The Van Wert VA600 Project
- 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
Friday evening after we fired it up it seemed to be struggling. It took over 3 and a half hours to come up to temp. I put the 2.5" motor pulley on it to speed things up a bit.
On Saturday afternoon I put the 2" motor pulley back on and it's pulled through some cold weather so we should be good to go. Maintaining 150 to 180 degrees. Aquastat set at 170. 2" motor pulley. 5.5 pounds per hour. We are running an air setting of 11 to get a more complete burn. At this fan speed the air setting doesn't seem to make much difference from 6 to 11. Fire box over fire draft is still negative. With these settings the stack never goes over 190. We're running the timer at it's minimum setting. It runs for about 15 seconds or so every hour. 893.8 - 881.8 = 12.0 hours per day.
12.0 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 66 pounds over the passed day. 2 days worth of ash. The Gofer has officially moved into the basement! Flames!!! Current settings;
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 11.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
On Saturday afternoon I put the 2" motor pulley back on and it's pulled through some cold weather so we should be good to go. Maintaining 150 to 180 degrees. Aquastat set at 170. 2" motor pulley. 5.5 pounds per hour. We are running an air setting of 11 to get a more complete burn. At this fan speed the air setting doesn't seem to make much difference from 6 to 11. Fire box over fire draft is still negative. With these settings the stack never goes over 190. We're running the timer at it's minimum setting. It runs for about 15 seconds or so every hour. 893.8 - 881.8 = 12.0 hours per day.
12.0 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 66 pounds over the passed day. 2 days worth of ash. The Gofer has officially moved into the basement! Flames!!! Current settings;
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 11.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
Well, we proved that the Van Wert with it's Low & Slow Summertime settings heats the house, garage and DHW just fine during the Winter. I didn't expect that, I actually had to shut off the basement radiator and one of the Livingroom radiators.
These will be the last fire pics of the Van Wert for a while. We are switching back over to the Axeman for the rest of the Winter. 976.9 - 893.8 = 83.1 hours, 11.9 hours per day.
83.1 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 475 pounds, 65.3 pounds over the passed day. Whoops!
I forgot to get a pic of the ash!
Anyway, it was 52.5 pounds, 11%.
With the fire out in the Van Wert, I'm sure the Gofer will be moving back to the garage. Final settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 11.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
These will be the last fire pics of the Van Wert for a while. We are switching back over to the Axeman for the rest of the Winter. 976.9 - 893.8 = 83.1 hours, 11.9 hours per day.
83.1 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 475 pounds, 65.3 pounds over the passed day. Whoops!
I forgot to get a pic of the ash!
Anyway, it was 52.5 pounds, 11%.
With the fire out in the Van Wert, I'm sure the Gofer will be moving back to the garage. Final settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 11.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
This morning we shut down the Axeman in the garage and pumped the heat out of it all day.
The plan is to run the Van Wert until we get a real cold snap in December. Then we'll switch over to the Axeman in the garage. Roll the video Son!!!
-Don
Then we fired up the Van Wert.
Switched everything over and now we are heating DHW from the Van Wert. This will give us some heat in the basement and that's all we really need to heat the house in the shoulder season.The plan is to run the Van Wert until we get a real cold snap in December. Then we'll switch over to the Axeman in the garage. Roll the video Son!!!
-Don
- 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
The Van Wert has been running for a full day now.
982.8 is the current hour meter reading. Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
Time to start tracking run time.982.8 is the current hour meter reading. Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
We fired up the VA-600 8 days ago. Now we have the first 7 day run in the book.
31.2 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 171.6 pounds, 24.5 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
24.5 pounds per day is kind of high. I am expecting more like 14 pounds per day.
2 ashpans about 1/3rd full of some pretty light ash. The Gofer is back in business! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
Just waking up for a heat call.
1014.6 - 982.8 = 31.2 hours, 4.5 hours per day.31.2 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 171.6 pounds, 24.5 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
24.5 pounds per day is kind of high. I am expecting more like 14 pounds per day.
2 ashpans about 1/3rd full of some pretty light ash. The Gofer is back in business! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
7 more days in the book...
34.6 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 190.3 pounds, 27.2 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. I guess that's not to bad. Heating season started kind of early this year.
Ashpan is pretty full of light ash. The bin was pretty much level 2 weeks ago.
The Gofer is getting hungrier! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
1049.2 - 1014.6 = 34.6 hours, 4.9 hours per day.34.6 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 190.3 pounds, 27.2 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. I guess that's not to bad. Heating season started kind of early this year.
Ashpan is pretty full of light ash. The bin was pretty much level 2 weeks ago.
The Gofer is getting hungrier! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
This week we started running a trickle of heat out to the Axeman in the garage. Wonder how much coal that uses?
40.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 221.7 pounds, 31.6 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
That's about 4.5 pounds more per day than last week. I guess I can live with that. 34.5 pounds of ash, 24%. The 'Ol Gofer is pretty well dug in now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
1089.5 - 1049.2 = 40.3 hours, 5.8 hours per day.40.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 221.7 pounds, 31.6 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
That's about 4.5 pounds more per day than last week. I guess I can live with that. 34.5 pounds of ash, 24%. The 'Ol Gofer is pretty well dug in now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
A bit chillier than normal this week.
48.6 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 267.3 pounds, 38.2 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
Wow, thats a lot! 44.5 pounds of ash. If this keeps up we'll have to do 2 ashpans a week. The Gofer hole is pretty big now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
1138.1 - 1089.5 = 48.6 hours, 6.9 hours per day.48.6 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 267.3 pounds, 38.2 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
Wow, thats a lot! 44.5 pounds of ash. If this keeps up we'll have to do 2 ashpans a week. The Gofer hole is pretty big now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
That's about exactly where I am with this 30@night 50+during the day. I'm interested to see how much it flattens out when it's constantly cold. Thanks for posting your findings, it's really interesting. Years in the future some young teenage kids will stumble upon this website when all of us are dead and gone and it will be like hidden treasure learning how things were "back in the old days"....
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- Member
- Posts: 2684
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 9:55 pm
- Location: Birdsboro PA.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: reading allegheny stoker
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska kodiak stoker 1986. 1987 triburner, 1987 crane diamond
- Coal Size/Type: rice
Looks good!
i'm going to have to start weighing my coal going in the barrel.
I filled my ash tubs with coal because my bin was full. so far since lighting the boiler last week have added one bushel of coal to the boiler. the insulation on the primary loop seems to be helping. house set for 70 and garage 50, ash tub about 1/3 full.
i'm going to have to start weighing my coal going in the barrel.
I filled my ash tubs with coal because my bin was full. so far since lighting the boiler last week have added one bushel of coal to the boiler. the insulation on the primary loop seems to be helping. house set for 70 and garage 50, ash tub about 1/3 full.
- 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
Thanks Guys!
7 more days... 1184.4 - 1138.1 = 46.3 hours, 6.6 hours per day.
46.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 254.7 pounds, 36.3 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. 41.5 pounds of ash, 16%. The Gofer hole is deep now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
7 more days... 1184.4 - 1138.1 = 46.3 hours, 6.6 hours per day.
46.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 254.7 pounds, 36.3 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. 41.5 pounds of ash, 16%. The Gofer hole is deep now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
A day late but here I am!
45.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 249.2 pounds, 35.6 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
35 pounds a day is a lot considering how warm its been down here. We've had highs in the 70's, a couple days close to 80. 38 pounds of ash, 15%. That Gofer hole is getting close to the auger now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
1229.7 - 1184.4 = 45.3 hours, 6.5 hours per day.45.3 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 249.2 pounds, 35.6 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
35 pounds a day is a lot considering how warm its been down here. We've had highs in the 70's, a couple days close to 80. 38 pounds of ash, 15%. That Gofer hole is getting close to the auger now! Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
- 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
NEW WATER HEATER!
Ziggy87 pulled this out in working condition. It's a newer version of the BoilerMate that I was using before it failed last year. I flushed it out and then pressured it up yesterday. It was still pressured up this afternoon, so I guess its a good one. I also got a couple 007 pumps with it. I wrestled it into the basement, with a little help from the old truck. Sometime in the future I will install it. It was pretty warm this week but last night a cold front blew in and its gonna be cold this week. 1267.5 - 1229.7 = 37.8 hours, 5.4 hours per day.
37.8 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 207.9 pounds, 29.7 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. We have moved to 2 ashpans per week now. Gofer action. Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
Ziggy87 pulled this out in working condition. It's a newer version of the BoilerMate that I was using before it failed last year. I flushed it out and then pressured it up yesterday. It was still pressured up this afternoon, so I guess its a good one. I also got a couple 007 pumps with it. I wrestled it into the basement, with a little help from the old truck. Sometime in the future I will install it. It was pretty warm this week but last night a cold front blew in and its gonna be cold this week. 1267.5 - 1229.7 = 37.8 hours, 5.4 hours per day.
37.8 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 207.9 pounds, 29.7 pounds per day over the passed 7 days. We have moved to 2 ashpans per week now. Gofer action. Current settings,
Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
Attachments
- 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
Benn pretty cold here this week, its 28* and breezy right now.
1338.7 - 1267.5 = 71.2 hours, 10.2 hours per day. Wow, thats almost twice as much as last week!
71.2 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 391.6 pounds, 55.9 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
What a difference a week makes! Sorry, no ash this week. It went out with the Harman ash yesterday.
That Gofer is plenty hungry these days! Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don
Cold enough to fire up the Harman for the weekend!
I'll probably let it run till tomorrow. Daytime highs will be about 50 by Tuesday.1338.7 - 1267.5 = 71.2 hours, 10.2 hours per day. Wow, thats almost twice as much as last week!
71.2 x 5.5 pounds per hour = 391.6 pounds, 55.9 pounds per day over the passed 7 days.
What a difference a week makes! Sorry, no ash this week. It went out with the Harman ash yesterday.
That Gofer is plenty hungry these days! Feed Rate = 5.5 pounds per hour. (Rice coal, 2.0" drive pulley, 25 tooth auger sprocket).
Air = 5.5.
Aquastat = LO = 170, HI = 190, DIFF = 10.
Timer = About 15 seconds every hour.
-Don