DS or EFM hand fired
- hotblast1357
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- 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
My point exactly, it’s nice to talk about gravity systems, but no one on here is installing them.
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- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed. Aug. 26, 2015 6:43 pm
- Location: Belleville, New York
- Stoker Coal Boiler: DS Machines. Keystoker
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS Machines Aqua Gem
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker 160
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Anthra Glo
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Anthramax Comfort Max
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: DS Kozy King
- Coal Size/Type: Nut, Rice and Stove
- Other Heating: Gas and pellet stoves
- Contact:
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 17977
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I think both units would work well for you, but I have been down the hand-fired boiler route and urge you to take another look at a stoker boiler.
Anway, back to the hand feds. The EFM unit has a Sampson aquastat also. Rather than having a combustion blower that turns on and off, the Sampson unit senses the boiler temperature and raises or lowers a chain that is connected to the inlet damper. The EFM unit is an ASME coded boiler. That may not matter in PA, but it would be good to see if there is any code requirement in your area.
Anway, back to the hand feds. The EFM unit has a Sampson aquastat also. Rather than having a combustion blower that turns on and off, the Sampson unit senses the boiler temperature and raises or lowers a chain that is connected to the inlet damper. The EFM unit is an ASME coded boiler. That may not matter in PA, but it would be good to see if there is any code requirement in your area.
- oliver power
- Member
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- Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
I have no experience with a hand fired boiler. If I lived off the grid, or at least set a place up to live fully off the grid, a hand fired boiler, with a gravity system sounds like a fun project to do.
However, without going into detail, I don't think you can beat a stoker boiler if on the grid.
Now, when it comes to coal stoves, I think just the opposite. I'd never own a stoker stove (My Personal Opinion). Myself, I find playing with a hand fired stove is fun. Till you learn the stove, it can be challenging, but fun.
Did I mention my stoker boiler (Kaa-2) is boring. The more the temperatures drop, the bigger the grin is on my face. The little Kaa-2 purrs along flawlessly. Still, it's boring. Empty ashes, add coal. I can easily go out 36 hours between tending times. The problem I had was; depending on how hard it was running, the ash box may over flow. .........and I just took care of that little problem. As a rule, I tend my Kaa-2 "Stoker" boiler every 24 hours.
However, without going into detail, I don't think you can beat a stoker boiler if on the grid.
Now, when it comes to coal stoves, I think just the opposite. I'd never own a stoker stove (My Personal Opinion). Myself, I find playing with a hand fired stove is fun. Till you learn the stove, it can be challenging, but fun.
Did I mention my stoker boiler (Kaa-2) is boring. The more the temperatures drop, the bigger the grin is on my face. The little Kaa-2 purrs along flawlessly. Still, it's boring. Empty ashes, add coal. I can easily go out 36 hours between tending times. The problem I had was; depending on how hard it was running, the ash box may over flow. .........and I just took care of that little problem. As a rule, I tend my Kaa-2 "Stoker" boiler every 24 hours.
- 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
I’ve ran a,
hand fed hot air furnace,
Antique base burner with magazine,
Hand fed little Franco belge,
Hand fed boiler,
And now stoker boiler.
If you’ve got nothing to do all winter, don’t have crazy hours at work, are home every 12 hours, and like playing with fire and “tinkering” and want no electrical need, then put in a hopper fed bi metallic controlled stove in the center of the house, or center of basement, and enjoy the wonders of coal!
or Enjoy the wonders of coal like I do, heat my downstairs and upstairs, and domestic water, and put coal in and empty my ash tub once a week.
hand fed hot air furnace,
Antique base burner with magazine,
Hand fed little Franco belge,
Hand fed boiler,
And now stoker boiler.
If you’ve got nothing to do all winter, don’t have crazy hours at work, are home every 12 hours, and like playing with fire and “tinkering” and want no electrical need, then put in a hopper fed bi metallic controlled stove in the center of the house, or center of basement, and enjoy the wonders of coal!
or Enjoy the wonders of coal like I do, heat my downstairs and upstairs, and domestic water, and put coal in and empty my ash tub once a week.
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- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed. Aug. 26, 2015 6:43 pm
- Location: Belleville, New York
- Stoker Coal Boiler: DS Machines. Keystoker
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS Machines Aqua Gem
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker 160
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Anthra Glo
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Anthramax Comfort Max
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: DS Kozy King
- Coal Size/Type: Nut, Rice and Stove
- Other Heating: Gas and pellet stoves
- Contact:
I'm not sure why people think the DS units aren't ASME certified. They are and are also UL listed. Our local HEAP Department payed last year to install one for the first time ever with State funding.
- 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
That is great that HEAP is doing that instead of wasting money with fuel oil!
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- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed. Aug. 26, 2015 6:43 pm
- Location: Belleville, New York
- Stoker Coal Boiler: DS Machines. Keystoker
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS Machines Aqua Gem
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker 160
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Anthra Glo
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Anthramax Comfort Max
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: DS Kozy King
- Coal Size/Type: Nut, Rice and Stove
- Other Heating: Gas and pellet stoves
- Contact:
They are now allowing people with wood stoves that need replacing to install coal instead. We are doing a Kozi King furnace this week through HEAP.hotblast1357 wrote: ↑Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 10:00 amThat is great that HEAP is doing that instead of wasting money with fuel oil!
- bcdex
- Member
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed. Mar. 11, 2015 5:14 pm
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS 100 Coal/Wood bolier
By: jremington » Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:43 am
"I'm not sure why people think the DS units aren't ASME certified. They are and are also UL listed. Our local HEAP Department payed last year to install one for the first time ever with State funding."
I see people saying that all the time jremington. I have a DS 1100 and it has a tag on it that it is certified.
"I'm not sure why people think the DS units aren't ASME certified. They are and are also UL listed. Our local HEAP Department payed last year to install one for the first time ever with State funding."
I see people saying that all the time jremington. I have a DS 1100 and it has a tag on it that it is certified.
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- Location: Birdsboro PA.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: reading allegheny stoker
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska kodiak stoker 1986. 1987 triburner, 1987 crane diamond
- Coal Size/Type: rice
why not just run a stoker boiler with a backup solar system and batteries and a power inverter.
i started with hand fed coal furnaces.....i don't ever want to go back!
i started with hand fed coal furnaces.....i don't ever want to go back!
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- Member
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- Location: Central Maine
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1300 with hopper
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- Other Heating: Oil hot water radiators (fuel oil); propane
One of the best ideas I have heard for some time!jremington wrote: ↑Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 1:24 pmThey are now allowing people with wood stoves that need replacing to install coal instead.
- coaledsweat
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- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
You need very large pipes for a good gravity feed system. One of the reasons most stick with a pump. Replumbing and entire house to replace a pump with nothing doesn't make a lot of sense.
- ASea
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Thanks Mike! After talking with you and others I'm pretty sure I'm gonna try for a stoker boiler when I have cash in hand. With our work and activity schedule tending two times a day just isn't anywhere near ideal