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Author Topic: NC 80 install finally underway  (Read 6413 times)

DonE911

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NC 80 install finally underway
« on: October 26, 2014, 10:56:58 AM »

I've been reading here for a while but have not posted yet.  Figured its time to participate.  I purchased the 80 in the spring for a great price....  dealer old stock.. needed it moved blah blah...
I originally had my heart set on the smaller ridgewood, but this one came up at just over $1200 cheaper with HX,pump,Plate exchanger, mixing valve, insulated pipe and enough 1 inch pex,fitings and clamps to cover my installation. 

Anyway.... I poured the slab and buried the lines in early summer and had a friend with a skidsteer get it off my trailer and set on my slab. After the flurry of work, life put the brakes on the project for several months. A few little cold snaps have inspired new activity.

Well yesterday I cut into the forced air system to install the HX....  that was harder than I thought it would be.  I ended up with my manifold, feed and return lines inside the air return and the rest of the HX 2 inches above the ac coils.  It has made for a fairly stealth install though.  This week I will run the lines back to the plate exchanger and punch through the exterior wall to make my final connections.

I have some new hot water lines to run as I will be feeding 2 hot water heaters and will be running an exterior hot water line to melt ice and snow from the car this winter and to feed hot water to my pressure washer. 

That's it for now....  I should be ready to fire it up in a couple weeks and I will try to update often over the winter as there seems to be very little information on this small unit and I'm sure someone will be interested.
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DonE911

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2014, 02:50:59 PM »

Its finally in..... water is moving.... only one leak because some dummy left a cinch clamp off on side of a fitting. ( that'd be me ) 

Fist fire will be tomorrow..... 
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steve.b

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2014, 06:16:03 PM »

I fired my 175 yesterday. It sure is nice to feel the heat.
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artbaldoni

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2014, 06:11:19 AM »

My 175 has been up and running since Dec 2010, nonstop! Wood for the first 2 years and now a wood and coal mix. Used maybe 300 gal of heating oil in that time during vacations and a short stretch where i was determining the value of just running for DHW. Now it runs 24/7/365.

Hope yours works out as well!
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Nature's Comfort  NCB-175
Dolmar 5105 20"
Makita DCS6401 28"
1995 5/8 ton Dodge
7 x 14 10k Trailer
Bobcat 7753 w/EEL Tracks
22T Huskee Splitter
Fiskars X-27
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15 # Monster Maul
Titan 60"  Twin Cyl. Root Grapple

steve.b

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2014, 08:14:26 AM »

Is your 175 a coal? If not how does it burn coal well?
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artbaldoni

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2014, 08:32:58 AM »

My 175 is not a coal unit, but I made it one. I built a grate for it and replaced the original aquastat with a digital one that I can set my differential down as low as 1°. I open my air inlet slider to 3/4 of full open. I also added a couple rows of firebrick up the sides of the firebox to protect it from the super hot coal against it.
Its kind of touchy in moderate temps and I will go to all wood during that time and also the summer.
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Nature's Comfort  NCB-175
Dolmar 5105 20"
Makita DCS6401 28"
1995 5/8 ton Dodge
7 x 14 10k Trailer
Bobcat 7753 w/EEL Tracks
22T Huskee Splitter
Fiskars X-27
Fiskars X-11
15 # Monster Maul
Titan 60"  Twin Cyl. Root Grapple

MD20/20

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2014, 09:18:50 AM »

Could you post some pics of your grate? I'd like to modify the grate in my 325G so coal burns better.
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Central MD

DonE911

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2014, 09:28:03 AM »

We have FIRE!!!!!!!!

Good thing since it snowed all night.  Bad sign to have snow in GA this early.

I ran the gas heat last night since I was out of town and that heated the boiler water up to 80 deg from its original 50 deg.  I left the door open and burned down a coal bed.... that brought me up to 120.....  I closed the door and turned on the fan......  I came back to check it 45 min later and it was already up to temp.....

I found that the second thermo will only run the fan on low but right now it doesn't seem to be an issue.  I may have to do some research to get the higher speed on the fan. 

I turned off the hot water heaters this morning and ran them cold before I opened the ball vavles to supply hot water.  I turned on the hot water in the kitchen sink and ran it for an hour and the water stayed hot hot hot....  I have a well so the only cost was running the pump.

I guess the education begins now..... I'll be learning the proper feeding and loading schedule for a while but I cant be happier to set the backup heat at 50deg and know that I wont be cutting any more checks to the LP man. That 3k last year was painful.

I'll update a little at a time as I learn more information.
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artbaldoni

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2014, 02:14:02 PM »

The grate is nothing special. I just made an angle iron frame and put some expanded metal on it. Did it last year just to experiment with the intention of making something better but it worked well and held up pretty well so I just kept using it. I use a 3 prong weed hoe to "shake" the fire down from the top. Just have to be careful not to stir too much.
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Nature's Comfort  NCB-175
Dolmar 5105 20"
Makita DCS6401 28"
1995 5/8 ton Dodge
7 x 14 10k Trailer
Bobcat 7753 w/EEL Tracks
22T Huskee Splitter
Fiskars X-27
Fiskars X-11
15 # Monster Maul
Titan 60"  Twin Cyl. Root Grapple

steve.b

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2014, 08:24:04 PM »

The grate is nothing special. I just made an angle iron frame and put some expanded metal on it. Did it last year just to experiment with the intention of making something better but it worked well and held up pretty well so I just kept using it. I use a 3 prong weed hoe to "shake" the fire down from the top. Just have to be careful not to stir too much.
I guess you just laid it on top of the existing fire brick?
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artbaldoni

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2014, 09:12:20 PM »

I actually tried that at first but the ash would clog up under the grate. I remove the brick in the bottom as well as the frame that holds them. That gives me a nice wide open area for the ash to fall through.
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Nature's Comfort  NCB-175
Dolmar 5105 20"
Makita DCS6401 28"
1995 5/8 ton Dodge
7 x 14 10k Trailer
Bobcat 7753 w/EEL Tracks
22T Huskee Splitter
Fiskars X-27
Fiskars X-11
15 # Monster Maul
Titan 60"  Twin Cyl. Root Grapple

steve.b

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2014, 05:52:46 AM »

I actually tried that at first but the ash would clog up under the grate. I remove the brick in the bottom as well as the frame that holds them. That gives me a nice wide open area for the ash to fall through.
ok, thanks
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DonE911

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2014, 09:36:54 AM »

First over night run last night.  1/2 load of oak went 12.5 hours.  low 20's outside and 74 inside.

I had plenty of hot coals but no actual wood was left.  Water temp was still good and the fan was off.

I threw some wood in and the fire lit right back up.


I'd say good enough. 

I did find a small leak from a sharkbite fitting that runs 1/2 inch hot water to the upstairs bathroom.  I pushed the connection tighter and solved the leak issue.
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artbaldoni

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Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2014, 10:08:56 AM »

First over night run last night.  1/2 load of oak went 12.5 hours.  low 20's outside and 74 inside.

I had plenty of hot coals but no actual wood was left.  Water temp was still good and the fan was off.

I threw some wood in and the fire lit right back up.


I'd say good enough. 

Its a wonderful feeling isn't it? You are now free from the oil, pro-pain or gas man!
Keep the fire burning...
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Nature's Comfort  NCB-175
Dolmar 5105 20"
Makita DCS6401 28"
1995 5/8 ton Dodge
7 x 14 10k Trailer
Bobcat 7753 w/EEL Tracks
22T Huskee Splitter
Fiskars X-27
Fiskars X-11
15 # Monster Maul
Titan 60"  Twin Cyl. Root Grapple