Page 3 of 3

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 2:10 pm
by Sting
I know you all HATE pellet stoves but seriously whats the big deal :mad:
back in the day when I was burning clear pellets made from 100% recycled paper they would bind in the hopper just as bad or more than your drama - being paper it only took a rotisory motor
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m ... &_from=R40
cast off from an old grill to turn [rather jog] a shaft with a few fingers to drop the load back into play
I had an infinitely programmable cycle timer laying around so I set it to cycle on and run the motor for three seconds every five minutes

you most likely will need to find something with a bit more power to drive a finger shaft to stir the bin load but you could control it with something as simple as

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lamp-Appliance-Security-T ... 3f2c615430

maybe only 4 times a day would be enough

It Depends!
Sting

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 3:32 pm
by SMITTY
I started having this issue too, as soon as I started using a hopper lid. Turns out, my bagged coal is sopping wet ... but the heat of the boiler evaporates most of it ... but only when the lid is off. There's less than a pound stuck to the sides and rear of the hopper if I let it empty itself with dry coal.

I'd be willing to bet this problem could be NEARLY solved just by allowing the coal to dry before loading it into the hopper.

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 4:19 pm
by Flyer5
SMITTY wrote:I started having this issue too, as soon as I started using a hopper lid. Turns out, my bagged coal is sopping wet ... but the heat of the boiler evaporates most of it ... but only when the lid is off. There's less than a pound stuck to the sides and rear of the hopper if I let it empty itself with dry coal.

I'd be willing to bet this problem could be NEARLY solved just by allowing the coal to dry before loading it into the hopper.
I normally burn bulk but last year and this year I have burned bagged. This is the first time I am seeing it this bad as well. If I leave a few bags open for a few days before using them it works a lot better as well.

Sting I like your idea.

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 4:30 pm
by McGiever
Corn stoves and multi-fueled stoves using corn (it's sticky when burned) all employe a similar principle to that of what *Sting* has mentioned, but over/in the burn-pot.
What I recall seeing resembled a heavy wire open spring auger affair driven by a wood pellet type auger motor/gearbox. Cycling on and off is a nice touch. :)

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 4:52 pm
by kstills
Flyer5 wrote:
SMITTY wrote:I started having this issue too, as soon as I started using a hopper lid. Turns out, my bagged coal is sopping wet ... but the heat of the boiler evaporates most of it ... but only when the lid is off. There's less than a pound stuck to the sides and rear of the hopper if I let it empty itself with dry coal.

I'd be willing to bet this problem could be NEARLY solved just by allowing the coal to dry before loading it into the hopper.
I normally burn bulk but last year and this year I have burned bagged. This is the first time I am seeing it this bad as well. If I leave a few bags open for a few days before using them it works a lot better as well.

Sting I like your idea.
Idea?

He posted something besides that picture??

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 6:10 pm
by Rick 386
I do not have an issue with my 200 lb hopper on the Hyfire II unless I use wet coal.

When I was burning it at the shop, I would buy 100 lb bags and usually keep them in my truck for added weight especially with this snowy weather. Then dragging the bags into the shop and direct to hopper would crate bridging.

However since I took it to the home garage, and since I keep a 55 gal barrel in the garage, I have not had any bridging in the past month or so. With the addition of the Coaltrol, and having it set to only 55* out there I don't use a lot. So when filling the barrel from the outdoor bin every 2 weeks or so, it has plenty of time to dry out before getting shoveled into the bin.

But being it is in the garage, I don't have any concern with dust mitigation.

ETA: How about using something like this suspended in the hopper and wired to operate when the stoker runs ??
It's cheaper than a pocket rocket or rabbit !!!!!

http://www.allegromedical.com//daily-living-aids- ... a_7c189870

Rick

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 6:51 pm
by coalnewbie

Re: Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

Posted: Fri. Dec. 12, 2014 9:30 am
by pcitim
The next time my hopper gets low I'm going to take a scotch brite pad and smooth out the interior of the hopper and then spray it with a product called Fluid Film. It's suppose to be an amazing product that lubricates and protects metal and doesn't burn off until it reaches over 410 degrees, so it should stay there. The product is commonly sprayed on the inside of snow blowers chutes with amazing results and people even spray the stuff on their plows to keep snow from sticking on them. I think it's worth giving this stuff a shot if you're having a problem with your coal not sliding down the hopper into the hole.