Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Username: Password:

Author Topic: Optimizer 250 settings for shoulder seasons?  (Read 2358 times)

jreimer

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 153
  • OWF Brand: Portage and Main
  • OWF Model: Optimizer 250
    • View Profile
Optimizer 250 settings for shoulder seasons?
« on: March 01, 2013, 10:12:54 AM »

Hi all,

Spring is approaching and boiler idling is starting to begin.  For all those running an Optimizer 250, what are the setting changes you make to keep it running clean? 

I'm happy with the performance and cleanliness of it when it runs a full load every 12 hours, but now I'm starting to put 1/2 loads in twice a day and seeing more creosote formation in the scotch marine tubes.  I've being toying with the idea of setting the differential higher (160-180) to get it burning longer and hotter during firings but not sure if that's an effective strategy.

Ideally I would have storage to prevent excessive idling, but I also like the idea of not having to restart fires.

Thanks,
James.
Logged
Shindaiwa 488
GMC Duramax 2500HD
Homemade splitter
Portage and Main Optimizer 250
Kubota B7500 w/loader
An understanding wife

Scott7m

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3740
  • OWF Brand: Heatmaster
  • OWF Model: E Series
    • View Profile
Re: Optimizer 250 settings for shoulder seasons?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2013, 12:35:46 PM »

Martyinmi will be the man to talk to on this, he's got them figured out
Logged
Dealer for:  Heatmaster, Empyre, Earth, Ridgewood, and Woodmaster outdoor furnaces
Furnace Parts Dealer
Pelican water treatment systems
606-316-9697

coolidge

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1409
    • View Profile
Re: Optimizer 250 settings for shoulder seasons?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2013, 05:33:38 PM »

I changed my differential from 9 to 6 today, going to try that for the weekend.
Logged
Western Maine

slimjim

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 158
  • OWF Brand: Wood Doctor / HeatMaster
  • OWF Model: 14,000. / G 200 and G 400
  • Southern Maine
    • View Profile
    • www.mainlycustom.com
Re: Optimizer 250 settings for shoulder seasons?
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2013, 07:09:08 AM »

To start with you are doing the right thing by loading twice a day with a smaller load. next i would turn up temp to at least 185 and higher if you are not seeing any water depletion, a good rule of thumb is run as high as you can without seeing visible steam from the vent tube, if you see steam then simply cut temp back 5 degrees. another thing to check is air leakage around door gaskets and in distibution box, when the boiler is dormant there should be no air infiltration into the boiler or the cool air will create creosote
Logged
Wood boiler sales, service and installation for the Northeastern USA.