Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Electronics => Topic started by: muffin on December 15, 2012, 11:48:03 AM

Title: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on December 15, 2012, 11:48:03 AM
I have been watching my furnace temperatures and I think my blower may be cooling the fire box too much when the fire is low.  I was thinking that maybe it would be best if the blower only came on for say 5 min and then it just used natural draft.  Just to get the fire restarted quick.  Anyone know of a device that would do this.  I was thinking something I could just put inline with the wires to the blower.  Just needs to allow power trough for about 5 min and reset when the power is off.
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on December 15, 2012, 03:18:09 PM
As a side note,  I just checked my stack temp and it is about 600*F.  Does this seem high?  I thought it should be around 300*F.  Perhaps this is proof of the blower issue?
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on January 15, 2013, 07:33:02 AM
Any input on this?
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: Scott7m on January 15, 2013, 09:24:00 AM
What kind of furnace do you have? 

No, I'm not buying into any fan being a negative influence on the furnace.  Supplying forced air rebuilds the fire faster and makes it burn harder, wood burns most efficient when it has o2 rushing into it. 

As far as exhaust temps.  300 maybe if you have a good gasser, 600 is a lot more likely on any regular boiler that doesn't utilize a bypass system in the top. A lot Of convndtionals often have flames coming out the top
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on January 15, 2013, 01:38:23 PM
It is a CB6048
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: Scott7m on January 15, 2013, 01:40:24 PM
The fan should help get the fire up to it's max efficiency much faster saving ya some wood, but your exhaust temps don't seem out of line. 
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: oldchenowth on January 15, 2013, 02:10:40 PM
My Wood Doctor has a timer on the induction fan tha goes on for a minute or two every half hour.  It is just a timer switch with adjustable keys to set it to start.  It was originally set to stay on longer once per hour, but I noticed in warmer weather the fire would snuff out for being closed too long.  I should get one or two more keys and turn it on every 15 -20 minutes to keep it breathing.
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: Scott7m on January 15, 2013, 02:35:29 PM
Yea those are a pulse setting gassers use to air in reignition
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: RSI on January 15, 2013, 02:54:26 PM
It looks like an AGASTAT 7012 relay would do what you want. They are almost $500 new but there are some used on ebay in the $20-$30 range. If you get one, make sure you check the time ratings. A lot of them are only up to a couple minutes but I did see one that was adjustable from 3-30 minutes.
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on January 16, 2013, 02:27:41 PM
It looks like an AGASTAT 7012 relay would do what you want. They are almost $500 new but there are some used on ebay in the $20-$30 range. If you get one, make sure you check the time ratings. A lot of them are only up to a couple minutes but I did see one that was adjustable from 3-30 minutes.

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.  For $20 it might be worth playing with.
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: Scott7m on January 16, 2013, 03:03:55 PM
It looks like an AGASTAT 7012 relay would do what you want. They are almost $500 new but there are some used on ebay in the $20-$30 range. If you get one, make sure you check the time ratings. A lot of them are only up to a couple minutes but I did see one that was adjustable from 3-30 minutes.

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.  For $20 it might be worth playing with.

Let us know, I think you def need the fan to get it going but maybe after that it would be ok
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: hddmax66 on February 14, 2013, 06:48:46 PM
Im interested as well. Let us know how it goes
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: muffin on February 15, 2013, 10:03:34 AM
Got it and it is installed.  Working just as it says.  I am not sure if it is saving me any wood, maybe it really does need the blower all the time.  Anyways, I have it set to 1/2hr on time right now and that seems to be working pretty well.  I note the damper is almost always open, but on the couple warmer days we have had it cycles.  Water temps seem to be OK.  Not sure if it was worth the effort or not, but it was cheap and pretty easy to install and now I can play with it.  I think it might be really nice in the summer when the loads are very light.
Title: Re: timer for blower
Post by: fryedaddy on February 15, 2013, 12:12:29 PM
I installed a timer on my stove.

My setup is a little different being a indoor wood boiler. (see the link)
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=136833-207-TMSW12HWL&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3438518&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1 (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=136833-207-TMSW12HWL&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3438518&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1)

This exact timer would not work with your setup due to being an indoor model.

I set mine to run 8hrs then shut down. Listen to Scott on the blower, far more efficient than draft.

You can also find a mechanical timer for exterior use as well for $50+/-. Go to your local hardware store and ask
for a mechanical timer.