B&G "Circuit Setter"?


  #1  
Old 10-15-14, 01:56 PM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 46
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Question B&G "Circuit Setter"?

Hi All,

Been awhile since I posted. We have a gas fired boiler & baseboard radiators for heat. The return valves come together at a point that have these big red B&G dials which I believe to be circuit setters (based on a quick internet search). I have never touched them in the 3 years we've been at this house, but was curious why they're there, and what they are normally used for?

Here are a few pics:

http://i.imgur.com/uNbLih.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ybLXgh.jpg
 
  #2  
Old 10-15-14, 03:12 PM
lawrosa's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Galivants Ferry SC USA
Posts: 15,990
Received 84 Upvotes on 76 Posts
That unit is to balance the flow through the two loops. If one loop is longer there will be more flow through the shorter loop.
 
  #3  
Old 10-15-14, 03:20 PM
NJT's Avatar
NJT
NJT is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 19,710
Upvotes: 0
Received 8 Upvotes on 6 Posts
I don't think that was ever called a 'circuit setter' although it's function is similar. It's older than me and Mike put together I think? No... probably not... definitely older than Mike. I think I remember seeing one through the rungs of my crib when my parents used to lock me in the boiler room.

Seriously though, by the instructions on the valve handle, obviously some sort of balancing valve with a 'dual purpose. It's also a purge valve. I bet that one could install drain valves in the two end plugs and purge air from the loops with it.

Are there drain valves installed above the ball valves above that device?

Do you get reasonably even heat from both of the loops?

It appears that it's currently set for equal flow through both, arrow straight up, so if you haven't had to adjust it, leave it alone. Bad things usually follow turning a valve that hasn't been turned in decades. If it ain't broke...
 
  #4  
Old 10-15-14, 03:24 PM
lawrosa's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Galivants Ferry SC USA
Posts: 15,990
Received 84 Upvotes on 76 Posts
Here is what looks like a newer version...

http://www.precisionbalancing.com/PD...t%20Setter.pdf
 
  #5  
Old 10-15-14, 04:35 PM
NJT's Avatar
NJT
NJT is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 19,710
Upvotes: 0
Received 8 Upvotes on 6 Posts
Yeah, that's a 'circuit setter', but not really the same thing.

That's for only one 'zone'. Those ports on top are where one would connect a differential pressure gauge to measure flow, not for two pipes going to the zones.

It's a fairly different animal that one is...

Take a close look and see if there is any other nomenclature anywhere on the valve that might be a model number.
 
  #6  
Old 10-16-14, 10:01 AM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 46
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
yes, there are drain valves above the ball valve further up on each line: http://i.imgur.com/xo1j7MH.jpg

and yes the heat seems pretty consistent across all zones. upon further inspection i found a label that says 'duo flo balancer' and 'DF-3'. couldn't find much info online about this, must be really old? http://i.imgur.com/BoSaql7.jpg
 
  #7  
Old 10-16-14, 04:15 PM
NJT's Avatar
NJT
NJT is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 19,710
Upvotes: 0
Received 8 Upvotes on 6 Posts
yes, there are drain valves above the ball valve further up on each line:
Great! That's what you will use if you ever have to purge air.

Leave your "Duo-Flo Balancers" alone then. Arrow straight up.

I do believe they are probably from the 50s-60s, but I've never seen them before so they must not have been terribly popular and probably discontinued after a short while.

Can you read anything in the 'date code' box?
 
  #8  
Old 10-16-14, 04:32 PM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 46
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
no, unfortunately the date code box seemed to be empty. and there was soldered spilled on the other duo-flo so i couldn't read anything off them.
 
  #9  
Old 10-16-14, 04:36 PM
NJT's Avatar
NJT
NJT is offline
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 19,710
Upvotes: 0
Received 8 Upvotes on 6 Posts
I just tried a patent search and came up with nothing... oh well, one of those 'mysteries lost in time' I guess!
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: