Axeman Anderson 1959 130M

 
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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 » Sun. Apr. 24, 2022 8:02 pm

A lot of cold days this week, warm this weekend though. Let's see how we did.
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2173.9 - 2141.0 = 32.9 hours of fan run time, 4.70 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1232.6 - 1208.8 = 23.8 hours of ashing, 3.40 hours per day, 72% of fan run time.
Mid-week I swapped the 3" ashing pulley on. Now we are at 15.11 grate cycles per hour.
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37.5 pounds of ash. Some rocks, but not many.
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I don't even want to look at what that Gofer is doing in there!
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Looks like we have a small leak at one of the plugs in the DHW coil plate.
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Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don


 
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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. May. 01, 2022 8:50 pm

It's been pretty chilly this week. A few nights down to around freezing.
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2203.6 - 2173.9 = 29.7 hours of fan run time, 4.23 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1248.0 - 1232.6 = 15.7 hours of ashing, 2.24 hours per day, 53% of fan run time.
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32 pounds of partly rocky looking ash.
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I took the top slats out and it looks like that Gofer has been pretty hungry this Spring! :o
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Switched over to the original metal fire door this week. The Fire View door is getting more difficult to see through so we will give it a break.
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With this faster ashing we may need to bump the auger speed up a bit. I noticed today that the feed pipe is not staying 100% full.

Roll the update video!


Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don

 
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. May. 08, 2022 7:42 pm

Cool, Rainy and Raw over the past few days.
IMG_0001.JPG
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2229.0 - 2203.6 = 25.4 hours of fan run time, 3.63 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1262.2 - 1248.0 = 14.2 hours of ashing, 2.03 hours per day, 56% of fan run time.
IMG_0002.JPG
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32.5 pounds of partly rocky looking ash.
IMG_0003.JPG
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Gofer action.
IMG_0004.JPG
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Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don

 
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. May. 15, 2022 6:28 pm

Pretty warm this week. Real humid too...
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2251.7 - 2229.0 = 22.7 hours of fan run time, 3.24 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1274.8 - 1262.2 = 12.6 hours of ashing, 1.8 hours per day, 56% of fan run time.
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30 pounds of more partly rocky looking ash.
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That Gofer is still at it!
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Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don

 
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Lightning
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Posts: 14658
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Sun. May. 15, 2022 6:59 pm

My last two ash tubs were rocky also but I couldn't make a percentage comparison.. I will be able to the next time around.

 
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. May. 22, 2022 4:22 pm

IT IS HOT!!!
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Been 90-ish for the past few days. No problems with the Axeman so far. We turned all the heat OFF, turned the AC ON. I've switched the pump to run constant circulation.
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2274.0 - 2251.7 = 22.3 hours of fan run time, 3.19 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1286.7 - 1274.8 = 11.9 hours of ashing, 1.7 hours per day, 53% of fan run time.
IMG_0003.JPG
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33.5 pounds of rocky looking ash.
IMG_0004.JPG
.JPG | 487.8KB | IMG_0004.JPG
Gofer action.
IMG_0005.JPG
.JPG | 350.1KB | IMG_0005.JPG
Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don

 
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. May. 29, 2022 6:46 pm

7 more warm days in the book!
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Over the past 7 days;
Fan reading, 2292.4 - 2274.0 = 18.4 hours of fan run time, 2.63 hours per day.
Ash reading, 1298.6 - 1286.7 = 11.9 hours of ashing, 1.7 hours per day, 65% of fan run time.
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36 pounds of rocky looking ash.
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Even though we are only heating DHW the Gofer is still pretty hard at work!
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We're still probably using 30 pounds per day. That is an awful lot of coal for just DHW!

Current settings,

Fan RPM = 1460 RPM (Stock AHS is 1725 RPM)
Auger speed = 4.31 RPM (Stock is 8.05 RPM)
Grate cycles per hour = 15.11 (Stock AHS is 34.18)
Pounds per hour = Estimated ??
Aquastat = 165*F (Inkbird), ON/OFF, Hysteresis = 5*
Anthrastat = 120*F (Inkbird), Hysteresis = 0.3*
Low flue temperature cut off = 160*F, Hysteresis = 0.1*

-Don


 
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pintoplumber
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Posts: 371
Joined: Tue. Mar. 31, 2015 8:44 pm
Location: Lititz PA
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Burnham number series 17
Other Heating: Oil, forced hot air. Rheem

Post by pintoplumber » Mon. May. 30, 2022 7:56 am

That sounds like a bucket a day stove. Maybe not to bad after all?

 
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Retro_Origin
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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

Post by Retro_Origin » Mon. May. 30, 2022 8:00 am

StokerDon wrote:
Sun. May. 29, 2022 6:46 pm
We're still probably using 30 pounds per day. That is an awful lot of coal for just DHW!
Since we're discussing it in the other thread...what's your expected goal? How about with rice?

 
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 » Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:17 am

Retro_Origin wrote:
Mon. May. 30, 2022 8:00 am
Since we're discussing it in the other thread...what's your expected goal? How about with rice?
Larry Sayer used to report 12 to 14 pounds per day in the Summer with his AHS S130 Coal Gun. In 5 years of trying, I have never got an Axeman to go nearly that low. That is one of the reasons I keep putting AHS parts on my Axeman. :lol:

I had high hopes for the AHS insulated fan plate, but so far it hasn't helped much.
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Then we switched to AHS type ashing and it works great but it doesn't seem to improve the low demand coal consumption.
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In my own personal long term Axeman experiments I've found that I get great fuel mileage in Winter but poor fuel mileage in Summer. I've tried Rice coal and that doesn't help. It may be something unique to my set up, I'm betting a better chimney would help.

This time of year I switch over to the Van Wert VA-600 in the basement. The Van Wert will do 13 to 19 pounds per day for DHW.
The Van Wert VA600 Project

-Don

 
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Retro_Origin
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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

Post by Retro_Origin » Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:19 am

Great stuff Don! You should have been born in coal country!

 
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 » Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:24 am

Retro_Origin wrote:
Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:19 am
Great stuff Don! You should have been born in coal country!
My whole family, Mother, Father, Aunt's, Uncle's, Cousin's and Grandparents were all from a small town in Coal Country. I guess that's close enough. :D

 
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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

Post by Retro_Origin » Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:48 am

StokerDon wrote:
Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:24 am
My whole family, Mother, Father, Aunt's, Uncle's, Cousin's and Grandparents were all from a small town in Coal Country. I guess that's close enough. :D
You betcha!

 
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Lightning
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Posts: 14658
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:49 am

StokerDon wrote:
Mon. May. 30, 2022 9:17 am
Larry Sayer used to report 12 to 14 pounds per day in the Summer with his AHS S130 Coal Gun. In 5 years of trying, I have never got an Axeman to go nearly that low. That is one of the reasons I keep putting AHS parts on my Axeman.
I remember that.. My feeling is that going below 20 pounds a day for the Axe isn't realistic. But that remains to be proven (in my situation anyways). So far, it seems that the buck size is much better suited for lower heat demand than the pea size.. also so far, it seems to be burning more completely.

I've done the math to determine that I can burn up to 588 pounds per month to match the cost of electric for DHW only. I'll be really close to that I think. The added benefits of a dryer basement and inhibited summer decay of the boiler make it worth doing..

 
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 » Mon. May. 30, 2022 10:15 am

I'm sure the Buckwheat will do better in the warm weather than Pea. Keeping the boiler running 365 days a year keeps it on good shape while acting as a dehumidifier.

In my case, my Axeman is in the garage but I have a Van Wert in the basement that will probably save me 5 to 10 pounds a day.
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-Don


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