electrode adjustment on oil burner

Does anyone have the correct settings for the electrodes on a Delco H-200-6

1gph oil burner? Mine were pretty worn so I cleaned up the tips with a Dremel and would like to reset them to the proper clearances.

Thanks, desmobob

Reply to
Robert Scott
Loading thread data ...

What angle of spray?

Reply to
Bob
80 degrees

Reply to
Robert Scott

The distance from the nozzle tip out to the electrode tips should be 1/16" The electrode gap (width between the two) should be 1/8" The distance the electrode tips should be from center of nozzle is 7/16" But I suspect you've got more problems than that. Nobody just decides they are going to clean oil burner electrodes for the heck of it, and dirty electrodes alone will not cause a burner to malfunction unless you have a carbon build up, which is an indication of other problems.

Reply to
Bob

Thanks for the info, Bob.

You're right; I had some trouble. The furnace starting acting up a few days ago; rumbling and quitting. I replaced the nozzle and took a look at things. The electrodes looked quite worn so I dressed them a bit. I also found that one of the leads from the transformer rubs on the oil line to the nozzle, explaining why I seem to have a malfunction every winter requiring me to call the local heating people. (I live in a very small town with one heating oil company). The insulation eventually burns through at this point, shorting the system and killing the furnace.

I'm glad I decided to take a look at it myself instead of just calling the repair guy this time.

The last time I watched the repair guy working on my furnace, I noticed he didn't use any gauges or special tools... he set the position of the electrodes and points (and the other variables) by eye, and I knew that probably wasn't a good thing.

I notice there is another adjustment for the depth of the nozzle assembly into the firebox. The hole where the attaching screw goes is slotted; it looks to have an adjustment range of about 3/4" or so. I have it centered right now. There is also an adjustment on the blower vents.

I either need to learn how to service the whole unit (which I'm sure I'm capable of with the right tools and information) or find a more competent service provider....

Thanks again, Bob

Reply to
desmobob

"desmobob" wrote in message news:uocuf.3648$M% snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...

First thing you do, is give the oil supply guys the boot. SURE they service oil units....they are in the business to sell oil. Its kinda like asking Exxon to design an engine...

As far as service goes.....wow...Im gonna get jumped all over here, but as someone that sees daily this time of year the things that happen when people try to service these themselves...its really best left to someone that has a clue. Its obvious that your last guy did not.

Truth is, you have to make sure you have the electrodes set correctly for the type nozzle you have. Whats the spray pattern, GPH rating, and what fuel are you using? Once you have that, there is a neat little set of guages that makes adjustment dead on every time, and they cost about $4. Once you have that, you can hook up your transformer output tester, and check to make sure your transformer is up to spec. Assuming it is, you then can replace the oil filter....after that, tear into the unit, vac it out, remove the flue pipe, vac it, and replace any section that is weak or rusting. Be sure to inspect the entire heat exchanger for cracks or hot spots. Check the baro dampner and insure its working and set correctly. Replace any gaskets that tore or fell apart when you removed your access plates. Now, put you a new photo cell (cad) on the unit, wire it up, and while you are in there, install a new pump shaft, and oil the motor. Take your lines from the pump loose, and clean the pump out since you prob have several years worth of crap that made it to the strainer, and make sure the seals not leaking. If it is, replace the seal or replace the pump....its faster and more cost effective at this point to simply replace the pump. Once thats done, and you have it all back together, have primed the oil line since you had it all open, and might have replaced the pump, get your oil pump pressure guage out, and set your pump to the recommended setting....most likely, 100PSI. Now, you have that done, its time to set combustion and fire rates. Get out your Bacharach, or similar meter...and set the smoke rate to whats listed for your unit. Since you have adjusted the electrodes, cleaned it properly, and removed the burner assembly, you must set the unit up according to the makers specs. Once you have adjusted the combustion air, and made any slight adjustments to the pump to acheive this, and gotten out your CO detector to check yet again for any cracks or leaks that you missed on initial inspection, you can say your unit is working as clean, and efficient as it can.

Now its time to get the smoke, soot, and oil off of ya, and thats gonna require another 2 hours..LOL

Takes a good, properly trained tech, one thats not ripping you off, about 1 and a half, to 2 hours assuming no issues are found that requires more work, and no..its NOT rocket science, but its got to be done right...just because its working means nothing.

Also, the meters, and tools needed to do this are not cheap by any means. The average homeowner will never recoup the cost of them in savings by doing it themselves, and its normally cheaper to locate a company that will do whats required, and do it at a cost that isnt extravagant.

I would suggest that you start calling companies in your area, ask them if they service oil, and if they do, could they fax over a check list of things they perform. Ask questions, be informed, and you will find someone that knows what hes doing, and does it right. In my area, everyone services oil, but the problem is, not everyone does it correctly.

Reply to
CBHVAC

Not sure of the nozzle assembly front/back adjustment, but a lot of those old burners were 5/8" from the surface of the end cone, to the tip of the nozzle. It's possible to set the electrodes by eye, but it's better to use a gauge. If the guy set them by eye and it fired up for a year without a problem, then my guess is that he knew what he was doing. I don't think Delco burners have been made for a long time. Did they ever tell you that you needed a new heater, and that a new one would pay for itself in 2 to 3 years? At the current price of oil, you could put a new heater on your credit card and still save a lot of money. If it's a hot water boiler, and you can't afford a new heater, then they can install a new flame retention burner that would also save you money. You can't put a flame retention burner in most old hot air furnaces.

Reply to
Bob

You're right, he shouldn't be working on it himself, but it's almost impossible to say that he needs to get another service company. Just because he's had to call for service every year or that the guy set the electrodes by eye, doesn't mean he's a hack. Those old burners can be a pain, and shouldn't be re-calibrated if they are running OK. If the next closest company is 50 miles away, then he might not be able to change service companies.

I've heard the argument before about not using an oil company's service department, but there's no logical reason for a tech to consciously adjust a heater to burner dirty just so his boss can sell more oil. He's probably the guy who's going to come back and clean it if it soots up.

On some new flame retention burners, the electrodes have to be set closer to the nozzle center line, and some burners with high and low fire have special settings, but in every case, it's the angle of spray that you need to worry about, nothing else. The electrodes must be adjusted so that the spark is blown into the spray pattern.

I wouldn't recommend one of those blue plastic electrode gauges. I saw a homeowner use one incorrectly once and had the electrodes set one inch into the oil spray.

The only reliable way I've found to check ignition transformer voltage is with a Jacob's Ladder, or a simulation of one.

Reply to
Bob

Update:

The service guy left an hour ago. Both electrode wires were burned through and the insulators had carbon tracking on them that couldn't be removed. I pointed out the problem with one of the wires rubbing on the oil line to the nozzle.

The service man replaced both insulators and made up two new electrode wires. He made them longer so they could pass under the oil line. He restarted the furnace and stayed to watch it cycle once to be sure everything was OK.

After he left, I was doing the dishes and heard the furnace rumbling. I went to the cellar to check on it and heard a buzzing noise from the burner area. I turned off the furnace and took off the transformer. Both new wires were rubbing on the blower fan. That's the noise I heard... they were now TOO long. As I moved the wires to inspect the areas that had rubbed for damage, one of the ring terminals broke off. It apparently had been bent and re-bent, causing it to break under a very small amount of pressure.

I was getting upset. Then, when I set the transformer down to free up my other hand, the OTHER wire pulled out of the crimped-on connector at the end of the insulator! There was almost NO pressure on this joint... the wire virtually dropped out of the connector.

Now I'm waiting for the guy to come back....

Take it easy, desmobob

Reply to
desmobob

Put everything back together exactly like you found it and don't say anything to the guy that you took it apart. Otherwise they might try to say that you broke it, and try to charge you for the 2nd service call. If they don't fix it right this time, and/or try to charge you for the 2nd service call, then it's time to find another company.

Reply to
Bob

What EXACTLY is a flame retention burner and what does it mean?

I have a Beckett flame retention burner in a York furnace and I am wondering what aspect of the burner makes it a flame retention burner. The burner is inside of an asbestos looking combustion chamber that has slots for the heat to escape. Is it the combustion chamber that makes it a flame retention burner or the shape the flame ring or just what?

thanks

Mark

Reply to
Mark

Reply to
Bubba

stuartridout had written this in response to

formatting link
: Bob:

Do you have working electrodes or know how I can find a replacement set?

I can't seem to find replacements

Stuart Ridout

Robert Scott wrote:

-------------------------------------

****** ****** ******* ============================= ******* ******* ******* ============ ** ** ** ** * ** ( | ** ** ** ** ** ____/ ******* ******* ** ****** ****** **
Reply to
stuartridout

Well, stop looking at the Sucko website, then.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.