Didn't Win the Lottery

Some would call it bad luck, to me its just another day.

Went out to a cold shop this morning the boiler had shut down during the night, since I had just installed everything and it's all brand new with out a clue where to start trouble shooting. My mind a total blank, at least we're starting with a brand new page.

The boiler is fairly conventional as far as the hardware goes, just a bunch of extras with that waste oil thing. First thing I check is the water level, it's low so I add more to trigger the water level safety back on.

Still no fire, anyhow the water level has to cover the probe in order for the water level safety switch to power up the zone relays which in turn energizes the burner. Every thing checks out.

Ok so I by pass everything and manually short out the two wires on the burner T1 and T2, which esentually by passed every safety device in the circuit - still no fire.

Now I'm sctaching my head thinking maybe I should call the manufacture to try and trouble shoot this problem over the phone when an Idea struck me dead in my tracks.

I hit the manual prime switch, I'm getting 10 lbs oil pressure but no air, should have been 14 lbs on the gauge. This burner needs compressed air to help atomize the oil.

Over to the electrical panel, the circuit breaker has flipped off, I reset and get a hum coming from the compressor motor it will not start. Off comes the motor, after having a peek inside find one of the capacitors have blown.

Now with all you scrappers out there if you have one to sell I'm your man.



It's no rush as I'm going to take the 5 hp motor off of the small hammer mill to replace this one until I get a new capacitor.