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Old 03-20-10, 10:07 PM   #15
Xringer
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Default Equilibrium

The boiler didn't drop or gain a degree between 1800 and 2200 hours.
The gauge stayed at 162 F and the temperature probe placed just
under the top cover stayed at exactly 100F for the whole 4 hours.

I once did an over-night loss check on the boiler and found it had
a loss of between 2 and 3 degrees per hour.
I'm not sure if that was before or after I did the last insulating job..

IMHO, without the 240-250 watt heater, the temperature would
have dropped at least a few degrees in 4 hours.



Equilibrium. So, this is good news. There is room for improvement.
A couple of things can be done without incurring much cost.


1. Increase insulation.

2. When it gets warmer outside, lower the Aquastat setting to 130F max.

3. Install the new mixer when it comes in next week. (Ebay).
The mixer will really help during the winter when the boiler is at 180F..

Once 1 & 2 are done, I suspect there will be a net heat gain, if the heating pad is left on 24/7.
But, that gain will be canceled out or go negative, once I put the heating pad on a 5 (or 6) hour timer.


The solar tracker mount seems to be seeing good sun starting at 11:00 (tree blockage)
and starts losing it around 16:30-17:00.
I'll have to take a new look at it now that we set the clocks ahead..
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