Axeman Anderson Boilers on a Timer

Retro_Origin · Post by **Retro_Origin** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 8:00 pm

It was pretty much identical to this one: https://www.grainger.com/product/21EW92?ef_id=Cj0 ... lsrc=aw.ds
Although Keystoker told me it had been 'modified/designed' specifically for their stokers. I'm pretty sure it had an extra jumper wire between terminals...anyway what they sold it for and what it was on ebay was pretty embarrassing differential wise, my honeywell is a R883B5, it was so dusty when I initally pulled it to use I felt like Indiana Jones blowing all the dust off a relic.

nepacoal · Post by **nepacoal** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 8:09 pm

I've been using the timer listed in the link in my signature below. It's been working nonstop on my kaa-4 for 2.5 years without any issues. One of the best changes made to my system.

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 8:52 pm

nepacoal wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 8:09 pm
I've been using the timer listed in the link in my signature below. It's been working nonstop on my kaa-4 for 2.5 years without any issues. One of the best changes made to my system.

Oh nice!! So I assume the timer resets so that it doesn't try to keep fire right after a combustion call from the aquastat? Sorry for the rookie questions lol

nepacoal · Post by **nepacoal** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 9:04 pm

No, this setup just runs 43s every 10 minutes as it's configured. You could probably wire another in series to force a power reset at the end of each heat call, but with my flat bed stoker that is really not needed.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 9:06 pm

I have a timer that runs one minute an hour. During the cold months, and extra minute is just used up as heat. In the shoulder months I have never had an outfire. I have had some scary hot temps on occasion, ( 240 and a bit above) but have never tripped the safety valve. ( maybe my temp gauge isn't 100% accurate)

Post by **Rob R.** » Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 9:18 pm

Freddy wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 9:06 pm
I have a timer that runs one minute an hour. During the cold months, and extra minute is just used up as heat. In the shoulder months I have never had an outfire. I have had some scary hot temps on occasion, ( 240 and a bit above) but have never tripped the safety valve. ( maybe my temp gauge isn't 100% accurate)

I think 1 min per hr is what AA recommends?

Post by **Rob R.** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 4:10 am

Lightning wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 05, 2021 6:57 pm
Could you link to your post the details of your timer?

https://www.alliedelec.com/product/macromatic-con ... /70987827/

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 5:58 am

I have gone over two days in the shoulder months and turned the boiler back on and it’s came back to life, I have 0 draft at idle, and go positive draft until the secondaries light in the boiler.. maybes it’s possible your fire isn’t fully established, one fall i lit, and about a month after we had a warm spell and I lost fire once, and I contributed it to not getting fully lit at first, it’s the only time I’ve lost fire in 4 years..

Post by **Rob R.** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 9:33 am

The 260 holds a fire much longer than a 130.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 12:44 pm

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 9:33 am
The 260 holds a fire much longer than a 130.

Yes, but 4 hours vs 48 hours doesn’t seem right, he should be good for at least 12-24 hours, it is basically a hand fed, what hand fed doesn’t last more than 4 hours?

Post by **Rob R.** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:06 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 12:44 pm
Yes, but 4 hours vs 48 hours doesn’t seem right, he should be good for at least 12-24 hours, it is basically a hand fed, what hand fed doesn’t last more than 4 hours?

One with an ashed up fire and no draft.

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:26 pm

I don’t think he has a drafting problem? And how does a axeman get ashed up? It’s constantly being ashed when it fires, unlike a actual hand fed that only gets shaken say every 12-24 hours.

Lee, Also something else to think about.. how long does your boiler go without “firing” during a Normal day, say between 8am and 4pm with OAT say 50 degrees, when no one is home and only heat calls are goin? I’ve seen mine go all day without the combustion fan coming on, at least 8 hours, I used to run a timer on the combustion fan..

Post by **Lightning** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:32 pm

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:06 pm
One with an ashed up fire and no draft.

Yeah I agree that the bigger fire pot on the 260 likely is a factor. It has more coal a further distance from the walls of the boiler so I would think there is a better preservation of heat in the center. I've watched mine come back after being off for 4-5 hours and it takes a real long time to revive the fire, like up to 20 minutes before I start to see any progress in the boiler water temp. We know that all coal isn't created equal, so there's that variable too. I'm using the Mammoth Vein coal from Jeddo.. Maybe its not so forgiving.

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:26 pm
how long does your boiler go without “firing” during a Normal day, say between 8am and 4pm with OAT say 50 degrees,

At max 5-6 hours.. any longer and it most likely won't keep the fire.
But it seems to go in hand with the draft loss..

Post by **Lightning** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:35 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:26 pm
And how does a axeman get ashed up?

I could be running my ash depth a bit high.

Post by **Lightning** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 1:38 pm

hotblast1357 wrote: ↑
Mon. Dec. 06, 2021 5:58 am
one fall i lit, and about a month after we had a warm spell and I lost fire once, and I contributed it to not getting fully lit at first, it’s the only time I’ve lost fire in 4 years..

I dunno.. that's hard to think that after a month it couldn't straighten itself out..