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16
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Underground Pex for sale in PA
« on: February 07, 2015, 03:24:15 PM »17
Fire Wood / Re: Ton=?cord
« on: January 15, 2015, 07:13:19 AM »
Take a look at this...http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=4882.msg39550#msg39550
18
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Natural Draft Vs. Forced Air
« on: January 02, 2015, 10:07:38 AM »
I have a Natures comfort so not apples to apples but, I am set up with forced air over natural draft. I always have a minmal amount of natural draft by propping the flapper open a small amount then when the stove aquastat calls the blower will come on and get my water temp back more quickly, like when everybody is showering and there is a increased call for omestic hot water. This is my latest setup in my quest to burn coal as well as wood and it seems tob working well.
More chimney and remove any restrictions sounds like a first step to solving your issue. Good luck!
More chimney and remove any restrictions sounds like a first step to solving your issue. Good luck!
19
Fire Wood / Re: Ton=?cord
« on: December 29, 2014, 08:17:15 AM »My friend brings it from PA. I do some favors for him, and he gets me 5 ton/year free delivery.
One of the PA anth mines have a day a year when you can get anthrocite $120-150 I think. 20ton min for delivery or <20 ton pick up only.
I love to mix anthrocite with wood. There is virtually no smoke with anthrocite and lots of BTU. 5 ton lasts me 6 months with 2-3 cords of wood. For a 4500sqft house it is a great deal for me. My back is not what it used to be for splitting 10-15 cords each year, plus the wear and tear on the saw, truck, etc. I spend about $500 on the coal per year. Not bad for 6 months of heating + DHW.
Look at the PA mines if you are close.
KY coal also pretty good, and cheaper. Burns like wood thou.
Anthrocite glows like red melted glass, with blue flames. Very very very hot.
I have been using anthracite mixed for the last year or so. I agree, once dialed in its a great addition to the wood. The last 3 months I have been using almost all coal. Seems to be working great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTfBwfCPg7c
20
Fire Wood / Re: Ton=?cord
« on: December 28, 2014, 12:55:11 PM »I have a NCB-250 coal unit.
Bit coal in large is high in sulfur. I use anthrocite, which is more expansive but much higher BTU and no smell at all.
I have 4500sqft new well insulated house, with DHW; last year that was the worst winter in 50 years, I used
2 cords of wood, and 5.5 ton anthracite to keep the house at 75F.
I used to heat with coal inside, it is very dirty. You will like the outdoor unit, but you need shaker grates and a boiler made for coal burning.
Sometimes, I just don't have time and energy to split and haul 10 cords of wood. If I burned wood alone, I don't think 10 cords would be enough for me.
5 ton for $325 is probably very high in sulfur. KY low sulfur coal is about $100-120 / ton. I pay about the same for anthracite, but it's a special deal.
Where do you get your anthracite for the special deal?
21
Electronics / Re: Temperature monitor
« on: December 22, 2014, 08:45:46 AM »
I have a wireless Maverick sensor for at home use. Interesting...eBay made in and shipped from China.
22
Electronics / Re: Temperature monitor
« on: December 17, 2014, 06:35:55 PM »
I have been looking into these http://www.monnit.com/products. What do you think?
23
Fire Wood / Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« on: December 17, 2014, 04:54:30 AM »
intensedrive, where are you located?
24
Fire Wood / Re: Any Tricks to Burning Green Wood
« on: December 17, 2014, 04:52:05 AM »
Try to find the "free pallet" pile somewhere. Get as many as possible and mix them in with your green wood to heat things up a little.
25
General Discussion / Re: Web based remote temperature sensors
« on: December 16, 2014, 09:09:51 AM »Hi all,
What do you find to be the best remote temperature sensor? I leave my home sometimes for a week here and there:
-Want to track highs and lows
-Should only need a router to connect to internet - not a computer connection
-Should send an alarm email or text when a user specified threshold is met
-Should be able to log into internet and view current temperature or history
-Nice to have - wifi connect to router; wifi connection from sensor to unit
-Nice to have remote water sensor that is wireless
-Nice to have remote outdoor temperature sensor
-Nice to have - cost 250-375
Thanks
Sorry - I posted this in the wrong Forum section - can a moderator move it? - thx.
Me too!
26
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Btus
« on: December 14, 2014, 02:38:20 PM »
A Btu is what is required to raise one pound of water 1°. I guess if you know how much water you have and have a way to track temp rise over a period of time you can figure Btus per hour. I think... 
27
Equipment / Re: Fixars x27 ax
« on: December 14, 2014, 02:34:45 PM »I got the 10 dollar sharpener off Amazon at the same time. Works great.
I file, then hone. Afriend just got the sharpener and I ran it over my sharp X27 expecting to come up duller than when I started. Boy was I wrong. Getting a sharpener tomorrow. TSC has them locally for <$11. GET ONE! Works great on knives too!
28
Equipment / Re: Fixars x27 ax
« on: December 13, 2014, 05:59:51 PM »
One of the best tools I have ever used. Keep it sharp and split on a block. YouTube it and watch all the demonstrations. Go to arboristsite.com and search for Fiskars.
29
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Help---Burning bit coal
« on: December 13, 2014, 11:00:52 AM »
Don, I called Tractor Supply in Winchester
They have bagged ant nut coal there. Give them a try.
They have bagged ant nut coal there. Give them a try.
30
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Help---Burning bit coal
« on: December 12, 2014, 04:50:23 PM »YouTube has an ancient video about coal burning in locomotives years ago. It explains how coal burns and whyhttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NHo860Q66Gw.
Very interesting but imho not really pertinent to burning for heat in an OWB. The breakdown of the piece of coal is ok asuming bituminous. Anthracite will be more carbon, more ash and less volitiles. "Little and often" might work if you are constantly tending your boiler like a locomotive fireman.
Volitiles do not account for much heat in our situation. They will off gas quickly and with enough heat and some secondary air burn and produce some heat. Heat over the extended period comes from the carbo which, with controlled air, will not be burnt up too quickly thus giving long burn times and the ability to heat water to a desired temp without overshooting and boiling the water. Remember we are not (in most cases) using pressurized steam boilers. Our units are only water heaters.
I just came home from a 13 hour day to find my stove running at set point. I just shook out the ash and let it go. Will check and fire before bed to get through the night.
This is what my fire looks like when it's burning properly. All volitiles burned off, just burning carbon (blue flame). Nice and steady putting off lots of 🔥 heat!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTfBwfCPg7c