Low Water Cut Offs & Water Feeders (Steam Boilers)

Learn how steam boiler low water cut offs & water feeders work, how they are wired, the sequence of operations, certain features and some maintenance tips.
00:00 Content Introduction
00:20 Importance of Normal Operating Water Level
00:46 LWCO location, probe and wire terminals
01:34 Letter/numerical designators of LWCO wire terminals
02:39 LWCO Jumper / 24 volts
03:07 24 volt Terminals for Water Feeder
03:38 Burner Circuit Terminals
04:20 Water Feed Activation Terminal
05:07 Water Feeder/line, Wet Return Piping
06:03 Wings
06:16 Auto Water Feeder Terminals / Designations
06:48 Sequence Of Operation
07:24 Time Delay Switches In LWCO & Purpose
08:22 Maintenance of Wet Return
08:40 Feed Rate Switches & Purpose
09:33 Removing & Cleaning The LWCO Probe

[@robvegart]

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!"

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Thank you, good Sir.

[@christophergray2048]

Thank you... you've been very informative and helpful.. THANK YOU MUCH...CHRIS...

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

You are very welcome

[@Brooklynapoli]

Great explanation 🫡

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Glad you think so!

[@Dalan612]

Well done. Thanks man 🙏🏼

[@RedDragon1337]

I never work on boilers and this video really helped. Thanks dude.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

No problem 👍

[@eulaliorodriguez5325]

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.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Thank you

[@cedovitor9536]

Excellent explanation for my incoming exam for in service inspection. Never pulled apart any of these but presented so clear. Thanks mate !

[@NarctodaK]

You’re the man thank you

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

No problem 👍

[@brianking4114]

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!!

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Thanks. Appreciate that!

[@utrube]

Not just the knowledge and expertise but also diction and properly pronounced language this young gentleman is gifting us in this video. Almost annoying

[@heperez3966]

Good info!

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Thanks!

[@petmogulsupplies6631]

Thanks for the video👍

[@MarcosRibeiro-hd4xn]

Great video bro Thank you Very well done

[@waldo-ot6ul]

Great info thank you

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Very welcome

[@donio71]

Great video bud

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Thanks!

[@paulettesingh6055]

I have a McDonnell pse802. Nay video on wiring it up having some issue

[@lucchilucch5986]

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.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

What kind of feeder and LWCO? When was maintenance last performed on the boiler?

[@shalchang2438]

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.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@mabelinejames7687]

I'd like to watch visual wiring plz

[@CitrusJerz]

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?

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@DessDermondy]

What is P2, I don't have that on my LWCO. Neutral wire for the pressure limit. I'm using McDonnell Miller LWCO.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@NROhvac]

Thanks Mike, by any chance do you work with gas power burners? (not oil)

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@petersamios5409]

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?

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@petersamios5409]

@@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.

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

From what I've read it's a voltage continuity probe.

[@petersamios5409]

@@JerseyMikeHVAC Thanks.

[@utrube]

Bro stay away from that boiler

[@robwhiff3411]

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

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@robwhiff3411]

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

[@robwhiff3411]

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 ?

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@robwhiff3411]

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

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

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.

[@robwhiff3411]

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

[@mabelinejames7687]

Where burner circuit

[@robvegart]

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! 🪽🪽🪽😇😇

[@JerseyMikeHVAC]

Yeah, supply houses do that a lot....