Alaska Kast Console Is Home

 
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CoalHeat
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Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Feb. 23, 2008 11:28 pm

I removed the cover from the back of the furnace again, seems a lot of the heat was flowing back through the furnace to the cold air return, I'm sure the heat exchanger was absorbing a lot of it, preventing the flow of air back to the cellar.


 
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CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Feb. 24, 2008 10:02 pm

Cover back on, more refinements in the works. Cover on or off made no difference except with it off the oil burner could not be used if I was to be away and the coal burners were out.

 
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CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Mar. 01, 2008 6:08 pm

Here's the latest project. I have connected the blower on the oil furnace to distribute warm air from the coal stove. I used a the blower switch salvaged from the old oil furnace and a DPDT switch to switch the blower leads from the oil burner to the coal-fired unit. Switch is set at 120 degrees on/100 degrees off. I raised the burn on the stove way up and within a few minutes the switch started cycling the blower on and off.
Next: Connect the hot water loop.
BTW, off road diesel is now $3.50/gallon, bought 10 gallons today for the water heater.
BLOWER CONTROL 03-01-08.jpg

Honeywell thermostatic switch in plenum above oil furnace, toggle switch for blower above oil burner shut-off.

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BLOWER CONTROL 2.jpg
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BLOWER CONTROL 3.jpg
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CELLAR TEMP.jpg

Gotta love coal heat!

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User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Mar. 16, 2008 5:22 pm

Newest modification is the separate combustion fan. This allows me to regulate the burn rate without changing the combustion air or changing the adjustment on the feed linkage from the motor gearbox to the carpet. Other options include variable speed convection fan.
ALASKA CONTROLS 03-16-08.JPG
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Attachments

CONTROLS3.JPG
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User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Mar. 16, 2008 5:28 pm

The rest of the photos.
CONTROLS4.JPG
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BLOWER SWITCH.JPG
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User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Apr. 26, 2008 10:42 pm

Connected the 3/4" loop in the stove to the oil-fired water heater, using a small circulating pump.

 
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LsFarm
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Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Sun. Apr. 27, 2008 2:19 pm

John, are you planning on running the stoker all spring and summer for heating DHW ??

Greg L


 
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Freddy
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Posts: 7293
Joined: Fri. Apr. 11, 2008 2:54 pm
Location: Orrington, Maine
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 130 (pea)
Coal Size/Type: Pea size, Superior, deep mined

Post by Freddy » Sun. Apr. 27, 2008 3:45 pm

Just today saw this post. John.... Beautiful job on the rebuild! Love the color. Heheee! You deserve to be proud of the restoration.
Europachris did a sweet job too. Amazing how they can be brought back to life!

 
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CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Apr. 27, 2008 6:36 pm

LsFarm wrote:John, are you planning on running the stoker all spring and summer for heating DHW ??

Greg L
Yes I am, Greg. I don't know how much of a benefit it will be with the fire on a lower burn all summer, but it will definitely help out in the cold weather.
One benefit I have already noticed: Before I connected the loop the oil burner would fire during moderate use, since the aquastat is near the bottom of the tank. The recovery is so fast that the water in the top of the tank (and out the outlet port) would be way over the 120 degree set point. Now with the loop installed the water temperature through the tank is more even, I haven't noticed the extreme hot water. I assume the oil burner also shuts off sooner due to the circulation of the water in the tank.
WATER HEATER.JPG
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WATER HEATER 2.JPG
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WATER HEATER 3.JPG
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The only things left to do are insulate the pipes, build some kind of a jacket for the stove to wear during the summer so the cellar doesn't turn into an oven, and install a thermometer on the return line. I had a spirit thermometer installed before but the tube fractured, I need to find a new one. I can't really adjust the flow with the gate valve without a thermometer.

 
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CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sun. Apr. 27, 2008 6:36 pm

Freddy wrote:Just today saw this post. John.... Beautiful job on the rebuild! Love the color. Heheee! You deserve to be proud of the restoration.
Europachris did a sweet job too. Amazing how they can be brought back to life!
Thanks, I appreciate it.

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Mon. Apr. 28, 2008 6:21 pm

I seem to get the best results out of the loop in the stove with the gate valve (red handle) open 1/2 of a turn. More then that and the water temperature in the pipe drops off. The valve shaft turns 4 revolutions from fully closed to fully open.

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Jun. 14, 2008 8:45 am

The power to the oil-fired DHW burner is off, I'm currently heating the water with the stoker only. This works out fine until my daughter shows up with 200 lbs. of laundry in tow!

 
Matthaus
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Location: Berwick, PA and Ormand Beach FL

Post by Matthaus » Sat. Jun. 14, 2008 8:29 pm

Hasn't she heard of cold water Tide? :lol: :lol:

 
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Devil505
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Joined: Tue. Jul. 03, 2007 10:44 pm
Location: SE Massachusetts

Post by Devil505 » Sat. Jun. 14, 2008 8:39 pm

Nice neat job there John!! (& I was proud of myself for adding another layer of firebrick to my TLC) :notworthy:

Have to start calling you "Scotty" (of Star Trek fame)
Your wife just yells down: "We need more heat Mr. Scott!) :D

 
User avatar
CoalHeat
Member
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Jun. 14, 2008 10:32 pm

Actually I have a front loader Kenmore made by Frigidaire. It uses a lot less water then top loaders. The top loading washer is obsolete in my opinion.

I rant all the time about using a warm water setting for the rinse, since it costs more to dry the cold laundry in the electric dryer then it would with a warm rinse. A clothes line is forbidden here, it's 80 degrees outside and the sun is shining, but the electric dryer still runs.

I guess I could remove the dryer and place a nicely worded sign in it's place with instructions on how to use the new clothes lines, one outside and one in the cellar by the Alaska. Of course, I will be no where to be found for awhile, unless I want to suffer some horrible fate at the hands of the modern women of the 21st century!!!

BTW, the aquastat on the oil burner is set at 110, it was at 120 before connecting the loop.


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