Re: New DS Aqua-Gem
Posted: Mon. Oct. 22, 2018 10:43 am
Hi everyone.
I started my second coal fire on 10/19 in the evening, pea coal again. I spent a lot of time in the basement, observing and documenting, but not touching the fire. After making it through the next day with a high about 60F and little to no demand for heat, things got easier; the DHW demands help. The next few days have been cooler, with 40'sF highs and 30'sF lows. The firebox easily holds 80 lbs of pea to the bottom of the loading door, but I can fit about 100 lbs if I bank it from back to front. It's been going 18 hours easily, without tending. I'm very glad I bought some pea coal this year because I don't think I could have slowed down the boiler enough with nut, but haven't tested nut yet.
I've been playing around with the MPD after getting the new CO detectors installed. What a way to save coal and slow the boiler down even more! I have a lot of draft but both DS and my coal dealer suggested I start with an MPD before looking into a barro. Because of the low demand, and my over-sufficient draft, I've been using the MPD nearly fully closed with OAT 40's or below and about 45 deg angle OAT upper 40's/50's. I'm also on a hill with little obstruction from trees, etc and it's usually fairly windy. No out-fire, low draft, or CO issues so far. *Before anyone starts a fight about dampers, I've read all 24 pages of the differences, risks, and pros/cons for each. I'm just stating what was suggested by the manufacturer and what I'm testing. Personally I believe both have their place, but I've only used a barro with an oil boiler and only a MPD with solid fuels over the years. I will most likely end up with a combo down the road.*
I've also been playing with the Sampson regulator. My boiler has two air inlet flaps about 3"x 4" oval. The Sampson reg is connected to the front most inlet. The rear inlet has a restriction on the inside of the ashpan cabinet, reducing it to about half-dollar size. I keep a paperclip on the rear (reduced) inlet flap, and with only that, I've been maintaining a perfectly low, idle fire, that doesn't overshoot my max water temp of ~190F! I did notice there is about a 1/4" square area for air to enter at the shaker handle, but this is still so little air -- it seems amazing to me, I might not need the paperclip. I have the Sampson reg set to about 80C/176F and it begins to open about 160F and shuts about 170F. With the MPD shut, this seems to create a very nice, slow ramp up and down of the fire, and resulting in little over/under shooting of my target water temps. Amazing to me.....!
I've been shaking/reloading about every 12 hours but have been pushing it to 18 hours, adjusting my schedule around work. Someone is almost always home at my house, so it helps to have others to help keep their eye on things, without having to worry. I shake gingerly because the DS grates lack the center bar, like the Hitzer stoves; I don't want to dump the live pea coals. I would rather shake more often, because it seems to improve efficiency and keeps ash under control. I was worried there wasn't enough ash, but I have glowing, burning coal on the grates after shakedown -- it's just burning so much more slowly than I'm used to. Last night I poked from the top to make sure there wasn't gaps. The coal bed was solid and didn't take much new coal, about 25 lbs. This morning, the fire was in great shape, and little ash again before a nice bright glow. Either I'm impressed by a proper appliance designed to burn anthracite, or the pea coal vs nut coal!
Here are some pictures of the install. I'll get a coal fire picture after I shake and reload later today.
I started my second coal fire on 10/19 in the evening, pea coal again. I spent a lot of time in the basement, observing and documenting, but not touching the fire. After making it through the next day with a high about 60F and little to no demand for heat, things got easier; the DHW demands help. The next few days have been cooler, with 40'sF highs and 30'sF lows. The firebox easily holds 80 lbs of pea to the bottom of the loading door, but I can fit about 100 lbs if I bank it from back to front. It's been going 18 hours easily, without tending. I'm very glad I bought some pea coal this year because I don't think I could have slowed down the boiler enough with nut, but haven't tested nut yet.
I've been playing around with the MPD after getting the new CO detectors installed. What a way to save coal and slow the boiler down even more! I have a lot of draft but both DS and my coal dealer suggested I start with an MPD before looking into a barro. Because of the low demand, and my over-sufficient draft, I've been using the MPD nearly fully closed with OAT 40's or below and about 45 deg angle OAT upper 40's/50's. I'm also on a hill with little obstruction from trees, etc and it's usually fairly windy. No out-fire, low draft, or CO issues so far. *Before anyone starts a fight about dampers, I've read all 24 pages of the differences, risks, and pros/cons for each. I'm just stating what was suggested by the manufacturer and what I'm testing. Personally I believe both have their place, but I've only used a barro with an oil boiler and only a MPD with solid fuels over the years. I will most likely end up with a combo down the road.*
I've also been playing with the Sampson regulator. My boiler has two air inlet flaps about 3"x 4" oval. The Sampson reg is connected to the front most inlet. The rear inlet has a restriction on the inside of the ashpan cabinet, reducing it to about half-dollar size. I keep a paperclip on the rear (reduced) inlet flap, and with only that, I've been maintaining a perfectly low, idle fire, that doesn't overshoot my max water temp of ~190F! I did notice there is about a 1/4" square area for air to enter at the shaker handle, but this is still so little air -- it seems amazing to me, I might not need the paperclip. I have the Sampson reg set to about 80C/176F and it begins to open about 160F and shuts about 170F. With the MPD shut, this seems to create a very nice, slow ramp up and down of the fire, and resulting in little over/under shooting of my target water temps. Amazing to me.....!
I've been shaking/reloading about every 12 hours but have been pushing it to 18 hours, adjusting my schedule around work. Someone is almost always home at my house, so it helps to have others to help keep their eye on things, without having to worry. I shake gingerly because the DS grates lack the center bar, like the Hitzer stoves; I don't want to dump the live pea coals. I would rather shake more often, because it seems to improve efficiency and keeps ash under control. I was worried there wasn't enough ash, but I have glowing, burning coal on the grates after shakedown -- it's just burning so much more slowly than I'm used to. Last night I poked from the top to make sure there wasn't gaps. The coal bed was solid and didn't take much new coal, about 25 lbs. This morning, the fire was in great shape, and little ash again before a nice bright glow. Either I'm impressed by a proper appliance designed to burn anthracite, or the pea coal vs nut coal!
Here are some pictures of the install. I'll get a coal fire picture after I shake and reload later today.