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1396

Portage & Main / Re: Portage and Main Opt. 250 smoking not gassifying correctly

« on: January 31, 2012, 04:49:46 PM »

Jrider,

    Do it anyway, as mentioned these boilers need there servicing on a weekly basis. get yourself a propane torch and burn of(or dry out) any creosote with be easier to remove.

1397

Portage & Main / Re: parts needed

« on: January 31, 2012, 04:20:25 AM »

Steve,

   What is it your looking for? I would think that with the guys on here running the 250 and having issues we should be able to figure something out. I have not seen a breakdown of any sort for these boilers.

1398

Portage & Main / Re: Nozzle in firebox floor, 250

« on: January 30, 2012, 05:55:34 PM »

There is a replacement nozzle, but you have to cut it in, that sounds like fun.  I lubed everything in that airbox with never seez as i had too replace the upper air rod this past year. No problems now with it moving.

1399

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 23, 2012, 05:14:11 PM »

Do you guys know of a good place to buy the wire brushes for the heat exchanger tubes? I know dealer but if i can get a good quality one for less. Has anyone seen the chip boiler in action yet? Besides on the PM website. Might have a chance too see on in the next month or so.

1400

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 22, 2012, 05:22:40 PM »

Had a dealer for the PM here today too look over the setup, in a one week timeframe i have 1" to 1.5" of ash built up above the vertical tubes and at least an inch in the final pass.We also checked stack temp and was over 400. he suggested a good cleaning AGAIN and to fabricate some firebrick to make my nozzle smaller. Aquastat set at 195off and on at 180   top air inlet at 5 out bottom 1 out. Will see what happens tommorrow when i make the nozzle smaller.    Whats up with this weather anyway 30s and 40s the rest of the week.

1401

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 15, 2012, 03:26:23 PM »

Well, last night was the coldest this year and tonight is going to be colder. Filled the box around 8 last night and to my SURPRISE at 9 this morning i had roughly two more hours of burning that wood could have done. Threw in three good sized splits of pine and 1 piece of rock maple and i went from 9 am too 4 pm. these things run alot better when its cold out. Now if i could get the tubing to transfer all that heat too the house i should be in good shape.

1402

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 14, 2012, 03:07:18 PM »

No offense taken Marty,  looking for you and everyone else who has one of theses boilers for feedback, what works what doesnt. I listen too what you guys have too say and try to "put it into play". Right now i am trying to figure out why i am losing 20 degrees in a couple hours WITH 600 GAL STORAGE. House is 120 years old, insulated with 4"(R28) closed cell foam exterior walls except north wall R 35 foam. Roof has R42 Foam. I believe it is either the storage as suggested or my underground line that are also foamed.   No clue   boiler is running good today after rearranging refractory brick and cleaning airbox.   Thank for all your help

1403

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 14, 2012, 09:24:03 AM »

Wow i guess i do need that much heat,   boiler was shut down for about 2 hours today cleaning and so on. Looked at the temp on the Johnson control reading 160, looked at temp on the storage going back to boiler 160.  Something is wrong somewhere, will have to get a HVAC tech in to have a look.

1404

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 13, 2012, 12:15:09 PM »

Ok I,m not very good at saying what i want too say.   Let me try again.  The boiler puts out enough heat too heat everything i need too. The boiler water is piped into storage. If any zones call for heat the zones pull from storage and not boiler. If no zones calling for heat the incoming water from boiler is going to storage and storage water is going back to boiler, to keep the water moving.  The boiler fires (after watching) 4 to 5 times an hour to keep storage hot with a 10 degree diff. I am not consuming alot of wood, 3 to 4 good sized splits 8" throughout the day @ the temps weve been having. Load the firebox at night. i havent burnt 2.5 cord yet this year. I talked with Brian a little today he said there wasnt a problem with more storage as long as the refractory brick doesnt cool down much, firing at 4 to 5 times an hour doesnt seem like it would cool too much. plus this summer i am going to use it with storage for DHH, so i am thinking i will only need to fire once a week, will keep you posted on that.

1405

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 12, 2012, 04:47:21 PM »

Bill,

     I too had the problem of the fire going out but didnt have too worry in the shoulder season because of the storage. I just heat the house (3200 sq ft thats basement also) and hot water with the boiler, i had the boiler hooked  in because i had it already in place. Just wondering if it would be more beneficial to unhook the storage.

1406

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 12, 2012, 12:59:28 PM »

There is no problem with it cycling, usually at least twice an hour and of course more when it gets colder. The boiler water cant go below 140 because of the way its set up. The boiler pumps to the storage tank and if nothing is needing heat the water is sent back  to the boiler from the tank. Its a messed up setup. I dont think the guy that hooked it up had done storage before. Also the tank was plumbed in before the 250 was purchased, had an old MB55 hooked to it. We use more hot water hear than the rest of the town so the water heater is more storage and that calls for heat ALOT.

1407

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 11, 2012, 04:35:21 PM »

Anyone have there OP 250 hooked in with storage? I have mine hooked up too 330 extra gallons. debating on if its a good idea or not. House is warm, guess its good. What are you guys running your diff at, i just changed mine too 15, trying to get a better coal bed.

1408

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 06, 2012, 05:55:06 PM »

I only get the condensation when first starting in the fall, then it goes away. I did talk to Brian at a show he was at and he wants our input too make these boilers better.i like the new design in the back firetube doors. I have the older style and its a pain too clean the 2" tubes.  What are you guys running for stack temps? I took all my turbulators out. Running around 375. Lost a blower last year,dealer brought it too my house that night, have a spare now. Been trying to tighten up the loading door and the reaction chamber door, no luck at stopping the smoke. Speaking of smoke, does anyone have there boilers in a shed? I built one around mine and the thing fills the shed full of smoke. Going to build a hood too pipe it out.

1409

Portage & Main / Re: Optimizer 250

« on: January 06, 2012, 05:35:30 PM »

How are all you guys doing with the OP 250 this year, new too the site but i have had mine for a couple years now. Still playing with it to get "optimal" burns. Martini, i read you were going to burn some slab wood, is that hardwood or softwood? How does the boiler like those? I have burnt a few loads, seems to work alright if you are home during the day, got some standing dead pine i,m going to through in this weekend during the day.