Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: TheLongBuild on June 23, 2019, 04:54:27 pm

Title: How much water !!
Post by: TheLongBuild on June 23, 2019, 04:54:27 pm: Was wondering if there is a rule of thumb in how much water to fill a boiler for optimum output ?
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: MartinL on June 23, 2019, 05:20:51 pm: I was told to never fill it the top of the sight glass.
Right or wrong I do not know but it seems to work for me.
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: TheLongBuild on June 23, 2019, 06:17:08 pm: Hi, No sight glass. :} I tend to fill about 2 thirds but just wondered if that was correct or not.
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: pendlesteam on June 23, 2019, 06:18:34 pm: All depends on where the water gauge sits. You certainly dont want to over fill a boiler as you will get hot water instead of steam. My advice is that you must have the flue covered assuming its a horizontal boiler, then as little water as possible to satisfy your time in steam. This is the mose efficient way of steaming and means that you are not heating water which will not be used. For a vertical boiler my rule of thumb is to have 1/3 water left at the end. This ensures the boiler and flue dont overheat.
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: pendlesteam on June 23, 2019, 06:19:17 pm: Two thirds full is spot on !
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: TheLongBuild on June 23, 2019, 06:34:24 pm: Water Gauge !!, not that sophisticated, %% , Thanks 2 thirds it is..
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: LJ Crew on June 23, 2019, 07:47:31 pm: Make sure that you run out of fuel before water!
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: SteamboatPhil on June 24, 2019, 04:29:22 pm: Nice old plant you have there Larry :-))
Title: Re: How much water !!
Post by: Jerry C on June 24, 2019, 05:08:16 pm: Hasn’t that boiler got a “dribble plug” on the engine end. Take it out, fill boiler until water comes out then replace it.
Jerry.