Hi everyone!

I just wanted to ask why NS doesn't put insulation on their copper boilers. Is it conceivable to wrap one yourself? I suppose it would translate to energy savings? The boiler turns on and off very frequently.

Tell me your thoughts!

Hei. I've insulated the boiler on my Appia but I didn't test a before and after so I don't know how it affected p stat cycle.
here is a video I took of the p stat cycle and also in the video you can see the insulation job.

What is your p stat cycle time?

wearashirt wrote:Hi everyone!

I just wanted to ask why NS doesn't put insulation on their copper boilers. Is it conceivable to wrap one yourself? I suppose it would translate to energy savings? The boiler turns on and off very frequently.

Tell me your thoughts!

It must provide more effective cup warming. I use header wrap tape from my speed shop to insulate - it's effective, cheap, easy, and not too ugly.

trumz wrote:Hei. I've insulated the boiler on my Appia but I didn't test a before and after so I don't know how it affected p stat cycle.
here is a video I took of the p stat cycle and also in the video you can see the insulation job.

What is your p stat cycle time?

That's a very conservative heat loss rate! Definitely, my machine loses heat faster. Is that a one group?

Yes 1 group with 208-240v, 1800w heating element.

I thought of going the exhaust manifold wrap route, but ended up using Armaflex. Lots of info if your use the search.

Simonelli does wrap its boilers on many of their machines. First it was the Oscars, now even the T3 gets a wrap. The Linea PB as well. Strangely, the Appia and Aurelia does not come wrapped.

I insulated the boiler on my Elektra A3 many years ago so I don't remember the exact numbers, but it cut down the pressurestat cycles a huge amount. Granted, the A3 has a pretty large boiler as well so not sure how that plays into things.

Roughly, I vaguely recall it used to cycle every 20 seconds or so. After insulating, it cycles only once every 3 minutes. I just took a quick timing and it took 3:10 (machine is on 24/7 and has been for years, so that has probably saved a lot of power). Still plenty hot on top...

Edit: Just dug up an old post of mine from years back when I had a Bricoletta....

My plumbers here at work found me some (what they call fire padding) insulation as I could not find ceramic matting anywhere...but it may be the same thing. So, yesterday I pulled some around the new Bric's boiler. Wow...amazing difference in cycle times. I have my boiler set to cycle between 0.9 and about 1.05, and it used to cycle every 45 seconds or so at least....now I am lucky to hear the "click" every 5 minutes. I left the ends clear as well, and since I was in there (and have the automatic version of the Bric), also insulated the Gicar controls away from the main boiler area.

Hi,
what type of insulation do you use? I am starting thinking of isolate my huge boiler on LaScala too, but I could not find any suitable material. I can get some foamy plastic insulations, but this seems not good for hot boiler. I remember there is mineral wool wrapped in Aluminium sheet on one machine I have had, but I am not able to find this where to buy. The only mineral wool I can find is for house isolation, which is way too thick.
Thanks for suggestions.

Hi Petr, I used Armflex from here http://www.rimprezza.de/epages/63241512 ... s/Armaflex