Efm 520 learning curve

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DooHicky
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Post by DooHicky » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:20 am

Soo...how long does it really take to get the hang of this unit?

I tried setting it to show a dark ring in the center of the pot...but that seemed to let too much unburnt coal in the ash pan. I was 4 on feed and 4 on air and I thought that was almost perfect... except that the ash ring was fractured...or am I reading too much?

I did order an intermatic C8865, hopefully this will help on these warmer days.

Thanks

Mike

 
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coalkirk
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Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:32 am

Last heating season I ran 5 teeth and 4.5 air. Ran fine, great ash ring, virtually no unburnt coal, etc. This year I set it to 4 teeth and 4 air. So far so good. However my friend StokerDon who is much more scientific about these matters says I won't burn any less coal. But either way it's not a boiler that requires micro-managing. It's a reliable workhorse that only asks for coal in the bin, empty the ashes, provide an adequate chimney and supply enough combustion air to burn.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:33 am

You will not see the dark spot in the center unless you run at 5 teeth or more, and the stoker runs for a long time. Forget about it, and just look at the ash ring when through stoker has been running for at least 30 minutes.

4/4 will get you very close. Sometimes a little more air is needed, depending on the coal. If you see the fire creeping on the ash ring, increase the air by 1/4.


 
DooHicky
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Post by DooHicky » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:36 am

Ahhhh....okie dokie :-)

 
DooHicky
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Post by DooHicky » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:44 am

I'll be playing plumber for my buddy..he found a 1988 DF520 that we're putting in for him. I have to admit...mine that was made in 1955 has a much better base :-)

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 11:54 am

coalkirk wrote:
Tue. Oct. 30, 2018 8:32 am
Last heating season I ran 5 teeth and 4.5 air. Ran fine, great ash ring, virtually no unburnt coal, etc. This year I set it to 4 teeth and 4 air. So far so good. However my friend StokerDon who is much more scientific about these matters says I won't burn any less coal. But either way it's not a boiler that requires micro-managing. It's a reliable workhorse that only asks for coal in the bin, empty the ashes, provide an adequate chimney and supply enough combustion air to burn.
During the heating season I would agree with Don, there is not a measureable difference in coal consumption between 4 and 5 teeth until the stoker is running a LOT.

With that said, when the boiler sits idle most of the time running on the timer, it will have less of a tendency to hit through high limit on 4 teeth.

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