Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Electronics => Topic started by: RSI on September 03, 2015, 03:49:02 PM
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I am thinking about putting together a kit to shut off the blower when the temperature drops below a set point. It would have a button that you push when starting a fire so it can get back up to temperature and the boiler's aquastat would take over again.
Is this something that anyone would be interested in? If so, I am looking for some feedback on connections on different boilers so it would be universal and work on all or at least most brands.
Right now I am planning on using ranco controllers but if the price is a problem, cheap snap switches would lower the price quite a bit but may be more difficult to mount. Also, thoughts on whether metal clad wire would be required or if just normal cord would be ok. I would prefer the normal cord since it is a lot easier to work with but either can work fine.
I just finished building one to test and everything looks good. I will probably be putting it on one of my customer's boiler.
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I put my own kit togeather on my Hardy. It made a big for me last winter. What I did was use a ranco and a push button bathroom timer as a bypass when the temp fell below the set point. I set it up so that the aquastat and the timer powered the plug that the fan plugged into.
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This would not use a timer, it would just run till it was back up to operating temp and work like normal.
I was thinking doing the kit would make it a lot easier to install for most people.
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HeatMaster G series already has it built in to the control, I think Centrals Firestar as well.
Great Idea RSI, make it retrofit able to all stoves, I used to do it with a timer but temp would be better.
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I've thought about this same idea but I would have one that would shut the natural draft damper on stoves without a blower like a Central Boiler or Ridgewood. Same concept, just a different application.
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I've thought about this same idea but I would have one that would shut the natural draft damper on stoves without a blower like a Central Boiler or Ridgewood. Same concept, just a different application.
It wouldn't matter if you have a blower or not. The same parts would work.
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I Would be interested!!!!!! sounds like a great concept!!
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If anyone is interested, I can make some up. I am thinking the price would be around $100.
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I'm interested. But if it shuts down on low temp, and comes back on when it gets up to temp, how will temp climb with no fan?
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It would have a bypass or reset button that overrides it
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I made a few improvements to the original design I was going to use. If someone wants to give it a try, let me know. I would prefer to get some feedback to make sure it works perfect before I build a batch of them. I have one ready to go.
This is what it looks like. I could move the button to another location if that was preferred.
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I will try it out.
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ok I'm slow and I rode the short bus and never got off ...fill me in on how this works ..I have pm'ed slim with what i had started to do .. was hooking a snap disk into the AQ line killing the fans at 120...then using a on off on switch I could come home and be up and running in no time
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This is just more automatic. It will shut the fan off when the temperature drops to the set point. When you relight the fire, it will run again as normal till it drops below the low set point again.
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So the thing shuts down at low temp say 120 and I come home and add more fuel /at this point I shut the door and the fan starts again, if so I'm in...
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Yes, you just push the button. You could attach a button to the door so it clicked it everytime you open the door so you wouldn't have to push it but I don't think that would be worth the trouble to do. (the button won't do anything if the boiler is in normal operating range)
I mailed one out to hoardac today. I will put some more together once he gets it hooked up and everything is good.
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RSI,
I'm interested when you get some more put together. Let me know please. Thanks.
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Just got it opened will try to have it hooked up by tonight it is supposed to rain sometime today. I got your PM RSI sent you a reply. The unit looks nice you did a real good job.
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If you need any help when you are hooking it up, just give me a call.
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I don't remember what I left the temperature set at. You can go with whatever you want. I am guessing you will need to experiment to see where is best. I would probably start with 150 and a 10 degree differential. Also make sure it stays on H1.
If you have too much unburnt wood then you will want to go lower and if you don't have enough coals left then you would try higher.
The differential setting is what shuts off the cold start override. If you set it too low and a large heat load was turned on that made the temp drop back down below the set point, it would shut the blower off again. You will want to make sure the set point + the differential is well below the high temperature setting on the main controller. The low cutoff won't work again till the temperature gets above the setting + the differential. (150 +10 diff would be 160)
I hope that made some sense. If not, let me know.
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Interested. PM me and I'll pay you to send me one. Stay warm....
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Just got it installed today finally and all works well. :thumbup:
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I am going to make up a batch of them later this week or early next week. If anyone wants one, send me a PM or email (if you already sent a PM, please send again to make sure I didn't lose it) and I will put you in the list. The price will probably be higher after this batch.
I didn't re-read the whole thread so not sure if there is any confusion to what this does..
It shuts off the blower and /or draft solenoid on the boiler when the temp drops below the set point. When you refill the boiler / start the fire back up, you just push the cold start button and it will run as normal till the next time the fire goes out again. The temperature can be set to whatever you want.
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good to know .. I found a AQ stat with the same number that slim, used to make his ..I going to try that route 1st ...thanks!!
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Just an update wood usage is down I know temps are warmer this year but comparing with similar temps. I used to have the boiler calling for heat but no fuel so she would cool the whole unit down and takes more wood to bring it back to temp. House is also staying warmer or at least more consistent. It does a great job and for anybody with a bad habit of letting stove burn down to empty this helps tremendously. Thanks RSI
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Just an update wood usage is down I know temps are warmer this year but comparing with similar temps. I used to have the boiler calling for heat but no fuel so she would cool the whole unit down and takes more wood to bring it back to temp. House is also staying warmer or at least more consistent. It does a great job and for anybody with a bad habit of letting stove burn down to empty this helps tremendously. Thanks RSI
:post:
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Good to hear !
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I need one rsi