prox switch controls?

plumberman · Post by **plumberman** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 11:27 am

I am looking to possible add a prox switch/photo eye to turn off auger feed to my coal gun while I am in the bin and shoveling coal to auger pick up. If any one has name brand type or any info I would definitely appreciate the help, thanks!!

lzaharis · Post by **lzaharis** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 12:11 pm

Don't know if you really want to wander in to that territory but the mercury tilt switches used in water and sewage water lift tanks are what are used for tilt/bin limit switches. you really do not have enough room for the tilt switches hung from the ceiling to work well

As you have been using this boiler for a while perhaps investing in an Axeman Anderson open tube auger and gear motor set up and a barrel with wooden dog house eliminating the hopper would be a better way to manage this as eliminating the hopper would eliminate the chance of a runaway hopper fire.

It may cost you less to do the above than invest in the new hopper and electric eye option AND a small grain auger as they are bloody expensive to buy.

In saying that using the Axeman Anderson open auger tube fed from a barrel with a hole cut in it to feed the hopper would be simpler as you could purchase a barrel equal to the volume size of the hopper and cut the bottom of the barrel out and attach it to a wooden table with legs with a hole of almost the same size of the barrels diameter.
All you would need to do is fill the barrel and the auger would only run when the boiler calls for heat like the Axeman Anderson units do.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 12:39 pm

Why not just a simple on/off switch by the hopper? You say it’s while you are right there.

Why do you need it off when your in the bin?

plumberman · Post by **plumberman** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 1:04 pm

What I have now is a forward/reverse switch which is perfect for first year with full coal bin. Problem now its time to shovel coal at auger for pick up while auger runs but cant see what is going on in boiler room. If I over shovel the auger will jamb/stall, which I rather not do to the motor for next 2 years.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 3:14 pm

Why does it jam from over shoveling but not any other time?

Post by **CoalJockey** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 3:39 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 3:14 pm
Why does it jam from over shoveling but not any other time?

I think he means when the hopper is full on the discharge end HB. He cannot see that side of it from where he shovels into the auger. This backs up into the auger tube, thus jamming the whole thing.

At least that’s how I follow it but I could be wrong.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 3:45 pm

AHS sells auger feeds with proximity switch controls.

plumberman · Post by **plumberman** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 3:56 pm

you read me like a cheap book, don't want to spend mega bucks through ahs

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 4:09 pm

$3.77 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075W5LQ1F/ref=psdc_306 ... B00NIAQLK2

plumberman · Post by **plumberman** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 4:12 pm

coal jockey got my point, and I rather not deal with ahs, still little disappointed with them from a past problem.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 6:23 pm

So a pressure switch like what is in my hopper controlling my auger.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 7:09 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 6:23 pm
So a pressure switch like what is in my hopper controlling my auger.

Isn't yours a proximity switch?

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Sun. Dec. 30, 2018 8:02 pm

Mine is just a pressure switch. When coal comes up to it leaning against it, it shuts off the auger, when it feeds into boiler it falls away from the switch turning the auger back on.

plumberman · Post by **plumberman** » Mon. Dec. 31, 2018 6:01 am

do you have any info on that switch? if so would be appreciated hb1357, thanks

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Mon. Dec. 31, 2018 6:15 am

A strain gauge epoxy glued to the outside surface of the hopper should work also. As the hopper expands due to inbound coal the strain exceeds a set-point level and trips off the auger motor.