Running boiler during power outage?

jmhultin

I have one-pipe gas steam heat in my home. Electrical power comes to the furnace, goes through a 25v transformer, and then runs the pilot igniter, and the gas control valve. There are no mechanical fans or pumps, or anything else requiring electrical power (the thermostat has its own batteries).

Periodically, we have a power outage and I would like to see if I can run the furnace on batteries. I have attempted, by disconnecting the transformer, and connecting several 9-volt batteries in series to the 2 wires that are normally connected to the transformer.

Three batteries (27 volts) ought to do it, right? Even with 6 batteries, I can elicit only a click from the furnace. Am I nuts, or is there a way to do this?

biggles

batteries are DC the transformer on the boiler is 24VAC/115VAC..might think of a inverter that you could hook you car battery up to then it inverts 12VDC from the car into 115VAC like a camper trailer...nice try

raylo32

Easier to just get a computer uninterruptable power source (UPS). This has battery and inverter all in one. They come in a variety of sizes and many would probably run a 24 V transformer, circuit board and gas valve for a long time.

COLDIRON

Just go buy a generator for the heater and refrigerator.

raylo32

Don't need a generator during power outages for the fridge in the winter. The whole world is a refrigerator! This is what we do around here:

jmhultin

Thanks - I appreciate all your comments

danpik

9 volt batteries wont supply enough current. You can get the voltage but not the amps needed to run the solenoids in the valve. I used two car batteries hooked up in series to get 24 volts durring an extended power outage once to get heat back into my house. worked fine.

COLDIRON

Looks like you got the refrigerator part covered so now you can buy a smaller generator. I agree with you.