My Central Boiler CL6048 OWB Installation Thread!

[OH_Varmntr]

Well I finally did it. I broke down and brought home a Central Boiler 6048 today. I'm planning on heating my attached garage and putting in a shop in the future, as well as putting in-floor heating in the master bath once we remodel it so I bought bigger than I currently need, but it's all good. :hmm3grin2orange:

I'll be pumping hot water to a heat exchanger on my water heater, then up to the attic of my 2 story house. That's where an air handler with a 100k btu exchanger will be located to handle the second floor, which is where all 4 of our bedrooms are located as well as the regular bathroom and our master. I was set up with a Taco 009 pump that can handle 30' of head, although I should be at 22' max head with my setup.

Anyways, from there it will go to another air handler with a 100k btu exchanger that will be located underneath the basement staircase, and that one will take care of the basement and first floor. After that, it's going to head back out to the OWB. Eventually I'd like to heat the attached garage, so when I get that put in, it will run through that exchanger too before returning to the OWB.

So enough of my plan. I picked up my 6048 today, with 80' of ThermoPEX underground pipe and everything except my 2nd air handler setup and the pump flange kit (on order). I've got the concrete block foundation laid out where I want it and will be leveling the ground tomorrow and setting the unit on the block.

I chose not to pour a concrete slab at this time. I'm not 100% sure this will be the permanent location, so for now it will be set on 8"x16" solid concrete blocks that are 4" thick. I've got an 80' trench to dig, and will be renting an trencher tomorrow to do that task. The neighbor is bringing down his loader to see if it will pick up the OWB.

I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow. Oh, did I mention that the dealer I bought it from is also a Jonsored saw dealer and gave me a FREE chainsaw? They had a deal going on now that when you buy a Central Boiler OWB they throw in a FREE chainsaw! It's a CS2250S. 50.2ccs, 16" B&C, dealer brought it out for me full of gas and mix, and said she's already been broke in and ready to cut. Starts right up and seems very smooth from what I could tell without putting it in wood. I've got enough work to do before I can play anymore right now. :hmm3grin2orange:

Anyways, here's the only pics you get for tonight. I'll be taking many more throughout this process and will be sharing them with everyone here.

Unit on my trailer, with the little Jonsored next to it.

My Stihls with the black sheep. Back to front: 088, 028AV Super, 026, MS180, Jonsored CS2250S.

 

[Fifelaker]

You will like the C.B. I have had mine for 9 years now and love it and didn't get a free saw. I would rep you but I am out of bullets.

 

[junkman 0407]

Good luck with the install on the CB. Just purchased the same model a week ago finally got it all installed today and fired it up so far so good. Good luck and congrats

 

[Blazin]

Good choice! I'm going on 7 years with my CB, wished I would got it a long time ago!

 

[russhd1997]

When I bought my Central 6048 I didn't get a chainsaw but I did get something just as good. My Central dealer didn't charge me the $600 shipping fee that all of the other Central dealers in the area were charging. I had to drive a little farther to pick it up but the spiff made it worth it. You're going to like that OWB by the way.

Here's a pic of mine.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

My dealer charged me $300 for freight, but CB has a $300 rebate right now so it cancels it out I guess. The saw was "free", but I ultimately paid for it one way or another. :msp_razz:

 

[atlarge54]

Nice looking boiler!

Do you really think 1" pex will feed a pair of 100K BTU HX in series? Those HX ratings are usually for optimal conditions. I think a little resarch or help from a pro would be good before you dive in. Probably a primary secondary setup is best.

GPM x 8.33(lb/gal) x temp delta(temp in-temp out) x 60(min/hr)= heat removed/hr

Maybe someone will come along a tell you what kind of temp drops they have on their HX's. I haven't looked it up for a long time but just guessing a Taco 009 is in the 10GPM or less area. To get higher flows it takes a more powerful pump and gets the piping out of it's comfort zone. That's why a larger diameter (lower head) primary loop is desirable, you then pull your heat loads off that loop.

 

[AdamG]

Congrats! Didn't get a saw with mine- but the dealer did deliver and set it for free.
I too went with the 6048 Last year- planning ahead for future garages- And I don't think I could've made a better choice. My brother has a 5036 and It feeds his house nicely. Between the two, we both agree the roomy firebox of the 6048 is nicer for clean outs and raking.

Adam

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Today was quite productive!

Laid out and leveled the concrete block perimeter-foundation. The neighbor brought down his skid loader and picked the 6048 up off the trailer and set it down on the foundation for me. That's really all I wanted to get done today, but it was so very nice out I decided to keep going.

I started to dig 80' of trench, with nothing but a pick-axe and a spade. :hmm3grin2orange:

I didn't know that the local John Deere dealer quit renting equipment so I was unable to secure a mini-excavator for today (overkill for a trench, I know, but I had some more earth to move than that). So I figure I'll just save $250 for a day rental and I'd dig it myself. Wasn't too bad until I hit hard clay about 10" down. Either way, I'm 16" down now, with only a few feet left to dig where the ThermoPex enters the house.

I also have to try to bend the pipe where it comes up under the unit. I'm thinking if I warm it up enough I can get it to bend a little tighter radius than the 3' radius they say it can go. Worse comes to worse, I'll strip the shell off the ThermoPex and go from there.

As far as the pump flow goes and the HX efficiency here's what I've found in the data tables in the "Hydronic Component Selection Guide" provided by Central Boiler.

The 009 pump is rated to flow 5gpm at 25' of head, which is about where I'll be. So after the first brazed plate hx on the hot water tank (haven't found any data on it), the water will flow through the first 100k btu hx.

The blower I have is the 1/4hp 3-speed blower. I'm assuming the data tables are built around the 3-spd blower I have, as there are 3 sets of cfm specs: 1000, 1200, and 1400 cfm. I'm going to base my information off of the 1000cfm as a worst-case scenario given the fact I don't know how many cfm my blower runs since I can't find data on it.

So at 5gpm the 100k btu hx will offer up to 70,400 btus with an air flow of 1000cfm over the fins. That is based on an entering water temp of 185* (assuming zero temp drop across the plate exchanger for the domestic hot water), which will drop the water temp down so it leaves at 156.2*F. That will heat 60*F incoming air so that it leaves the hx at 124.6*F. My basement stays 69*F quite steadily, so those air temp numbers should be slightly higher given I am pulling air from the basement.

The same 100k btu hx is rated at 58,900 btus if everything above applies except for a 165*F entering water temp. The data table only goes down to 165*F entering water temp so keep in mind the numbers will be lower given a lower entering water temp I should have (156.2*F). At 165*F entering water temp, the hx pulls 58,900 btus of heat off and brings the leaving water temp down to 141.1*F. That will heat 60*F incoming air so that it leaves the hx at 114*F.

Until I get this system plumbed and running where I can take accurate measurements, I won't know for sure.

Anywho, here's a few pics from today.

All set and level for install.

Set down.

Trench location.

ThermoPex in the trench, chimney installed, way ahead of schedule just the way I like it.

 

[AdamG]

I didn't know that the local John Deere dealer quit renting equipment so I was unable to secure a mini-excavator for today (overkill for a trench, I know, but I had some more earth to move than that).

Bull####! I had 80' of Hard as hell clay. Tried by hand- gave up in 3ft. Rented a Dingo trencher- not only did it do a piss poor job in the clay, we also got it stuck and almost overturned it trying to make a curve.
FINALLY rented a small bobcat mini excavator- had 80' trench 2.5-3ft deep in less than hr and a half. Next time, I'll just start with the big toys.

 

[owbguy]

I installed my CB6048 in November 2003, so I'm in my 10th season now. LOVE it! Mine is connected to my gfa furnace and 2 water heaters. I paid $8700 for everything, including installation. Excellent investment.

 

[owbguy]

ThermoPex in the trench, chimney installed, way ahead of schedule just the way I like it.

It doesn't look like your line is in very deep. How deep are they suggesting you put it in these days? When I put mine in they said something like 36" deep, or below the frost line, something like that iirc. I put mine through a heavily travelled gravel drive so i went down close to 40" through there, then ripped 8" sewer pipe in half lengthways and placed the halves over top of the insulated pex system. Overkill, I know, but I could not imagine having to dig it out to repair/redo it....

 

[Aaron441]

I started to dig 80' of trench, with nothing but a pick-axe and a spade. :hmm3grin2orange:

I didn't know that the local John Deere dealer quit renting equipment so I was unable to secure a mini-excavator for today (overkill for a trench, I know, but I had some more earth to move than that).

How Northwest in Ohio are you? DP Equipment in Camden MI right across the line rents excavators. Too late for this job, but you might need one for something else later.

 

[russhd1997]

It doesn't look like your line is in very deep. How deep are they suggesting you put it in these days? When I put mine in they said something like 36" deep, or below the frost line, something like that iirc. I put mine through a heavily travelled gravel drive so i went down close to 40" through there, then ripped 8" sewer pipe in half lengthways and placed the halves over top of the insulated pex system. Overkill, I know, but I could not imagine having to dig it out to repair/redo it....

I was told to put the thermo pex no more than 1.5 feet deep. They said it was to keep the pipe above the water table to minimize heat loss. The first winter with the OWB we ran pipes to my daughters house 180 feet away and laid it on top of the ground. We buried it in the spring. There was no way we were digging through the frost to bury the pipe at the time that we hooked it up. Not much heat loss either way.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

How Northwest in Ohio are you? DP Equipment in Camden MI right across the line rents excavators. Too late for this job, but you might need one for something else later.

I'm right up in the corner. I know about DP but just didn't think about them knowing I had a John Deere dealership that rents just 2 miles from my place. I just wasn't aware they quit renting. :mad2:

It doesn't look like your line is in very deep. How deep are they suggesting you put it in these days? When I put mine in they said something like 36" deep, or below the frost line, something like that iirc. I put mine through a heavily travelled gravel drive so i went down close to 40" through there, then ripped 8" sewer pipe in half lengthways and placed the halves over top of the insulated pex system. Overkill, I know, but I could not imagine having to dig it out to repair/redo it....

They are recommending ThermoPex to have 6-24 inches of cover, so a trench anywhere from 10-28 inches deep will suffice. Mine is 16-18 inches deep.

 

[morewood]

I'll be pumping hot water to a heat exchanger on my water heater, then up to the attic of my 2 story house. That's where an air handler with a 100k btu exchanger will be located to handle the second floor, which is where all 4 of our bedrooms are located as well as the regular bathroom and our master. I was set up with a Taco 009 pump that can handle 30' of head, although I should be at 22' max head with my setup.

Anyways, from there it will go to another air handler with a 100k btu exchanger that will be located underneath the basement staircase, and that one will take care of the basement and first floor. After that, it's going to head back out to the OWB. Eventually I'd like to heat the attached garage, so when I get that put in, it will run through that exchanger too before returning to the OWB.

You do know that there is more than one outlet...use another pump on the other outlet for the garage. Yes, there is another return also:biggrin:.

When I bought my Central 6048 I didn't get a chainsaw but I did get something just as good. My Central dealer didn't charge me the $600 shipping fee that all of the other Central dealers in the area were charging. I had to drive a little farther to pick it up but the spiff made it worth it. You're going to like that OWB by the way.

Here's a pic of mine.

I just went outside to make sure you didn't steal mine!!

I also have to try to bend the pipe where it comes up under the unit. I'm thinking if I warm it up enough I can get it to bend a little tighter radius than the 3' radius they say it can go. Worse comes to worse, I'll strip the shell off the ThermoPex and go from there.

Exactly what I had to do, couldn't get the bend with the insulation and pipe around the two 1" pex.

I was told to put the thermo pex no more than 1.5 feet deep. They said it was to keep the pipe above the water table to minimize heat loss. The first winter with the OWB we ran pipes to my daughters house 180 feet away and laid it on top of the ground. We buried it in the spring. There was no way we were digging through the frost to bury the pipe at the time that we hooked it up. Not much heat loss either way.

What I was told also. Got to 16" and called it a day

You will love it. I have had mine for 8 years with no issues to speak of. My dad has the OLD version with the side draft and the cast door. It is probably close to 20 yrs old. I think it is called the 5448. Anyway, enjoy it.

Shea

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Haha yea I completely forgot I can throw multiple pumps on this thing. :msp_w00t:

I got the hole cut in the house today and the pipe is in the house. I applied silicone to the rubber termination cap just under the foundation of the unit and stripped the black cover and insulation off of 3' of the internal pipe where it exits the ground up to the water hookups. After I get everything up and going I'm covering the exposed pipe with spray foam.

I also ran to the hardware and got non-metallic conduit (PVC conduit) and ran 80' of it and 12/2 wire with ground from the house to the unit. Where the wires exit the conduit, I installed liquid-tight flexible conduit to the j-box on the unit so the mice won't be able to directly access the wires, they'll have to work hard for it. :msp_tongue:

I ran 12g wire so I could run some wiring to my carport that houses some wood storage and my truck. That way I can have more lights than the unit came with.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Nice!! Buy a Jonsered, get a free OWB

 

[OH_Varmntr]

Nice!! Buy a Jonsered, get a free OWB

If they're all this expensive, it's the last Jonsered I'll be purchasing!

 

[czar800]

You will love you 6048, I love mine.