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Oil burner gun operation (C) D Friedman - AudelOil Burner Electrodes
Assembly: Inspection, Cleaning, Adjustment

Oil Burner Electrodes:

Here we explain how to diagnose oil burner electrodes problems, how to inspect, clean, and adjust oil burner electrodes, and air turbulators used on heating oil burners found on residential & light commercial oil burners.

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Oil Burner Electrode Setting & Adjustment Procedures

Oil burner schematic (C) Carson Dunlop AssociatesArticle Contents

[Click to enlarge any image]

This article series answers most questions about central hot water heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs. We describe how to inspect, troubleshoot and repair heating and air conditioning systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects.

Our sketch (above) shows how an oil burner gun atomizes and sprays heating oil into the combustion chamber - Audel Oil Burner Guide.

Also see OIL BURNER INSPECTION & REPAIR.

Oil Burner Electrode Settings Guide & Measurements: Oil Burner Ignition Electrode Gap & Positions

An oil burner adjustment template provided by Beckett Corporation and shown just below summarizes the adjustment of the ignition electrodes & their positioning for Beckett oil burners.

And for eight oil burner head designs the template recommends oil burner nozzle firing rates (in gallons per hour or gph) and spray pattern or style.

As you will read below, there is a very large array of oil burner nozzles and spray patterns provided by a variety of manufacturers.

Beckett oil burner electrode gauge (C) Daniel Friedman, Beckett Corp ... Beckett oil burner electrode gauge (C) Daniel Friedman, Beckett Corp

SNAFUs to watch out for when cleaning & adjusting the oil burner nozzle assembly

Beckett AF AG Oil burner electrode settings (C) InspectApedia.com adapted from Beckett AF/AG oil burner manual cited in this article

Illustration: oil burner electrode settings for the Beckett AF / AG oil burner series, adapted from the AF/AG manual cited below.

Watch out: check the electrode settings specified by your specific oil burner as those shown here will often be different.

For example, when setting the electrodes on a a Beckett CF500/800 oil burner, the Gap or R-dimension is 3/16, the P-dimension or height above centerline of the nozzle opening is 3/16" and the Q-dimension or distance from tip of electrode to nozzle face is 1/4".

On a Carlin EZ-123 oil burner the Gap or R-dimension is set 1/8" to 5/32" wide, the P-dimension or height is set to 5/16", and the Q-dimension or distance of electrode tip ahead of the nozzle face is set from Flush to 1/16".

On a Carlin 201 oil burner the Gap or R-dimension is set 1/8", the P-dimension or height is set to 1/4", and the Q-dimension or distance of electrode tip ahead of the nozzle face is set from 1/4" to 5/16".

On a Remko SLV 11-33 oil burner the Gap or R-dimension is set 2.5mm, the P-dimension or height is set to7mm, and the Q-dimension or distance of electrode tip ahead of the nozzle face is set to 2-4mm. The nozzle face must be 4-6mm behind the inner face of the turbulator surface.

For other models of oil burners and their adjustments

see OIL BURNER MANUALS .

Carlin combustion head clearance for a Carlin 201 oil burner (C) InspectApedia.com adapted from Carlin OB manual cited in this article

The articles at this website describe how to recognize common oil-fired heating appliance operating or safety defects, and how to save money on home heating costs.

Oil Burner Nozzle Electrode Sources & Manuals

 

Also see

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-11-12 by (mod) - Replace Ducane cracked ceramic oil burner electrode assembly not the whole boiler or furnace?

1993 Ducane oil burner electrode crack (C) InspectApedia.com MarieMarie

What is the worst that can happen if an oil burner electrode is damaged or cracked?

When the ceramic insulator on an oil burner electrode assembly is cracked the oil burner will not work properly nor reliably because the high voltage generated by the transformer and that is intended to create a good ignition spark will instead leak, short circuit, and interfere with good combustion.

Watch out: The result of a damaged oil burner electrode can be a sooty flame, oil burner malfunction, loss of heat, even an oil burner puffback explosion.

For that reason, the electrode ceramic should be replaced. That is a trivial and easy repair well within the scope of an oil burner service technician.

The argument that an entire heating system needs replacement because a ceramic electrode in the oil burner gun is cracked is, by itself, complete nonsense.

Would you buy a new car because one of the tires had a leak valve stem?

On the other hand, if your heater is actually a furnace (hot air heat) and if it also has a major defect like a cracked heat exchanger (dangerously unsafe) then that would be a reason for buying a new furnace.

In looking for replacement electrode ceramic insulators or an electrode assembly itself, the service tech might check with the big suppliers of these parts as those sources may still have what's needed.

ICPT Tempstar Parts has many parts for the DRC10A Ducane oil burner. Tel: 888-828-8317 Website: icptempstarparts.com/model/icp-tempstar-heil-drc10a-parts/

Ask about their part no.: ICP 1150294 ELECTRODE DUCANE or its replacement by Part # ICP B0811114 ELECTRODE DUCANE (about $100. U.S.)

Crown also supplies oil burner electrodes and parts: for a Ducane oil burner the Crown # 21182-02 or a 21190-02 electrode set (shown below as a measurement schematic) may fit.

Crown oil burner electrode for some Ducane oil burners - at InspectApedia.com

Westwood supplies oil burner electrodes and parts

and some oil burner parts suppliers like Cleaver-Brooks may also be able to help (Cleaver-Brooks at 1-800-250-5883 or at https://parts.cleaverbrooks.com/Catalog/burner )

and some of the oil burner manufacturers such as Carlin and Beckett offer top quality replacement oil burners.

In the very worst case I can imagine, of an oil burner that is so old that the exact electrode replacement parts can't be found, you'd still have the option of replacing the oil burner itself.

You might also have your repair tech contact the present Ducane Co. directly at

Ducane Inc., 215 Metropolitan Drive, West Columbia, SC 29170 USA Tel: 1-800-448-5872

Also see the example of an electrode that fits some Ducane burners (shown above) the Westwood-E5-199Z1-Oil-Burner-Electrode

Another option, if your particular Ducane oil burner electrode assembly is truly not available, would be to simply replace the oil burner air tube combination on your existing Ducane burner with one that is the proper length, diameter, and thus can fit the proper electrodes and oil burner nozzle for your boiler or furnace.

Grainger (1-800-GRAINGER) supplies replacement oil burner tubes from Beckett that *might* be usable.

How to get the right oil burner electrode

To get the right oil burner replacement electrode assembly the technician needs to know the oil burner brand (Ducane) and model number.

Or

she needs to get the exact measurements of and shape of the original oil burner electrode assembly. The typical measurements include insulator length and diameter and the metal metal electrode shape and length as you can see in the sketch of the Crown replacement example I have already given.

Below is the Westwood electrode assembly that may be close to what your oil burner wants.

This squared-ceramic electrode set for Ducane burners is offered by Radwell, Order toll free: 800.884.5500 Order international: +1 609.288.9393 EUl: +44 1782 576800

Westwood E6-199Z1 oil burner electrode for Ducane oil burners - at InspectApedia.com and sold by Radwell cited here

Other OEM replacements for Ducane oil burner electrodes include the

Crown 21182-02 Set Of Replacement Electrodes For Ducane DMR-15A With 7" Blast Tube

Crown 21182-02 Set Of Replacement Electrodes For Ducane DMR-15A With 7" Blast Tube Fits Ducane DMR15A, DMR-15A, DMR15A1, DMR-15A-1 Oil Burners

widely sold by HVACR suppliers, Sears, Amazon, etc.

Finally, if you don't have the manual for your Ducane heater

see DUCANE, bought by Lennox 1999 - also see LENNOX HVAC MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES

On 2020-11-12 by Marie - we need a new furnace because the Ducane oil burner electrode assembly is cracked

Hello,

The electrode (ceramic) part is cracked on our 1993 Ducane oil burner. See image [photo shown at the start of this discussin].

The system works however twice last week there was a strong smell of burnt oil in our home when the furnace kicked. We don't know how long the crack has been there, it was not found in the last maintenance 10 months ago.

We are trying to get more information on how soon we should replace our system. We need a full furnace replacement as those parts are not available anymore.

What is the worst thing that can happen from this crack ?

thanks


On 2018-04-09 by (mod)

One could braze an electrode end to another but such a design is very likely to be improper and result in improper and unsafe oil burner operation.

The right repair for a damaged oil burner electrode is to replace the pair with an OEM matched set.

On 2018-04-09 by John Kennedy

@JOE,

can two electrode be placed end to end and brazed? the current going through be the same? we just had one done like so .


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