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StokerDon
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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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Dec. 29, 2018 6:46 pm

Rob,

I notice that 1 year ago you started running your EFM on a single 4006 aquastat. I was wondering if you are still running it? That's currently the same thing I am running on my Axeman. Its an amazingly simple control.

-Don


 
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Rob R.
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Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Sat. Dec. 29, 2018 8:15 pm

Yes. Last February I set it at 170 with a 10 degree differential and have not touched it since. The stoker has run about 1100 hours since this day last year.

 
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coalkirk
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Posts: 5185
Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
Location: Forest Hill MD
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Tue. Jan. 01, 2019 9:11 am

Rob R. wrote:
Sat. Dec. 29, 2018 12:59 pm
With all of the excitment going on in some of the other boiler threads, I did not want my EFM feeling left out. I looked real hard for something that needed an adjustment, but the darn thing is still running perfect since I flipped the switch in October. I gave the stoker a few drops of oil since I had the cover off, but it looks like it is back to the normal routine of taking the ashes out every few days. If it is lucky I will vacuum out the stove pipe in a few weeks.
After constantly tweaking my VF3000 for years to try and coax more BTU's out of it I'm loving the "boredom" of my EFM. Empty the ash, pull the fines lever.

 
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Rob R.
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Tue. Jan. 01, 2019 10:31 am

When I first installed my EFM, I would go down and check on it/look at the fire a few times per day. Now I go a month without even opening the fire door. It has been a very reliable piece of equipment.

 
mof1964
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Joined: Sun. Dec. 28, 2008 4:24 pm
Location: Denver Pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Coal Chubby

Post by mof1964 » Tue. Jan. 01, 2019 10:39 am

I did the same as Rob. When we installed our first EFM 520 boiler I was in the basement all the time checking on it. Now I go every other day and pull the handle and change the tub every 3 days or so depending on the temp. It really is an awesome unit to have.

 
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swyman
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Location: Blissfield, MI
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman-Anderson 260M Leisure Line AA-220 Boiler (FOR SALE)
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Pea

Post by swyman » Tue. Jan. 01, 2019 11:21 am

Bla Bla Bla, you guys have not clue on how much fun your'e missing out on! Well I guess you do, you spend a lot of time trying to help me!

 
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Rob R.
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
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Post by Rob R. » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 7:49 pm

8 years since I created the first post in this topic. EFM just shrugged off a subzero weekend like it was no big deal...what a difference some air sealing makes.


 
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CoalHeat
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Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:13 pm

coalkirk wrote:
Tue. Jan. 01, 2019 9:11 am
After constantly tweaking my VF3000 for years to try and coax more BTU's out of it I'm loving the "boredom" of my EFM. Empty the ash, pull the fines lever.
Same here! On the 20th of December it was 8 years since I lit the first fire in my 350. What a great piece of equipment it is. Buying that boiler was one of my best decisions.

 
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Rob R.
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Apr. 12, 2019 8:15 pm

Today marked the end of my 7th heating season with the EFM. Baseball season is going to start in a few weeks, and I need all the time I can get for spring chores - so I decided to let the oil boiler and heat pump take over.

From October 14th until April 12th I burned 5.25 tons of coal. According to the hour meter the stoker ran 1030 hours during that time. 7655 degree days. I think this is the best I have ever done in terms of economy.

Using the heat pump on mild days (when it is most efficient) has helped stretch the coal without a noticeable impact on my electric bill - so I will probably do the same thing next season.

 
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StokerDon
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Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Apr. 13, 2019 9:45 am

5.25 ton of coal is pretty dern good for your area and house. I burn about that much down here and it's just about air-conditioning season, no heat needed.

By your numbers I come up with 9.83 pounds per hour. I'm gonna guess you are running 5 teeth on Rice coal.

-Don

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Apr. 13, 2019 12:48 pm

4 teeth on rice. EFM says that is 10 lbs per hr of run time.

 
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StokerDon
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Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Apr. 13, 2019 8:01 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Sat. Apr. 13, 2019 12:48 pm
4 teeth on rice. EFM says that is 10 lbs per hr of run time.
Whoops! Yah, your right. For some reason I got it in my head that 5 teeth was 10 pounds per hour with rice, it's actually 12.5. So 4 teeth is 10 pounds per hour.

-Don

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Apr. 14, 2019 7:39 am

I used to run the stoker on 5 teeth, but since I tightened the house up a little 4 teeth has been plenty.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Jun. 07, 2019 6:04 am

Summer project - I have grown tired of burning $90-100 of heating oil per month for domestic hot water, the heat in the basement, and also tired of the roar of the oil burner. Rather than buy another tank of heating oil, I decided to buy a 50 gallon electric water heater. I will be surprised if the electric tank costs more than $50 per month to operate, but even if it is the same cost as the oil setup I will enjoy the silence and lack of maintenance.

My 80 gallon indirect water heater has provided way more hot water than we could ever use for the last 8 years, but it will soon be for sale. I am going to preheat the water going to the electric tank with a plate heat exchanger in the winter months.

In a year or two I plan to rip the oil boiler out completely and replace it with a small electric boiler.
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User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Jun. 09, 2019 7:18 pm

Rob R. wrote:
Fri. Jun. 07, 2019 6:04 am
tired of the roar of the oil burner.
Everybody hates that! It's the sound of money flying out of your wallet. It wouldn't be so bad if they were at least quiet about it! :lol:

Good luck with your project Rob. I find the electric boilers interesting and have considered doing this myself. They pop up on CL for cheap every once in a while. Maybe you can find a nice used EFM unit?

-Don


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