The 007e ECM high-efficiency circulator from Taco Comfort Solutions, designed for hydronic systems zoned with circulators or zone valves in primarily residential applications, operates in one mode, eliminating the need for programming.
"We actually simplified our VR1816 in making the 007e," says Doug Bird, Taco's product manager for water circulation. “The installer doesn’t have to set a dial or button. It’s a single-function, variable-speed circulator.”
Featuring ECM (electronically communicated motor) technology, the circulator uses up to 85 percent less energy than Taco’s standard model.
“If you compare the standard 007, which draws about 80-85 watts, the 007e draws a maximum of 44 watts and can go down to 4-5 watts at its lowest speed,” Bird says. “It really drops off the power consumption because it can respond to changing system conditions and lower its speed to match whatever the system demands, rather than run at one speed all the time.
“Say you have a three-zone system in a house, and three zones are open. The pump will operate at a speed to provide enough flow for the three zones, but if a thermostat is satisfied and a zone closes, the parameters in the system change and the pump detects a change in amperage because it’s operating at a different point on its curve,” Bird says. “In this case, it would slow down to make sure it doesn’t over-pump the system.”
A BIOBarrier protects the pump from contaminants and SureStart software self-purges and automatically frees a locked rotor.
“Many systems in the United States, and North America for that matter, are typically old and not well maintained,” Bird says. “They’ll have black iron oxide — metal fragments and oxide that forms off cast iron boiler casings or black iron pipe. The BIOBarrier is basically a filter that blocks the black iron oxide from entering into the rotor and bearing chamber.”
If the rotor becomes stuck, SureStart software causes it to oscillate, freeing it from the metal particles. The software also purges air from the pump’s volute, preventing the pump from running dry.
An orange LED light indicates when the circulator is in run mode while a flashing white light indicates when it’s in SureStart mode.
“After trying to correct itself up to 100 times, the LED will turn red and the pump will stop so it doesn’t destroy itself,” Bird says. “An installer can then take it apart, clean it and start it up again.”
Other easy installation features include dual electrical knockouts, a double-insulated motor that doesn’t require a ground wire, and nut grabber flange that eliminates the need for a backup wrench when mounting the circulator. 401/942-8000; www.tacocomfortsolutions.com.
