The Heat is On
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
No not literally! The Heat is On me to get this AA boiler in the basement and get a fire in her!
I started tearing into the Clayton furnace disconnecting all my gadgetry. Man I put a lot of work into this thing. Some mixed feelings about all of it.. I mean, for me. A lot of exciting discovery and learning are going to be taken out of the basement, with new adventures ahead
I've got two full months to get her done/usable. The pellet stove and electric fireplace will be employed till then as needed.
I started tearing into the Clayton furnace disconnecting all my gadgetry. Man I put a lot of work into this thing. Some mixed feelings about all of it.. I mean, for me. A lot of exciting discovery and learning are going to be taken out of the basement, with new adventures ahead
I've got two full months to get her done/usable. The pellet stove and electric fireplace will be employed till then as needed.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
It's come a long way.. I didn't think that I would ever get full range of motion back, but since late spring I've been able to lift it straight over head without assistance. Although, it's not very strong in that position. Otherwise it's pretty good when doing work below chest level. Thanks for asking
-
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 11417
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
Will be looking forward to a reload of all your ventures. Time for new stuff.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Lee, Did ya Pick up any plumbing parts or equipment in the interim?
- warminmn
- Member
- Posts: 8186
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Im going to miss your Clayton stories. many here including me learned from all those mods you did. But I sure dont blame you for the upgrade! New adventures!
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
No I haven't partner... money and time/effort has been tight with finishing the new building but that's about change. I'm taking a loan from my 401k to help with the boiler install.
I do want to go with electronic controls and a separate motor for ashing/auger that I will be eternally grateful for your advice with
Today I finished disconnecting the Clayton and have it on a bread dolly for easy movement around the basement. I have a plan for getting it out with the assistance of a couple strong bodies.
Thank you for the kind words and I'll continue to try to help others with the clayton/hot blast struggles. Hopefully at some point I can add to the AA/coal gun community too
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Glad to hear your are finally getting back at this thing!
I'm sorry to hear you are taking out a loan to do it though. If I were you I wouldn't go out an buy any fancy controls yet. Clean it up, paint it, replace any worn out parts and install it with the controls it has on it now. You can always change them later.
Do the near boiler plumbing in black iron or copper. Stuff the biggest heat excahnger you can fit in your plenum and plumb the supply and return in PEX. Heat exchangers and PEX are cheap. Once you have that done you can add radiators, base board, DHW, ect... later.
-Don
I'm sorry to hear you are taking out a loan to do it though. If I were you I wouldn't go out an buy any fancy controls yet. Clean it up, paint it, replace any worn out parts and install it with the controls it has on it now. You can always change them later.
Do the near boiler plumbing in black iron or copper. Stuff the biggest heat excahnger you can fit in your plenum and plumb the supply and return in PEX. Heat exchangers and PEX are cheap. Once you have that done you can add radiators, base board, DHW, ect... later.
-Don
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30300
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Pellet Stove??? Lee, what kinda mods ya got planned for this poor thing?????????????? LOL
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I've always had the pellet stove.. it's just a small one, fire place insert, good for about 25,000 BTUs wide open. I only burn a few bags in the spring and fall.freetown fred wrote: ↑Mon. Sep. 02, 2019 8:55 amPellet Stove??? Lee, what kinda mods ya got planned for this poor thing?????????????? LOL
I took out the loan for a new car, just got a little extra for odds and ends.. I got sick of driving junk that was nickel and diming me to death
Thank you for all the great advice
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I'm with Don. These projects tend to run over budget even if there are no big surprises. Assuming the Anthrastat and existing motor are functional, I would run those for at least the first year.I'm sorry to hear you are taking out a loan to do it though. If I were you I wouldn't go out an buy any fancy controls yet. Clean it up, paint it, replace any worn out parts and install it with the controls it has on it now. You can always change them later.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Thanks Rob, yeah the motor runs since the last time I powered it up.. Not sure about the anthrastat. Is there a way to test it before firing the boiler?
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13767
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
You can test it with a meter and pot of water on the stove with a thermometer. Raise the water temperature until the meter shows continuity, that's your setpoint.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Not Rob here, but Lee, the Athrastat is a simple temperature switch aka single pole switch signaled by proximity to a heat source and cycles on and off as per set point selected.
FYI: $32. bucks gets you digital controls package but I am not pushing for you to go against other's wisdom...
I'll hook you up with the Official Calibration Procedure after I locate it.
Last edited by McGiever on Mon. Sep. 02, 2019 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.