Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: The long Build on September 25, 2010, 10:09:56 pm

Title: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: The long Build on September 25, 2010, 10:09:56 pm

I have a boiler which when full to the top will hold 250ml.

What is recomanded level for best performance should you fill this to.

Larry

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: derekwarner on September 25, 2010, 10:17:36 pm

Larry....post a photograph of your boiler  O0

is it vertical or horizontal?
does it have a steam dome on top?
have you checked the Macsteam WEB site?...........I think this knowledgeable man  :-)) offers a few technical tips...

Derek

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: The long Build on September 25, 2010, 11:12:58 pm

Modeen Crompton

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: gondolier88 on September 26, 2010, 06:45:11 am

Rule of thumb is between 75-80% up your water gauge when the boiler is cold allowing for expansion when it's heated up.

Any more than that and you risk priming, or carrying over water into your engine.

However, if your gauge is low down on your boiler (it would help if you posted a pic of that end of the boiler) then you may get away with more.

Greg

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: Bunkerbarge on September 26, 2010, 06:57:03 am

You have to remember that no matter what the boiler configuration or capacity is it is the gauge glass that dictates this so that you can see what is going on.

As a rule of thumb I fill up to 75-80% of the gauge glass and let it run down to about 15-20% of the glass.  Do not let it go out of the glass in either direction.

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: derekwarner on September 26, 2010, 07:09:59 am

Thanks gondolier88 .....as previously mentioned......here is a simple extract from that respected site of Maccsteam  :-))...

"Fill the boiler by removing the safety valve and pouring in water until the gauge glass is approximately three quarters full"

.....and your comment ... "Any more than that and you risk priming, or carrying over water into your engine" is also an important understanding ......Derek O0

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: Chuffy on September 26, 2010, 07:01:08 pm

Larry

If your Crompton boiler is the same as mine and from the picture it would seem to be, you will not have a sight glass. I fill the boiler until the water dribbles out from the plug hole at the end. With the meths tank full the meths always runs out before the water, the engine seems to turn over quite sweetly on about 20 psi and gives a scale speed for 15 - 20 Min's.

Chuffy

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: The long Build on September 26, 2010, 10:40:55 pm

Hi All
Thanks for your replys,
 Yes Chuffy the boiler does not have a glass guage so sailing today I filled the boiler until it flowed out and then took some back out, also only filled the fuel to  about 90%, as you say it ran out before the water.

Title: Re: How High to fill a boiler ?
Post by: rathikrishna on January 13, 2011, 11:58:52 am

Nice topic..helped a lots...thank you all...