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16

Electronics / Re: Looking for one thermostat to control OWB and Forced air furnance

« on: February 20, 2009, 04:00:20 PM »

Have your installer look at a Honeywell TH8320, it gives you 3 stages of heat control and 2 stages for cooling. 

I have mine set up as follows:

1st stage heating = OWB
2nd stage heating / cooling = heat pump
3rd stage heating = LP gas furnace

In order to make it totally idiot proof you will need to add a relay that is controlled by the cooling select wire (I forget the color) that breaks the power going to the 1st stage heating (OWB) so that when the thermostat switches to cooling the OWB is turned off.  Otherwise just turn the OWB off when you need cooling.

17

Hardy / Re: Which model do you have?

« on: January 27, 2009, 05:09:19 PM »

I have a 1987 model that is identical to the H2 that I bought used last year with regular grates. 

So far no need to burn coal, I have plenty of standing dead pines to keep it running for a few years.

Very pleased with the unit, I modified the fan / damper to a 2 stage system to reduce the wood usage.  Neither the hot water heater or the heat pump have come on since early October.

Andy

18

Hardy / Re: How Much $$$$ have you saved

« on: December 21, 2008, 03:39:10 PM »

So far this year it looks like I am saving ~ 150.00 / month with my Hardy H2.  The savings should increase as the temperature drops.  I have an electric heat pump system with LP fired hot water heater, so far neither has come on since mid October.

19

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Temperature

« on: October 30, 2008, 04:18:07 PM »

Here are some tips on using a IR thermometer to measure temperatures:

Make sure that the color of the surfaces that you are measuring is the same, preferrably flat black.  Most consumer grade IR thermometers do not have adjustable emissivity (color correction).

Measure from the same distance, some IR thermometers are only good for an inch or so, the better ones are good for a few inches to several feet, depending on the cost.   


Make sure the pump is turned on and has been circulating for several minutes in order to get the whole system up to temperature.

 

20

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Recommendations for On line Vendors?

« on: September 05, 2008, 03:52:19 PM »

Looking for any recommendations or experiences with on line vendors for parts and accessories, I am going to need a water to air heat exchanger and some other parts to complete my install.

Thanks

Andy
-----------------------------
Stihl 011
Stihl 028
Stihl 039
Hardy H2

21

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Concrete Slab

« on: August 12, 2008, 03:53:23 PM »

I have a Hardy H2 and poured the slab thicker to raise the stove up.  If my math is right, 3 yards at 10" thick will give you an ~ 96 square foot slab, which would allow plenty of room around the stove.

Just remember to lay in all water lines and electrical needed before the pour.  It's cheap insurance to also add an extra empty conduit or pipe in the slab for future unknowns.

22

Hardy / Re: Hardy H-2

« on: July 11, 2008, 06:36:21 PM »

I picked up a slightly used H-2 for a good price a couple of months ago, in the process of going through it and getting ready to install.  Previous owner had left the outer shell of the unit, the fan and damper solenoid are shot but I am hoping the TACO pump will be OK.

I'll post some pictures of it when I get it back together. 

23

Hardy / Re: Hardy H-2

« on: July 07, 2008, 07:39:25 PM »

Hank -

Is the PEX tubing in your install orange or is it my eyes??

Andy

24

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: WATER Treatment for Furances with 304 Stainless Vs Furnaces with 409 Stainless??

« on: June 16, 2008, 03:21:03 PM »

Hardy recommends using distilled water or rain water to stay away from any chlorine.  Over time chlorine can cause stress cracking in the 304 SS.   Other than using low chlorine water there is no water treatment needed.

I spent about 18 months looking at OWB, you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out which one is the best for the $$$.  I wound up finding a used Hardy at a good price and am in the process of installing it.  If I had not found the Hardy I was seriuosly looking at the HeatmasterSS MF-5000, it handled larger wood and looked to be a good value for the $$$.

25

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: WATER Treatment for Furances with 304 Stainless Vs Furnaces with 409 Stainless??

« on: June 15, 2008, 06:46:15 PM »

As far as the Hardy, the only issue for water treatment is making sure the chlorine levels are below 15 parts per million and your stove will last a very long time. 

My FIL's Hardy is 17 years old, the neighbor's Hardy is 19 years old.  I just picked a used Hardy up, it is ~ 19 years old and the fire box looks fine.   

Andy

26

General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: What did you use?

« on: June 08, 2008, 10:05:42 AM »

First off I am a newbie to this board but have had 17 years experience keeping my FIL's Hardy stove running.  We moved to an OWB friendly location 2 years ago and I managed to pick up a used Hardy H2 this spring.

Now I have the task of deciding what to install for the underground piping.  My total run under ground will be 50 feet, but I will need a total of 4 lines (2 for the hot water and 2 for the house heat).

I have looked at the "Time Saver" pipe and was really not impressed due to the supply and return lines running side by side in the same insulation wrap.

I'm trying to decide if it is worth doing my own by using the round slide on tube insuallation sold at Lowes and Home Depot then putting 2 insulated PEX pipes inside a 4" drain pipe, or has anyone tried the "MAXX-R" system?

Thanks for any input.

Andy