Tonight's the Night! KA-6 First Flame!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 6:36 pm

Sweating a couple more connections and screwing the smoke pipe together and I'm ready to light this candle! I have 200 pounds of bagged rice coal in the trunk of my car to let me play until the bulk coal delivery. It's my first time installing a stoker, so keep all your fingers, toes and everything else crossed for me. I'll report back later with all the details!

Wiz · Post by **Wiz** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 7:45 pm

Post pics of install, your going to be surprise of how quite the ka 6 is. It'll take a little while to dial in but you'll get it.

tikigeorge · Post by **tikigeorge** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 8:42 pm

How is it going?

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 8:47 pm

Ruh-row George, no response in 2 hours!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 9:20 pm

Coal mouse loaded, CO detectors to power, stoker to speed! Here goes!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 10:29 pm

After two dud coal mice,....success! It's burning and water slowly coming up to temp. Will watch it for a while and then shut her down before retiring for the night. I want to be able to monitor closely to make sure all is working well before I quit staring at the beast while it's firing. Lol! I'll post install photos as soon as the maelstrom of tools and supplies is organized.

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Wed. Oct. 16, 2013 10:57 pm

Organisation is over rated

I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to find my garage floor. Need to get the brides van in before cold weather. Yes we all look forward to any photos you feel comfortable with sharing with us. Remember we have all, or most of us been there and done that and are our own worst enemies when we show of what we have accomplished.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 12:27 pm

Thanks Sierra! Fired it up again this morning. So far so good. Low water cutoff checked and working. Waiting to hit set points to see if aqua stat working properly. No leaks in the plumbing,......so far! Lol!

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 1:03 pm

SWEEET! Hope mine goes this smoothly.

Thanks for reminding me ... I need a damn aquastat!

Almost forgot!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 7:24 pm

KA-6 still purring along. Aqua stat operation checks out. I mounted a hot water to hot air heat exchanger in the existing oil fired forced hot air furnace. Need to figure out how to have the blower fan come on when the thermostat calls for heat. There is a ginormous A coil that is connected to an equally ginormous heat pump. The fan and limit switch to the oil furnace I understand. The oil burner is de energized. I have to figure out which TT terminal to wire to come on the instant the TT calls for heat. Right now, just running the fan constantly. Heat is blown upstairs when the circulator comes on. Any ideas about hot wiring the fan? I know it comes on instantly when the heat pump runs. Hoping not to have the heat pump actually running at all, just the blower fan! Lol! Guess I'll have to try and digest the heat pump TT wiring schematic,....sigh......

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 8:59 pm

By any chance can you sketch a schematic, if not list what equipment is attached and made by who and maybe with manufacturers info we can help.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 9:07 pm

Should be a fan/blower relay controlling fan for HP mode, make that relay come on w/ the circulator on a call for heat by TT.
hint...green wire at HP should do the fan.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 11:15 pm

Thanks gang. I'll check out the schematic tomorrow and see what I need to jump. Should be easy to do once I figure out the spaghetti TT wiring. Damn system has a temperature lock out. Won't let the heat pump run when the outside temp drops below 40. Just complicates the wiring, as far as I'm concerned. That system came with the house. Just hit me, I now have a heat pump, oil furnace AND a coal boiler,....plus a fireplace begging for a Hitzer 983 insert. Bring on the zombie appocalypse!!! Lol! Oh yea,....8500 watt Genset out back as well. Need to wire a transfer switch. Next project!

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Fri. Oct. 18, 2013 7:33 pm

After scouring the heat pump and thermostat wiring schematics I finally had an epiphany! I simply needed to disconnect the TT wires leading to the deenergized oil burner control and connect them to the aqua stat TT terminals and presto! The TT calls for heat, the circulator comes on and the furnace blower fan starts a minute later. No fuss, no muss.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sat. Oct. 19, 2013 12:53 pm

Ok,....I'm scaring myself. First time stoker burner. It's been 24 hrs since I adjusted anything on boiler. Idle draft .02-.03 Full firing draft .01-.015 Pretty much right on Keystokers recommended numbers. Idle burn area about 2 inches of glowing coal. On full burn it has 2-3 inches of ash at end of stoker grate. Red nut backed off 14 turns and two sets of three pins at 15 minute intervals. I guess reading this forum rabidly has certainly paid off in getting my boiler dialed in! Thank you all VERY much for all your informative posts!!!

"Warmly"

Peter