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16

HeatMaster / Re: 2018 HeatMaster install pics

« on: December 27, 2018, 05:56:45 AM »

I would like to know where to find the silver foam wrap, just the insulation only, if I wanted to make my own.

I'm not sure what product Badger uses but you see a similar type of insulation used in a lot of barns and metal buildings, google double bubble insulation.

Probably not exactly the same stuff but that search should turn up what you are looking for.

I've used a couple million square feet of another type (Solarguard) but it has 1/4" of fiberglass between the outer facings, instead of plastic bubbles or some kind of foam.

Got my 5-wrap from Badger and ran it inside of some 6" SDR35 bell-end pipe, buried over and under with 1" clean crushed limestone, it's been working well for 5 years now.

17

Home Made / Re: Homemade "Tank-in-Tank" OWB-Ozarks Hillbilly Edition

« on: December 02, 2018, 07:12:11 AM »

Wow, congrats on the 10 years...and holy woodburner, I just searched and found some pics of what you built.

My boiler is a very simple and crude toy compared to that...nicely done sir.

We don't have the cold weather as you in Ont. so it's not a huge money savings for us but I just like waving at the propane truck when they pass us by and not depending on someone else to heat our place.

You are making some pretty good money with your setup.   

We have 100 acres of hardwood forest (oak, hickory, locust, hedge, ash, black walnut) here in the Ozarks, I can't even cut a good percentage of the dead trees.

And my neighbors just selectively logged (several varieties of oak, black walnut) 40 acres right next to me and told me to cut the tree tops if I wanted...an embarrassment of firewood wealth.

18

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: December 02, 2018, 06:54:49 AM »

Seems weird that 2 thermostats would be bad. Try using the G connection and setting it to heatpump.

Weird for sure but that must have been it, I installed another stat and I am back in business, working great.

I even stuck the first 2 "2nd" stats back on to see if they would work after I got it going with the 3rd one, no dice.

Thanks again for your help, you are one of the guys that helped me get my system going when I built this beast.

 

19

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: December 01, 2018, 07:28:35 AM »

It sounds like there is something wrong with the thermostats,
Try putting the wire in the Y instead of the W on the 2nd thermostat and flip the switch to heatpump.

That didn't do it either. I tried it with my new and old 2nd stat.

I think I may have another stat I can try if I can find it, will see how that works out.

Thanks for your help 

20

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: December 01, 2018, 06:57:58 AM »

Are you using the same backing plate for both thermostats you tried? If so, that may be the problem. If not, I would check the thermostats to see if there are settings for the type of system it is set for. You will want it setup for gas furnace.

Also, make sure the thermostat is set to heat mode.

I did try using the old backing plate at first but changed it out to the new one immediately when it wouldn't work.

There is a slide switch on the back of the thermostat for "Gas or Oil" and "Electric or Heat Pump"...and it has been set to Gas.

I have the 1st stat set to Heat/Auto (fan) and the setpoints are lowered so the propane unit will kick in only if the temp in the house drops to 64.
 
The 2nd stat is set to Heat/Auto also but won't operate the blower even when I switch it to Fan.


And to clarify...the only way we can get the blower to work is to run the green wire to the G terminal on the 1st stat, taking the 2nd stat out of the system entirely, and turn it to Fan.

I think you asked that earlier and I didn't really answer it.

21

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: November 30, 2018, 03:04:32 PM »

Since the fan runs when I jumper the W to RH terminal on the 2nd stat does that indicate a bad 2nd stat?

I tried 2 identical stats (one of them brand new) and still can't get the 2nd stat to run the fan, even when I turn the fan to On and I think all me connections are good.

Is there a way to test the pins on the back of the stat to see if it is working correctly?

22

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: November 30, 2018, 08:32:53 AM »

Jumpering from W to R/RC on the 2nd thermostat did operate the fan.

I have posted a new pic of the existing wiring, the G terminal wire (green) is tied into the W terminal of the 2nd thermostat (black) and the R terminals in both stats are connected (red).

23

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: November 30, 2018, 07:44:09 AM »

You left the wire on the G terminal in the original thermostat? If so, do you have a/c? A lot of thermostat will backfeed if you do that and run the a/c in the winter. You can isolate it with a relay if you want to keep the fan switch operational.
As for the 2nd thermostat not working, check that the wires are connected properly at both ends. If it still doesn't work, you can temporarily jumper the wires together that are on the RH and the W terminal in the 2nd thermostat. If that does not make the blower run then it is a wiring problem somewhere.

The G wire is running to the W terminal on the 2nd thermostat.

I will try jumpering the W to RH and see if that gets the fan to operate.

It's odd that it has worked for 4 years but not now, I must have changed something or have a bad connection.

Will report back, thanks for your help!

24

Electronics / Re: Using 2nd thermostat to control blower only?

« on: November 29, 2018, 04:33:26 PM »

I have been burning for a couple of days now but am unable to get my "2nd" thermostat to control the system.

It's always worked before and I don't think I have changed anything.

It won't even run the furnace fan when you switch the fan to On position.

We have just been manually turning the fan on and off with the switch on the "1st" thermostat.

Have checked the wiring, even bought a new "2nd" thermostat and replaced it...no dice.

Hoping it's something simple I am overlooking but was wondering if anyone had any troubleshooting suggestions?

25

Home Made / Re: Homemade "Tank-in-Tank" OWB-Ozarks Hillbilly Edition

« on: November 27, 2018, 04:44:00 PM »

And we are off again, heating season number 5 for this homebuilt has begun!

If I make it through this winter my cost of ownership, all-in (boiler, exchangers, underground pipe, fittings, etc.) will be about $350/year.

I'm guessing it has paid for itself at least twice over with what it has saved in propane bills.

That doesn't include the value of many man-hours of labor between me and my buddy building the boiler of course but that was time well spent.

And once again, thank you to all helped me make this thing happen, some still posting here and some not...much appreciated!   

26

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Spare Parts

« on: April 03, 2018, 05:37:05 AM »

I have a spool of door rope and a spare combustion blower, pump and aquastat...as well as pex tubing, fittings and tools to install same.

27

The Wall Of Shame / Re: Oops

« on: February 19, 2018, 06:02:09 AM »

...citiot...

 

Never heard that before, good one.

28

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Extending underground PEX

« on: January 17, 2018, 08:50:30 AM »

Mine is the "old" stuff that is in a black corrugated outer shell - not the current stuff that is solid urethane foam and a hard rubberish smooth shell.  I doubt I can get that stuff to seal with any kind of boot or wrap.

How about putting your splice in as long a piece of 6" or 8" pvc as you can (with the splice in the center of the pipe), then spray foaming into each end to fill some of the void between the pipe and your lines, then coating the ends of the pipe where the lines enter and exit with tar or caulking to seal it all up?

29

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Oil or propane?

« on: January 12, 2018, 09:31:27 AM »

I put in a IBC high efficiency propane two weeks ago, for a new house and future wood furnace install. He has infloor radiant in concrete. Says the thing hardly runs and is so quite. I told him it will never run with the wood furnace hooked on to the heat exchanger. That model n size DC 20-125 dual condensing combi boiler.

I have to ask since I am new to this site and the letters used but what is a (IBC)?

http://ibcboiler.com/

Welcome Farmer Rob.   

30

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Generator interlock

« on: December 24, 2017, 05:18:40 AM »

Love those ice storm pics. I live right on the edge of the mountain where the warm air from the east hits the cold air from the north. Nothing like laying in bed when the trees are popping and cracking. ...
I backfeed through a homemade plug on my heat pump outside unit, not code at all.. 

Wow, I had kinda forgotten about the trees popping, cracking...and falling!

We would shut the generator down at night and it was like gunshots going off randomly for 2 or 3 days.

The weird (lucky) part was while the ice brought down thousands of trees and power poles the roads didn't get too slick and the temps never got below the teens for a couple weeks, that allowed the utility crews to travel and make repairs in fairly decent conditions.

Here's another look at Jan. 2007 in SW Missouri.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzoB1jUzp2I