the boiler jacket - thus solving the teflon tape problem that you have had. I guess you could always do something similar with s short piece of wire and a self tapping screw if you need a workaround in the future.
Very helpful. Is it normal for a McDonnell PS-802-24 LWCO probe jumper to read 132 ohms, or should should the jumper read 0 ohms? There appears to be some heat-shrink tubing over a cap or resistor in the jumper. Asking bc I just cleaned my LWCO probe and the system still wants to continue filling, and will not stop filling.
Typically ohming a LWCO probe is done by removing the body of the LWCO entirely and ohming between the stem of the probe (where the wingnut connects) and the body of the probe itself. You should read 0 ohms on a low water condition and only a few ohms when the probe is submerged in water. If you're not getting a reading on proper water level and the probe is clean make sure nothing is insulating the probe from the boiler block (like teflon tape). If you're sure that's not the issue then replace the probe. If that checks out ok and you're sure there is nothing wrong with the feeder itself, then it's probably time to replace the LWCO.
I don’t know is this is going to be complicated to explain but I know that you are really good at this , I’m trying to set up my McDonnell water feeder on my boiler is a Weil-McLain 381-800-845 PEG35PIN 100,000 BTU NG Steam Boiler , I have it all wired up but the water feeder wont feed when I empty the boiler mind you is summer so I’m testing before the next season , what are the recommended setting or any suggestions? Thanks
Is it the Hydrolevel CG400 LWCO? Does the low level indicator light come on at low water? If so, you should have 24v on the A terminal at the LWCO which activates the feeder. Also check if your 24VAC and common to the feeder is not backwards. #2 terminal at the LWCO is common. #1 is 24VAC.
I looked at the model is a WFE-24V, Uni-Match Universal Water Feeder, I didn’t installed it unfortunately the installer was a friend of family friend if you know what I mean that hasn’t came back after and I’m stuck , I don’t know if that makes a difference as to the model
I’m upgrading from oil to gas steam and I was recommended the feeder but a friend who’s a master plumper advice to steer away from the automatic feeder because they could flood the house if it’s stays open or fail , is this true? Is there a way to use and avoid this issue ?
The only time I've seen an issue was with lime scale build up from hot water being used to feed the boiler through the feeder. Prevented the valve from closing fully. But it didn't flood the house, just the boiler. Other than that, most other similar issues resulted from something not installed properly or a lack of maintenance...low water cut off fouled up not reading correctly, bad water, overfiring of the boiler, that sort of thing. Almost always something else and not the feeder directly, in my experience. I haven't seen floods to avoid using them, myself.
I see what you mean , I was also told that I should go down once a week to fill water manually even with and auto feed just to put less stress and less use on the auto feed as well giving a chance to also look weekly for any issues by the system leaks , water levels ect., are those new burnham steam gas boiler more efficient then there oil counterparts ? I’m getting 100btu installed had and older smith cast iron oil steam system removed
I would advise against regularly adding water if the boiler isn't calling for it. Fresh water carries oxygen and minerals to into the system which will increase corrosion and sludge build up if done too frequently. The goal is to get the water chemistry right and avoid adding fresh as little as possible. I mean, with steam it's going to add water regardless, but keeping it minimal is the goal. It is a good idea once a month to go down and drain about a half gallon or so of water off the top of the boiler to skim off the surface, though. Remove the minerals that can cause problems. As for Burnhams, they were a pretty good brand for years so far as I know, but they are owned by the same company that owns Crown boilers and Crown has really gone down hill lately. Many are leaking now after only 7 or 8 years. There was a similar issue with Burnham years ago with the V7s. I haven't done any Burnhams lately, but I stopped doing Crown about 2 years ago. Pretty much stick with Peerless, Utica or Weil Mclain now.
That makes sense , that’s pretty much what some other installers offer here is burnham that sucks to hear , I guess I’m going to do the auto feeder , so you saying just let it do its job and take out about 1/2 gallon every month while the system is in use thru out the winter , any other suggestions you recommend for preventive maintenance would be much appreciated , I want to and like to do maintenance my self as much as I can to avoid calls as my elderly mother is usually home alone for hours in while in out working .. thanks I appreciate your help
I need some help understanding the automatic water feeder box. The feeder is not shutting off once the LCOW is at operating levels. I flooded my whole house because the feeder didn't stop. So now I'm doing it manually, but the boiler shuts off once it "needs" more water to fill. I fill it and all of sudden the boiler is too full and hear loud banging all through my house and ended up with a busted pipe that needed to be cut and replaced. My question is, if the LCOW is operating and sending signal to my feeder to give it water then, why isn't my feeder shutting off?
@@JerseyMikeHVAC I don't believe so, because once I emptied out my boiler and start the refill process again my water feeder won't shut off once it gets to the level it needs to be at. I have it set for a 2 min delay with the LWCO on my automatic feeder. It just keeps filling it water once the light turns off on my LWCO box.
There could be numerous reasons this is happening. What I'm looking for is a process of elimination, starting with whether or not the LWCO is still sending out 24v to the feeder even when the light goes off. If it isn't, then the problem most likely is with the feeder. But if it is, then the LWCO is the issue.
P2 is sometimes used to power the burner circuit depending on some wiring configurations as it gets powered from P1 during normal operating water levels.
A quick question, if I mix automatic feed and LWCO from brand to brand does it work? Common Residential Brand (Safeguard and McDonnell Miller). I know it got model number that each brand it cover for the replacement model.
You can use different brands, just as long as they are designed to function on the same voltage and the lwco is designed to send a signal for a water feeder. Not all do.
I am getting conflicting information regarding where should the water feed come from? Should it be hot or cold water from the water heater? My weil mclain boiler eg manual says don't introduce cold water into a hot boiler. However, I was told I should not feed the auto feeder with hot water. Right now hot water from my water heater is feeding my boiler.
There are pros and cons to both, but the bottom line is that each manufacturer is going to recommend what's best for their product. Question is, which do you want to replace first...the boiler or the water feeder?
@@JerseyMikeHVAC Well my weil mclain eg boiler wants hot water when the boiler is operating. The max inlet water temperature for my mcdonnell miller water feeder is 120F. I would just use the manual water feed as much as possible when I drain my boiler once a month. Thanks!
Question. I have voltage on the connector r/w/g that plugs into the lwco 28v. I dont have voltage on the screw terminals. Neutral/hot. I believe this is were the wiring jumps from lwco to feeder. Any ideas?
The internal circuitry of the lwco is probably bad. Not a probe issue, you'd have power there but nothing going to the feeder on a low water condition. Time for a new lwco I'd say.
OMG!!! Finally!!! A real human being explaining real world issues! Like I said, 'YOU' are getting your Wings! "Remember no man is a failure who has friends!"
Thank you, good Sir.
Nice job breaking down your he basics
I never work on boilers and this video really helped. Thanks dude.
No problem 👍
Well done. Thanks man 🙏🏼
6:01 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Just watched it! Right now it's not a wonderful life as the supplyhouse sent an LWCO instead of the feeder! Someone is not getting their wings over there! BTW Mike, SUBBED!!! You are getting your wings! 🪽🪽🪽😇😇
Yeah, supply houses do that a lot....
Great explanation 🫡
Glad you think so!
Thank you for sharing this video learning experience. It was informational and informative. I would like to see more videos. Thank you all, you do. I love your show.
Thank you
Thank you... you've been very informative and helpful.. THANK YOU MUCH...CHRIS...
You are very welcome
Excellent explanation for my incoming exam for in service inspection. Never pulled apart any of these but presented so clear. Thanks mate !
You’re the man thank you
No problem 👍
Excellent presentation, you should be teaching at a trade school, we need tradesmen,. I started working on high and low pressure boilers half a century ago , I commend you!!
Thanks. Appreciate that!
Not just the knowledge and expertise but also diction and properly pronounced language this young gentleman is gifting us in this video. Almost annoying
Now I must like and subscribe, this is the type of people I support.
Thanks!
@@JerseyMikeHVAC , no thank you for the education
Thank you very much for that clear and simple explanation
You are welcome!
Thank you
Very good information. Thank you.
I definitely learned a lot, thanks
Thanks for the knowledge.
Trying it now. Feed doesn't shut off. Boiler overfills
Thank you very much !
You the best mike.🎉
Thanks for the video👍
Great video bud
Thanks!
Great video bro
Thank you
Very well done
Great info thank you
Very welcome
Good info!
Thanks!
I have a McDonnell pse802. Nay video on wiring it up having some issue
Great video , well explained . I have a question, my automatic feeder continues to go in to loc mode. It never satifies the the low water cut off. Even if i change it from lwco or 1-5 gallons . What never drops lower than site glass. Seem like the automatic feeder isnt feeding at all.
What kind of feeder and LWCO? When was maintenance last performed on the boiler?
Excellent video. I've hear what is measured is a voltage to ground continuity which determines whether there is water to the appropriate level. I've also heard that the resistance is measured. Do you know what the LWCO is actually testing for at the probe?
I think it's to ground. I've seen quite a few lwco not work because too much Teflon tape was used to secure it in the block and that insulated it too much causing problems.
@@JerseyMikeHVACit is that connection - my question was whether it was a voltage or a resistance related continuity test. Older LWCO's did not have the ground on the base of the probe, but on the screw terminals of the probe to the boiler jacket - thus solving the teflon tape problem that you have had. I guess you could always do something similar with s short piece of wire and a self tapping screw if you need a workaround in the future.
From what I've read it's a voltage continuity probe.
@@JerseyMikeHVAC Thanks.
Bro stay away from that boiler
Very helpful. Is it normal for a McDonnell PS-802-24 LWCO probe jumper to read 132 ohms, or should should the jumper read 0 ohms? There appears to be some heat-shrink tubing over a cap or resistor in the jumper. Asking bc I just cleaned my LWCO probe and the system still wants to continue filling, and will not stop filling.
Typically ohming a LWCO probe is done by removing the body of the LWCO entirely and ohming between the stem of the probe (where the wingnut connects) and the body of the probe itself. You should read 0 ohms on a low water condition and only a few ohms when the probe is submerged in water.
If you're not getting a reading on proper water level and the probe is clean make sure nothing is insulating the probe from the boiler block (like teflon tape). If you're sure that's not the issue then replace the probe.
If that checks out ok and you're sure there is nothing wrong with the feeder itself, then it's probably time to replace the LWCO.
@@JerseyMikeHVAC thanks. Do you know if the jumper that connects the probe to the board should have a resistance reading?
I don’t know is this is going to be complicated to explain but I know that you are really good at this , I’m trying to set up my McDonnell water feeder on my boiler is a Weil-McLain 381-800-845 PEG35PIN 100,000 BTU NG Steam Boiler , I have it all wired up but the water feeder wont feed when I empty the boiler mind you is summer so I’m testing before the next season , what are the recommended setting or any suggestions? Thanks
Is it the Hydrolevel CG400 LWCO? Does the low level indicator light come on at low water? If so, you should have 24v on the A terminal at the LWCO which activates the feeder. Also check if your 24VAC and common to the feeder is not backwards. #2 terminal at the LWCO is common. #1 is 24VAC.
I looked at the model is a WFE-24V, Uni-Match Universal Water Feeder, I didn’t installed it unfortunately the installer was a friend of family friend if you know what I mean that hasn’t came back after and I’m stuck , I don’t know if that makes a difference as to the model
I’m upgrading from oil to gas steam and I was recommended the feeder but a friend who’s a master plumper advice to steer away from the automatic feeder because they could flood the house if it’s stays open or fail , is this true? Is there a way to use and avoid this issue ?
The only time I've seen an issue was with lime scale build up from hot water being used to feed the boiler through the feeder. Prevented the valve from closing fully. But it didn't flood the house, just the boiler. Other than that, most other similar issues resulted from something not installed properly or a lack of maintenance...low water cut off fouled up not reading correctly, bad water, overfiring of the boiler, that sort of thing. Almost always something else and not the feeder directly, in my experience. I haven't seen floods to avoid using them, myself.
I see what you mean , I was also told that I should go down once a week to fill water manually even with and auto feed just to put less stress and less use on the auto feed as well giving a chance to also look weekly for any issues by the system leaks , water levels ect., are those new burnham steam gas boiler more efficient then there oil counterparts ? I’m getting 100btu installed had and older smith cast iron oil steam system removed
I would advise against regularly adding water if the boiler isn't calling for it. Fresh water carries oxygen and minerals to into the system which will increase corrosion and sludge build up if done too frequently. The goal is to get the water chemistry right and avoid adding fresh as little as possible. I mean, with steam it's going to add water regardless, but keeping it minimal is the goal.
It is a good idea once a month to go down and drain about a half gallon or so of water off the top of the boiler to skim off the surface, though. Remove the minerals that can cause problems.
As for Burnhams, they were a pretty good brand for years so far as I know, but they are owned by the same company that owns Crown boilers and Crown has really gone down hill lately. Many are leaking now after only 7 or 8 years. There was a similar issue with Burnham years ago with the V7s. I haven't done any Burnhams lately, but I stopped doing Crown about 2 years ago.
Pretty much stick with Peerless, Utica or Weil Mclain now.
That makes sense , that’s pretty much what some other installers offer here is burnham that sucks to hear , I guess I’m going to do the auto feeder , so you saying just let it do its job and take out about 1/2 gallon every month while the system is in use thru out the winter , any other suggestions you recommend for preventive maintenance would be much appreciated , I want to and like to do maintenance my self as much as I can to avoid calls as my elderly mother is usually home alone for hours in while in out working .. thanks I appreciate your help
I need some help understanding the automatic water feeder box. The feeder is not shutting off once the LCOW is at operating levels. I flooded my whole house because the feeder didn't stop. So now I'm doing it manually, but the boiler shuts off once it "needs" more water to fill. I fill it and all of sudden the boiler is too full and hear loud banging all through my house and ended up with a busted pipe that needed to be cut and replaced. My question is, if the LCOW is operating and sending signal to my feeder to give it water then, why isn't my feeder shutting off?
Does the LWCO continue sending out a signal when the boiler is to normal operating level after the feeder begins feeding?
@@JerseyMikeHVAC I don't believe so, because once I emptied out my boiler and start the refill process again my water feeder won't shut off once it gets to the level it needs to be at. I have it set for a 2 min delay with the LWCO on my automatic feeder. It just keeps filling it water once the light turns off on my LWCO box.
There could be numerous reasons this is happening. What I'm looking for is a process of elimination, starting with whether or not the LWCO is still sending out 24v to the feeder even when the light goes off. If it isn't, then the problem most likely is with the feeder. But if it is, then the LWCO is the issue.
What is P2, I don't have that on my LWCO. Neutral wire for the pressure limit. I'm using McDonnell Miller LWCO.
P2 is sometimes used to power the burner circuit depending on some wiring configurations as it gets powered from P1 during normal operating water levels.
I see some boiler with a transformer but has a 120volt low water cutoff and 120 volt water feeder
How does that work?
A quick question, if I mix automatic feed and LWCO from brand to brand does it work? Common Residential Brand (Safeguard and McDonnell Miller). I know it got model number that each brand it cover for the replacement model.
You can use different brands, just as long as they are designed to function on the same voltage and the lwco is designed to send a signal for a water feeder. Not all do.
I am getting conflicting information regarding where should the water feed come from? Should it be hot or cold water from the water heater? My weil mclain boiler eg manual says don't introduce cold water into a hot boiler. However, I was told I should not feed the auto feeder with hot water. Right now hot water from my water heater is feeding my boiler.
There are pros and cons to both, but the bottom line is that each manufacturer is going to recommend what's best for their product. Question is, which do you want to replace first...the boiler or the water feeder?
@@JerseyMikeHVAC Well my weil mclain eg boiler wants hot water when the boiler is operating. The max inlet water temperature for my mcdonnell miller water feeder is 120F. I would just use the manual water feed as much as possible when I drain my boiler once a month. Thanks!
Question. I have voltage on the connector r/w/g that plugs into the lwco 28v. I dont have voltage on the screw terminals. Neutral/hot. I believe this is were the wiring jumps from lwco to feeder. Any ideas?
The internal circuitry of the lwco is probably bad. Not a probe issue, you'd have power there but nothing going to the feeder on a low water condition. Time for a new lwco I'd say.
Thanks Mike, by any chance do you work with gas power burners? (not oil)
I just pulled one out of an old boiler last week on a new install, but it's rare I come across them and can't say I know them well.
I'd like to watch visual wiring plz
Where burner circuit
I think the water is cooling down when the law water cut off not working