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Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 Nozzle
« on: November 01, 2020, 02:07:52 PM »
A few years ago, someone on this site was testing nozzles for this unit to find the best mixture to make the nozzle last the longest and dimensions of the openings to maximize gasification. Does anyone know which member was doing that?
Todd
Todd
2
Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 / Gassing / Tenting Over Nozzle
« on: January 13, 2018, 09:25:54 AM »
This is the fourth season I have been running this unit and I keep having the same issue with keeping it gassing. Burning various types of hard wood only, that has been seasoned for a year in 16' sections. I only split the stuff that is too big to handle if left whole. I always position the biggest pieces over the nozzle and try to keep a healthy 6-8" of coals in the bottom of the burn box (which has been difficult). I am a heating a poorly insulated (will hopefully be sealing it up this coming year) 2700 sf old victorian (1904) in the Adirondacks.
I have no problem getting the unit to gas, but keeping her up to temp has been very difficult. She seems to do long runs and she seems to power through the coals directly surrounding the nozzle creating this funnel type path to the nozzle and I also get this tenting that occurs over the nozzle that in the past has actually burned through the middle of the larger log that I positioned over the nozzle creating about a 12" empty space that funnels down to the opening of the nozzle and THEN she STOPS GASSING and my temps plummet. I can get her gassing again simply by going out and stirring the coals around which won't even last long enough to get her back up to temperature before it starts tenting again.
I have set the air box settings according to recommendations from SlimJim and other old timers on this site but still wonder if I have too much air moving through the fire box that it burns everything on its way to the nozzle
?
Anyone else having similar experiences?
I have no problem getting the unit to gas, but keeping her up to temp has been very difficult. She seems to do long runs and she seems to power through the coals directly surrounding the nozzle creating this funnel type path to the nozzle and I also get this tenting that occurs over the nozzle that in the past has actually burned through the middle of the larger log that I positioned over the nozzle creating about a 12" empty space that funnels down to the opening of the nozzle and THEN she STOPS GASSING and my temps plummet. I can get her gassing again simply by going out and stirring the coals around which won't even last long enough to get her back up to temperature before it starts tenting again.
I have set the air box settings according to recommendations from SlimJim and other old timers on this site but still wonder if I have too much air moving through the fire box that it burns everything on its way to the nozzle
?Anyone else having similar experiences?
3
Portage & Main / Optimizer 250 Gasification - NOT!!!!!
« on: January 19, 2015, 08:37:33 PM »
Is anyone else having problems keeping this unit gasifying? I don't seem to be able to keep this unit gasifying unless I babysit it every couple of hours, and even then, it can be a pain just to keep it going or get it restarted!
My rheostat is set at 195° with a 5° differential at the recommendation of slim Jim! I would be amazed if my average running temperature were above 160!
As noted above, I have had multiple discussions with slim Jim and am following all of his instructions to the best of my ability including making sure that there is not an excessive amount of ash or coals in the bottom of the burn box, making sure that I placed the largest pieces of wood directly over the nozzle, the proper restriction of airflow by adjusting the fan damper and the two dampers in the airbox, and I still cannot get this thing to reliably gasify OR maintain temperature! AND..... then I find out that slim Jim is no longer working for P&M!
Anybody have any ideas?
My rheostat is set at 195° with a 5° differential at the recommendation of slim Jim! I would be amazed if my average running temperature were above 160!
As noted above, I have had multiple discussions with slim Jim and am following all of his instructions to the best of my ability including making sure that there is not an excessive amount of ash or coals in the bottom of the burn box, making sure that I placed the largest pieces of wood directly over the nozzle, the proper restriction of airflow by adjusting the fan damper and the two dampers in the airbox, and I still cannot get this thing to reliably gasify OR maintain temperature! AND..... then I find out that slim Jim is no longer working for P&M!
Anybody have any ideas?
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