Don, you are spot on with your assessment of the 160. Mine is a 4 grate unit & the firebox only measures 13 x 19 inch. To reduce this would definitely be counterproductive. However the 260 is definitely another story.
Jim
Harman SF160
- wilder11354
- Member
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Sat. Jan. 29, 2011 10:48 pm
- Location: Montrose, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF260 Boiler
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: nut or pea, anthracite
- Other Heating: crown oil boiler, backup.if needed
i run a sf260...recover in below10* temps is slow... better to have more BTU,s available and not use them, then to need them and not have them. firebox fill, aqua stat settings all play a part. I have had over heats.... in past 7 years...but outside temps change quickly. which really affect aqua stat settings, and fill practices. Good side..lower aqua stat settings mean longer continual draw on boiler..... but extreme low outside temps,inside temp maintainability will suffer. go bigger, learn the stove, and you should be fine.
- David...
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- Location: RI
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Franks 80k output
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- Coal Size/Type: Nut
I think it is better to go smaller and make up the difference, if any, with the oil or gas system. Extreme cold is not the norm here in New England. The smaller boiler will perform better in milder weather which is much more common.
David
David
- ASea
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- Location: Athol Massachusetts
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast Console II
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- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114, Glenwood 30 "Estate" Warm Morning 120
- Coal Size/Type: Sherman Anthracite Nut/Stove from C&T Coal
- Other Heating: Peerless Boiler with Cast Iron Baseboards
My thought process is the unit is rated to 2200sqft I'm heating 1700. I'd rather have it running hot than idling. The 260 will be too big
- wilder11354
- Member
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Sat. Jan. 29, 2011 10:48 pm
- Location: Montrose, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF260 Boiler
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: nut or pea, anthracite
- Other Heating: crown oil boiler, backup.if needed
good for 2200SFT? that a meaningless statement. unless you know the actual BTU loss of your house overall.... sq ft don't mean chit! its the BTU input needed to maintain a temp(btu input vs btu loss). lower outside temps...more btu loss. my house 2400 SQ FT, 2 story. glad i have the 260 for brutal and avg temps for winter... sf 260 idles fine..when in fringe temps run it on pea coal less air migration thru coal, will burn slower, aka idle along.