The Epoch of the Axeman
- 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
When I first used an SSR to run the fan motor I almost immediately burn my finger on it. At that time I didn't realize it needed the heat sink. I put the heat sink on and there was no problem after that. This made me realize right away that it is not a good idea to put an SSR in a closed project box. My cheap, Chinese controllers and hour meters are not exactly "MIL Spec" and won't last long in a high heat environment.
SSR's have their place, they are far better than electro-mechanical relays for fast switching operations. You will never need to switch anything fast on a coal boiler so electro-mechanical relays will work just fine and will operate much cooler.
SSR = Good for fast ON/OFF switching of loads. Makes a lot of heat when you run the fan motor. Electro-mechanical relay = Not good for fast ON/OFF switching of loads but stays nice and cool running the fan motor. -Don
SSR's have their place, they are far better than electro-mechanical relays for fast switching operations. You will never need to switch anything fast on a coal boiler so electro-mechanical relays will work just fine and will operate much cooler.
SSR = Good for fast ON/OFF switching of loads. Makes a lot of heat when you run the fan motor. Electro-mechanical relay = Not good for fast ON/OFF switching of loads but stays nice and cool running the fan motor. -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
It looks like it will work. The critical specs you are looking for are;
Coil voltage = 12 volts DC (Not AC)
Switching Contact Rating = More than 120 volts AC (Not DC) and at least 1.5 times the motor current.
Non latching and Normally Open (NO) contacts.
-Don
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Like *hotblast1357* my SSR is on my ashing motor with using a PID controller used as the Anthrastat. Fan is another story.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Some cool mods planned for the Axe in January
In the meantime, I thought this was pretty radical. I found a tachometer app for my smart phone. Its strobe based meaning it uses the light on your phone and pulses it at the frequency you set. Then, on the rotating part that you want to measure you place a tiny piece of foil tape. As you hold the light in front of a rotating pulley, the piece of foil tape will stop rotating and become a motionless streak on the pulley when you find the right strobe frequency. I thought it was pretty neato. Seems accurate too.
In the meantime, I thought this was pretty radical. I found a tachometer app for my smart phone. Its strobe based meaning it uses the light on your phone and pulses it at the frequency you set. Then, on the rotating part that you want to measure you place a tiny piece of foil tape. As you hold the light in front of a rotating pulley, the piece of foil tape will stop rotating and become a motionless streak on the pulley when you find the right strobe frequency. I thought it was pretty neato. Seems accurate too.
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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
Wow, that is Neat!
I was actually looking for a way to directly measure the pulley RPMs on my Axeman. I was thinking of using an automotive timing light but this sounds easier!
-Don
I was actually looking for a way to directly measure the pulley RPMs on my Axeman. I was thinking of using an automotive timing light but this sounds easier!
-Don
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Here's what I specked the fan pulley at.. 1420 RPM with stock pulleys (as far as I know)
Maybe thats wrong.. shouldn't the smaller pulley spin faster? Maybe I was seeing a harmonic. I'll try it again.
Maybe thats wrong.. shouldn't the smaller pulley spin faster? Maybe I was seeing a harmonic. I'll try it again.
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- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Wow... just as suspected I was seeing the half harmonic. The pulley was making 2 rotations per strobe flash. Here is the real RPM of the fan pulley. ~2840
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- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5657
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
Lee where do you have the k type probes for your supply and return readings.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
The thermometers I use for supply and return don't use the K type. I'm actually not sure what type they are. They are the type that are in the pic below. I think they are usable up to 250 degrees.hotblast1357 wrote: ↑Fri. Dec. 31, 2021 8:18 amLee where do you have the k type probes for your supply and return readings.
I have the probes tucked under the pipe insulators as depicted in the pictures.
I hope this helps with your question
Happy New Year!