Would Like To Find Out

[dunoon]

Hi,
I'm planning on putting hot water central heating in my house in the USA, using using copper pipe/fin baseboard convecters. While I was in the UK, help my daughter put in a kitchen, on the many trips to B&Q I checked out their boilers. I was quite suprised how inexpensive they were compared to ones in the US.
My question is, would the controls on these boilers work on 60Hz 220V. I contacted a couple boiler mfg's and they didn't know. Suggested that I contact the companies that make the controls. I thought I would check here first. Thanks
Rich Davis

 

[Deleted member 2053]

You are unlikely to have problems with the control board electrics but the fan speeds for lower quality boilers tend to be dictated by the phase frequency and will cause a problem. Most of the boilers B&Q sells I consider to be below par. Other contributors to the site may disagree. As you are far from your source of spares you would be better moving up-market. You also have to be very sure that the gas you are intending to connect to is the correct formula for a UK boiler. Here we have a system known as the CE mark which indicates that the boiler is fit for purpose in the UK market, and indeed an RGI is not allowed to fit a boiler that does not bear this mark. If you have a similar system in the US you could well find yourself falling foul of the authorities. This is potentially a more complex problem than just the electricity supply.

 

[dunoon]

Thanks a lot for the reply. The difference in gas is something that I would have never thought about. But, I forgot to mention that I'll be using propane instead in natual gas and for sure that would make a difference, if the propane in the UK is a different fomula. Right now this is still in the research stage, but it is something to think about. Thanks again!

 

[migoplumber]

just curious, but what is the gas in usa? what pressure is it? what pipes do they use for it? and whats the american gas safe/corgi equivalent


ta. shaun

 

[dunoon]

Sorry about the delay in answering your question, I didn't know the answers and had to find out.
The gas used in my area (Va) is piped from the Gulf of Mexico close to New Oleans. The make up is about 90% methen, and the rest various hydrocarbons. Sometimes it will be blended with gas from other parts of the country to give a spasfic BTU rating. It is piped in large 20-36" mains at 600 to 1000psi then as it gets transfered to local areas the line size drops along with the pressure. Most street lines are 4" plastic at 30psi. And 1-1 1/2 " plastic to the house and house pressure is 6-8"wc. We have certified gas fitters here too that are trained and tested.

 

[migoplumber]

good answer dunoon, many thanks.


shaun