Outside wood boiler water temp controller

[imarobot]

I have a camp that in addition to an oil-fired boiler also has an outdoor wood boiler. My problem with using the outside wood boiler is that I will typically be at the camp for maybe a week or less at a time. That doesn’t allow much time for the outside boiler water to get hot and more importantly cool down. I don’t want to leave the water circulator continuously running which will be running cold water through my indoor boiler and water heater once the boiler water gets cold. So, I would have to let the boiler run out of wood and get cold so I can turn off the circulator before I leave.

I am thinking of somehow putting a thermostat in the outdoor boiler water line which will turn off this circulator once the water cools down.

Or maybe a timer set for a long enough time for things too cool down. The time for this method could vary quite a bit depending on outside temperatures and how much wood is in the boiler. So, this would not be my first choice.

Anyone done this type of thing or have other suggestions?

I should have mentioned that it is not water running through this system, but anti-freeze.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I have a camp that in addition to an oil-fired boiler also has an outdoor wood boiler. My problem with using the outside wood boiler is that I will typically be at the camp for maybe a week or less at a time. That doesn’t allow much time for the outside boiler water to get hot and more importantly cool down. I don’t want to leave the water circulator continuously running which will be running cold water through my indoor boiler and water heater once the boiler water gets cold. So, I would have to let the boiler run out of wood and get cold so I can turn off the circulator before I leave.

I am thinking of somehow putting a thermostat in the outdoor boiler water line which will turn off this circulator once the water cools down.

Or maybe a timer set for a long enough time for things too cool down. The time for this method could vary quite a bit depending on outside temperatures and how much wood is in the boiler. So, this would not be my first choice.

Anyone done this type of thing or have other suggestions?

I should have mentioned that it is not water running through this system, but anti-freeze.

I have and many ways to accomplish this.

Do you want to re-direct fluid flow at given temps or do you want to turn the pump off?

A pump timer can be had for less than $100 from pool supply places, etc... but would need to know how many amps your pump pulls for accurate cost. Full pump automation might run couple thousand +

On Amazon or from local hardware stores digital 40a timers start around $60 and a 15amp timer can be had for $20.

Temp sensors for say $50 can be bought to send signals to all type of control boxes.
- laminated to the fire box / water jacket / water pipes / etc...
- can be tapped into pvc pipes, into the water jacket, etc....
-etc...

then your controller can adjust say a jandy motorized flow valve (valve maybe $200) and temp sensor $50 and a control panel $1,000.

to get some good info research Solar Pool Heaters and Controllers. Something like this. One of the cheapest automated ways to go. This is probably one of the most cost effective routes.

Hayward GLC-1P-A Solar Pool Heating Control System

Hayward GLC-1P-A Solar Pool Heating Control System. Ships to US/Canada Wide, to order please call +1 (888) 686 7652.

hydrosolar.ca

If your budget is larger you can control the pump on/off and potentially the flow rate but cost will go up significantly from the link above.

Given your message above a simple timer that shuts down your pump might be the quick, easy and cheap way to go??


edit: corrected crappy links