I asked this back in January as I need a cheaper but effective steam plant. At the time I asked about the smaller boilers since the bigger Jensen ones were sold out from ministeam.
But I noticed yesterday that directly from Jensen I can by a 55G's electric boiler & firebox for $200. Nick said to wait for a used one but the 55s don't appear too often on eBay. ...I saw one via completed auctions that sold in Feb. But missed that one. Nick didn't have any for sale neither.
From what I gather a new one is mostly complete:
077-080
Boiler with Bricked Firebox and Immersion Heater
Model#'s 20, 20G, 55, 55G, 95G
$196.50
I want to run alternatively a turbine, a Graham Industries single, and a Bing 130/616 tandem wheel drive unit. Do you think it could do that?
I went through the same thought process you described - I was looking for that Jensen 55 boiler for $196. I placed an order direct with Jensen, and got a call from them a day or two later. They told me that they were running way behind and had no boilers available, that everything they had were going into complete plants. That was a couple of months ago, so maybe they have caught up, but I doubt it. They said a backorder could take 3-6 moths to fill.
So I started calling around. I found a stripped boiler from Ministeam (his last one) and ordered the rest of the parts needed to assemble the boiler from Jensen. The boiler has worked well for my modest needs (a PMR #3 and #7 engine) and will hold me over until the larger MSM boiler finally gets built and shipped from down under.
A few years ago, I made up a stand alone steam source for orphaned engines. I used the 3" diameter boiler with 660 W Hotwatt heater repurposed from a Jensen 95G. Same boiler and heater is used for the 55.
My experience is that the stand alone boiler will power most anything I hook it to EXCEPT turbines...there is just not enough steam volume in my opinion to power the turbine from a 95G...reason I cannibalized the 95G in the first place. I think you would be happy with hooking most anything else to it except a turbine as turbines are steam hogs and honestly the 3" boiler with Hotwatt heater just isn't up to that task.
Roger
Ministeam sells the hedgehog Wilesco boiler for the turbine. But I will have to make a housing. I've worked with sheet metal but it always has a homemade look!
Boiler with spring loaded safety valve incl. glass, polished brass T125
Total Price$136.95
Ministeam sells the hedgehog Wilesco boiler for the turbine. But I will have to make a housing. I've worked with sheet metal but it always has a homemade look!
Boiler with spring loaded safety valve incl. glass, polished brass T125
Total Price$136.95
it's not near the build quality of a Jensen boiler.
I converted over an old large Jensen boiler to flame fired for some orphan engines.
They are pretty much bullet proof!