IB57

Overview

The Hobart IB57 is an infrared booster gas water heater used with commercial dishwashing equipment. It supplies hot rinse water to a connected dishwasher. The manual covers the IB57 alongside the related IB140, IB235 and IB290 models; the specifications below are limited to details identified for the IB57 or instructions stated for the series as a whole.

The manual describes stand-alone and dishwasher-activated operation. On a dishwasher-activated unit, the booster heater starts when the dishwasher is on and there is a demand for hot rinse water. The specific control arrangement on an individual unit should be confirmed before installation or service.

Key Features

• Infrared gas heating: The IB57 is identified as an infrared booster gas water heater.
• Dishwasher rinse service: The manual describes the heater operating in response to a dishwasher’s demand for hot rinse water.
• Automatic hot-surface ignition: The heater has no pilot; an ignition device automatically lights the burner. The burner must not be lit by hand.
• Circulator operation: The manual requires checking that the water pump is operating before lighting the heater.
• Operating-temperature control: The thermostat board assembly is factory set at 185°F.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Hobart.
• Model: IB57.
• Equipment type: Infrared booster gas water heater.
• Burner input: 57,000 BTU/hr.
• Gas inlet connection: 1/2-inch NPT at the gas valve.
• Fuel: Natural gas or propane; the supplied gas type must match the heater data plate.
• Factory-set operating temperature control: 185°F.
• Minimum water pressure: 15 psig.
• Maximum water pressure: 25 psig.
• Recommended regulated water pressure at the dishwasher: 20 psig.
• Drain connection: A 3/4-inch NPT drain valve is provided underneath the heater.
• Temperature and pressure relief valve discharge connection: 3/4-inch NPT for the IB57.
• Dishwasher-activation control connection: The cited manual information gives a maximum rating of 0.5 amp at 24 volts for connecting an IB57 dishwasher-activated heater to BSTR1 and BSTR2. This is a control-connection rating, not a general appliance electrical-supply rating.

Installation & Requirements

Location and codes

Install the booster where the required clearances can be maintained. Keep the area around it clear of combustible materials, gasoline and other flammable vapours and liquids. Do not place the heater where a water leak could damage the surrounding area or lower floors. If that location cannot be avoided, the manual calls for a suitable drained catch pan beneath the heater; the pan must not restrict combustion-air flow. Do not install the heater directly on carpeting.

The manual lists the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1, and National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, for installations where applicable local codes are absent. For Canada, it lists CAN/CGA B149.1, CAN/CGA B149.2 and CSA C22.2 No.1. Follow the applicable local requirements and the heater’s data plate.

Gas and venting

The IB57 has a 1/2-inch NPT gas inlet at the gas valve. The gas supply line must be sized to provide the model’s input at the specified flowing pressure. The manual’s pressure table is not included in the supplied text, so inlet-pressure values should be confirmed from the complete manual or appliance data plate rather than assumed. The manual calls for a sediment trap and a manual shutoff valve, supplied by others, outside the rear cover panel and ahead of the gas control.

Do not use Teflon tape on gas-line threads. The manual specifies LOCTITE 565, Hobart part 546292, or a flexible sealant suitable for natural and LP gases. Leak-test the heater and gas connections with soapy water before operation; do not use an open flame. During gas-system pressure testing above 1/2 psig (3.5 kPa), disconnect the heater and its individual shutoff valve from the supply piping. At lower test pressures, isolate the heater by closing its individual manual shutoff valve.

Provide combustion and ventilation air as required by the installation. The manual’s vent-terminal guidance says to avoid locations where snow accumulation or condensate discharge could create a problem. It cautions against condensate drippage above planters, patios and public walkways, and locations where vapour could create a nuisance or hazard or affect regulators, relief valves or other equipment. Follow the vent-pipe manufacturer’s instructions.

Water and electrical connections

The manual specifies water pressure from 15 to 25 psig. If a water pressure regulator is used, adjust it to maintain 20 psig at the dishwasher. Hobart’s optional Water Hammer Arrestor Kit is described as including a water pressure regulator, pressure gauge and water shock absorber. The manual calls for a suitable water hammer arrester between the booster heater and dishwasher.

A 3/4-inch NPT drain valve is located under the heater and may be connected to a suitable open floor drain for servicing. The temperature and pressure relief valve is at the rear. For the IB57, its discharge connection is 3/4-inch NPT. Pipe the discharge to a suitable drain or a catch pan with a drain, following the instructions on the valve tag.

Use the electrical diagrams and connection instructions in the complete model manual for the appliance wiring. The cited dishwasher-control information limits the connection from an IB57 dishwasher-activated heater to BSTR1 and BSTR2 to 0.5 amp at 24 volts; it does not establish the heater’s overall electrical supply requirements.

Operation

Before start-up

Fill the booster piping and confirm that the water pump operates before attempting to light the heater. With the gas valve off, activate the power switch on a stand-alone unit. If there is no power switch, activate the dishwasher so it calls for hot rinse water. The circulator pump should start immediately and pump water through the system.

Ignition and heating cycle

The IB57 does not have a pilot. Its hot-surface ignition device automatically lights the burner; do not attempt to light it by hand. Before operating, check for the smell of gas around the heater, including near the floor, because some gases can settle there.

For the Robertshaw gas-valve lighting procedure shown in the manual: turn off electrical power, remove the left side panel, turn the gas control to OFF and wait five minutes for gas to clear. If gas is still smelled, stop and follow the gas-emergency instructions. If there is no smell, turn the control to ON, replace the panel and restore electrical power. If the heater does not operate, follow the manual’s shutdown instructions and call a service technician or gas supplier.

When the thermostat board assembly calls for heat, the burner operates. Once water temperature exceeds the control setting, the burner shuts off until the next call for heat. On stand-alone units, the circulator runs while the On/Off switch is on. On dishwasher-activated units, the pump runs while the dishwasher is on. The blower runs while heat is being called for and for 30 seconds after the call is satisfied. The indicator lights show power to the booster and a demand for heat; the On/Off switch is present only on stand-alone units.

Cleaning & Maintenance

The supplied manual text does not provide a routine cleaning procedure for the IB57. For maintenance, it states that the water-pump motor and combustion-air blower motor are permanently lubricated and require no other lubrication.

Check the vent system annually for obstruction and for deformation of the vent pipes, which the manual identifies as a sign of abnormal vent-system conditions. Refer to the vent-pipe manufacturer’s instructions. When the burner is operating properly, its flame appears orange with a blue tint when viewed across the burner through the flame observation port.

The temperature and pressure relief valve should be manually operated at least once annually to check that its mechanism remains functional. Use care to avoid contact with hot-water discharge and prevent water damage; follow the instructions on the valve tag. The manual prohibits repair or alteration of the relief valve.

Troubleshooting

The circulator does not start

Before lighting, the manual directs the operator to activate the stand-alone power switch or, on a unit without a switch, make a dishwasher call for hot rinse water. The pump should start immediately. If it does not, the manual does not provide a user repair procedure in the supplied text; have the equipment checked by a qualified service technician.

Gas is smelled

Do not try to light the heater. Do not touch electrical switches or use a phone inside the building. Call the gas supplier from a neighbour’s phone and follow the supplier’s instructions. If the gas supplier cannot be reached, call the fire department.

The heater does not operate

Follow the manual’s gas shutoff procedure and contact a service technician or gas supplier. Do not force or attempt to repair a gas control that will not move by hand. If any part of the heater has been under water, do not use it; the manual says to call a qualified service technician to inspect it and replace affected control-system parts and any gas control that has been under water.

Overheating or gas fails to shut off

If overheating occurs or the gas supply fails to shut off, do not turn off or disconnect electrical power to the pump. Shut off the gas supply at the manual gas control valve.

Applications

The IB57 is intended for booster-heater service with a commercial dishwasher, supporting the dishwasher’s hot-rinse-water demand. The manual describes dishwasher-activated operation as well as stand-alone operation. Confirm the unit’s gas type against its data plate and use the complete manual for model-specific installation and wiring instructions.