It is quite possible to endure some time without household appliances and a TV set. The situation is much more serious if the operation of the gas boiler is interrupted during a power outage, even for a short period. It is especially unpleasant if the start-up of the power grid is delayed for an indefinite period. Do you agree?
On the forums, many masters argue that when the electricity supply is stopped with the gas equipment turned off untimely, the boiler may break. It is even worse if life-threatening carbon monoxide goes into the room. Are you ready to take such a risk, or is it still better to abandon an electrically dependent heating source?
We will not let you freeze or empty your pockets in vain, spending money on useless events. Let's talk in detail about what will happen to the gas boiler if the power supply is suddenly cut off. You will learn how to ensure the smooth operation of even the most expensive machine stuffed with electronics.
The content of the article:
- Which elements of the boiler depend on electricity?
- Are power outages dangerous?
- Gas supply cut-off safety devices
- How long do they turn off the electricity?
- How to choose a redundant power supply?
- What will happen after the power supply is restored?
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Which elements of the boiler depend on electricity?
Power outages for homes, not only in the hinterlands, but also in cities, occur quite often. They happen due to emergency situations, planned repair and technical work, breakdowns on the line. And the most unpleasant thing is that when the electricity is turned off, the operation of the gas boiler is paralyzed if it is of a volatile type.
The nonvolatile gas boiler continues to function as usual, even if a power outage occurs on the power line. The only exception is if it works in conjunction with it pump, and the system of gravitational circulation of the coolant is not provided.
Non-volatile boilers have the simplest, basic set of functions. They are less comfortable to use than their volatile counterparts. But their work is absolutely independent of the supply of energy to the home power grid, moreover, they are less likely to fail.
In a heating circuit with a boiler of the simplest type, the set of basic elements is approximately the following:
- natural draft smoke exhaust system;
- heat exchanger;
- a gas burner with nozzles for supplying gas, which is located in the combustion chamber;
- gas supply and ignition unit;
- expansion tank;
- mechanical thermal sensor;
- control module, which includes the boiler ignition system (mechanical or piezo), temperature control;
- security group (safety valve, pressure gauge, air vent).
Volatile devices are more complex in the device. But is electricity really necessary and important for the functioning of a gas boiler?
Depending on the model and brand, in addition to the same basic set of elements, in some cases, electronic and automatic type, they may include such functions as:
- forced ventilation system;
- built-in circulation pump;
- electronic system control module;
- shut-off and control valves on an electric drive;
- various sensors - water flow, temperature, flame supply, water pressure in systems, manostat, emergency complexes;
- piezo ignition unit with electric drive;
- automatic temperature controllers;
- notification and remote control system;
- display with the output of the current indicators of the device
Units of this type are more reliable and much more convenient to operate, and besides, they are economical. Automation can be set on and off modes, reducing fuel consumption, creating a comfortable microclimate at home, not worrying about safety and performance.
Modern boilers are crammed with electronics. When choosing a device, also install a voltage stabilizer to protect against power surges
The only negative, after a power outage, a volatile gas boiler will not be able to work fully. It is difficult to say which functions will be absent altogether, it depends on the boiler model. Some units have a combined control system - mechanical and electronic.
It is certain that forced ventilation will not function, automatic regulation of the flame supply to the burner, pump, display, electronic control module, in general, all devices operating on an electric drive and constant supply current.
But is everything so scary?
Are power outages dangerous?
Sellers of non-volatile devices and uninterruptible power supplies tell customers blood-curdling stories that look quite believable. A person who does not understand anything at all about the boiler design will believe that in the event of a power failure, the gas supply to the burner continues.
What is really going on? When the temperature sensors, the electronic control unit and the pump are turned off, uncontrolled fuel combustion in the combustion chamber occurs, which means that the liquid in the heat exchanger overheats.
Accordingly, the pipes do not withstand, they deform, and the water from them bursts, extinguishes the burner atmospheric gas boiler. Gas enters the room and creates an explosive situation or simply poisons people and animals. And if the boiler is equipped with a pressurized ventilation system - to the street. This is also unsafe and not environmentally friendly.
Do you agree that it sounds believable and scary? Have you already decided to run for a non-volatile boiler? But in vain!
Do not avoid carrying out maintenance on gas appliances and their components. Testing will show their performance, especially after power outages
In fact, electrically dependent boilers occupy a leading position in the sales market. They are installed in summer cottages, private houses, with owners who spend half a day at work, non-residential premises in which long-term repairs are being carried out.
Power outages, as mentioned earlier, are quite frequent. And for some reason there is no data on hourly large-scale tragedies of carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions.
In addition, such a dangerous device would not be certified and could not comply with GOST in any way, which means that gas workers will not be allowed to operate it.
Now for the technical details. In fact, there is a reliable system in the devices that ensures the shutdown of the boiler in the event of force majeure, including a power outage.
Gas supply cut-off safety devices
As part of gas boiler automation a shut-off valve, popularly called simply a shut-off valve, is often used as a fast-acting shut-off system. Unlike other shut-off valves, the valve has an automatic actuation.
Its main purpose is to supply gas to the burner at the required pressure at a given power and to completely cut off the fuel supply in the event of a malfunction. This process is carried out by means of control devices with built-in sensors.
Gas piezo units are non-volatile, but can be used for both types of boilers
Automation differs in the type of ignition - piezo ignition and electric ignition are distinguished.
Piezo ignition - this is when the start is done manually, by pressing a button. It monitors the operation of the flame - a thermocouple, which is heated by an igniter and generating a constant current, ensures the open state of the valve.
As soon as, for some reason, the pilot burner stops supplying an open flame, the solenoid valve closes and the gas flow stops. Piezo ignition is a volatile automation element.
Electric ignition unit connects to the power supply. The launch is carried out from an electric spark in an automatic mode. This system is volatile and in the event of a power outage, the device valve shuts off the gas supply.
It looks something like this. The differential relay has two contacts. During normal operation of the heater, one block is closed. When there is any change in the operation of the boiler, for example, the power is turned off, the second unit is triggered, and the first one is opened. The relay moves, the diaphragm flexes and the gas supply is cut off.
How long do they turn off the electricity?
If you, having lived for a year or two in a village, have not experienced frequent and prolonged power outages, this does not mean that they will not happen.
Nobody is insured and practically nowhere. Even in places close to large cities, there were cases of weekly blackouts due to weather conditions.
In 2016, because of the strongest freezing rain, entire settlements of the Moscow region sat without stable heating for a week.
Usually, the period for which the supply of current is interrupted depends on its cause:
- Short-term shutdown for a period from half an hour to 2 hours due to a scheduled check of networks or exceeding the limit consumption.
- Elimination of emergencies of a simple nature, connection of new subscribers - from 3 to 6 hours.
- Short circuits, KTP malfunction - 12-24 hours.
- Serious accidents associated with negative weather conditions, the inability to quickly repair the line - from 1 to 3 days.
If the first 3 situations are quite bearable in terms of timing, then provided that the building structure is poorly insulated or if there are tenants for whom coolness is contraindicated, the latter option is highly undesirable. In addition, even these terms cannot guarantee that even after their expiration, the power supply will resume, it is better to play it safe.
Many people use an alternative heating source, such as a stove, fireplace, and this is, without a doubt, a reasonable combination when at home someone is constantly and will be able to control the heating, but it is much easier and even cheaper to install a backup supply system electricity.
How to choose a redundant power supply?
The most popular option is uninterrupted power supply unit, abbreviated as UPS. It provides a secondary power supply to the device in case of a short-term power outage on the line.
Most often it is used to provide power to a computer so that a person has time to modify, save information and exit the system in normal mode in case of interruption of the current supply from the main source.
Of course the usual uninterruptible computer not suitable for a gas boiler. The maximum that he can do is to extend the functionality of the device by 2-3 minutes, since at the output it gives an approximation of a sine wave or a meander, and the boiler requires a pure sine. Consider this when purchasing the device.
A competent choice of UPS for the boiler will allow you to ensure the supply of fuel even in the event of a power outage on the line
Ideally, an uninterruptible power supply with a capacity of 300-600 W is suitable, with the ability to connect a battery up to 600 A * h. The capacity of such a battery will last for 3 days.
But if you, for some reason, want to save money, please note that:
- 50-100 A * h, will prolong the operation of the boiler for a period from 3 to 8 hours;
- 200 A * h - enough for about a day of uninterrupted functionality.
More than a day of shutdown requires a more powerful power source. And here it is best to choose an inverter gasoline generator, which also has a pure sine wave. With the help of these devices, the gas boiler will operate in a stable mode after disconnecting the load.
What will happen after the power supply is restored?
One of the most pressing consumer questions is whether the volatile gas boiler will turn on automatically after a power outage?
Depending on the boiler model, after the electricity is reconnected, it can ignite in automatic mode or only after manual start. Devices with piezoelectric ignition will require mechanical activation.
Devices with an atmospheric burner, as well as units with the aforementioned pressurized system, are able to turn on independently, and even without loss of the set automatic parameters, if they are equipped with an electric ignition and a relay pressure.
However, auto power on does not always work either. After a large number of subscribers are de-energized, with the resumption of electricity, the pressure in the gas pipeline may drop by for some time, respectively, the pressure switch is triggered, the equipment does not turn on and it can only be started later manually.
For those for whom this question is relevant, it is enough to install a delay relay, or as it is also called - "time relay». Then your boiler will not start immediately, but after some time, when the pressure in the gas pipeline will most likely equalize.
The time relay allows you to delay the auto-start of the electric ignition until the presumable equalization of the gas pressure
In some cases, the electronic control module displays an error after the power supply. This means that there was a small emergency before the shutdown. The decoding of the code can be found in the instructions for the heater.
By the way, not all of them can be eliminated on their own; to solve individual problems, you will need to call a specialist from GorGaz or a service department.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
How to choose a UPS for a gas boiler correctly. Purchase criteria and nuances:
So, as we found out, a power outage will not spoil expensive volatile equipment. All systems dependent on electricity will simply shut down and the gas supply will be cut off by a shut-off valve.
And if you also have a UPS installed, you will not even notice a short-term interruption in the supply of current to the line.
Please write your comments in the block below, ask questions, post photos on the topic of the article. Tell us about how your boiler “behaved” after turning off and starting the power supply. Share useful information that will be useful to site visitors.
