My Peerless low pressure steam boiler has a 24vac gas valve. During a recent snow storm (seems too early to be saying this), we lost electricity for over 24 hours.
A friend of mine told me that I could hook 2 12 volt dc batteries together in series to get 24 volts, and that the 24volts of dc power would open the gas valve. I did a goggle search and found confirmation, and the confirmation basically said you can open a 24vac valve with 24v of dc power, but not vice-versa. My friend said basically all you are doing is operating a magnetic valve, and that is why 24vdc will open a 24vac valve.
Being somewhat skeptic, and not wanting to replace a gas valve, I thought I would ask the forum.
Since there are no pumps on a low pressure steam system, it sure would be a good backup to have it really works. At least you could get the house warm, although be it manually. I guess if you had a 24 volt dc thermostat, you could potentially operate the furnace automatically if it is true about using 24dvc on a 24vac vavle.
A friend of mine told me that I could hook 2 12 volt dc batteries together in series to get 24 volts, and that the 24volts of dc power would open the gas valve. I did a goggle search and found confirmation, and the confirmation basically said you can open a 24vac valve with 24v of dc power, but not vice-versa. My friend said basically all you are doing is operating a magnetic valve, and that is why 24vdc will open a 24vac valve.
Being somewhat skeptic, and not wanting to replace a gas valve, I thought I would ask the forum.
Since there are no pumps on a low pressure steam system, it sure would be a good backup to have it really works. At least you could get the house warm, although be it manually. I guess if you had a 24 volt dc thermostat, you could potentially operate the furnace automatically if it is true about using 24dvc on a 24vac vavle.