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[ELEproducts.com]

Fire Storm i723 Status update.  It has been about 3 months and a lot of firmware code/development since my last posting about the aftermarket product (FireStorm i723) used to control OWB’s by PID control utilizing varying speed draft motors to maintain “Real” control of your water temperature and the various home heating loads imposed.   Bench testing results are excellent!  Pre production units look fantastic as well.  This is a very promising product which will be affordable and super easy for customer installation.  No modifications required from the existing installation.  Simply mount the i723 on your stove somewhere you want it, (water tight NEMA polycarbonate enclosure)  and attach the POWER-INPUT, DRAFT-INPUT, and SOLENOID-INPUT through the sealed cord-glands into the labeled terminal blocks.  That’s it!  The i723 uses PWM control synchronized with the AC voltage zero cross point, yielding a base frequency of ~ 120Hz to enable your fixed speed draft motor to operate in infinitely variable speed from zero to full on.  Replacing controls that have crude turn-on and turn-off function.  I would be happy to provide any additional information for anyone interested.  Pre production product picture is available.

Shawn

[muffin]

So this controls the blower?  How does it know what speed you need?  Does it tie into the water temp somewhere?

[ELEproducts.com]

Yes, exactly.  The unit is about 6’’ wide, 6” tall and 3” deep.  Four wires enter the bottom of the enclosure.  Power-IN, Draft-Blower, Solenoid, and the temperature sensor (Thermocouple)wires.  Display shows outdoor temperature, water temperature and set point temperature. There are NO relays.  Simple button raises set point temperature and another button lowers set point.  None of the on temperature and off temperature garbage.

Thanks for the comment/question.

[Ridgekid]

Is this your site:

http://eleproducts.com/controllers/index.php

[ELEproducts.com]

That site is another green product I have developed and manufacturer.  Energy and power conservation for motor fleet installations.  Nothing to do with OWB's

[martyinmi]

How much $$$?

[ELEproducts.com]

At this juncture in time, I do not have a cost analysis complete for the i723 FireStorm.  It will be reasonable.  Interest and volume do factor in on the cost structure.

Shawn

[martyinmi]

PM me with a ball park price and I'll be a guinea pig for you. I think something like that might work well on a gasifier.

[ELEproducts.com]

Sorry, no guinea pigs required.  Only proven, reliable, safe and fully functional products with a real product warranty will be brought to market.

Shawn

[hddmax66]

how does it know what speed to run the fan? does it have a computer interface software like the engine block heater?

[mcarter]

Are the bench tests available?  I want to see how it stabilizes water temps without having influence on the pumps flow rate under full loads.

[ELEproducts.com]

Hello.  This writing will explain more in depth on how it works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller  The i723 is a true three-term PID controller.  I must admit, it is impressive to watch the i723 actually work.  When first starting the i723, the draft motor ramps up to a maximum speed, creating a hot burn in the firebox (keeping the creosote forever away) , then as the temperature of the water starts rising and approaching the set point (150F and user adjustable with simple up & down button) the draft motor starts slowing down so that it reaches the set point (150) as quickly as possible, but without exceeding the set point.  It makes a calculated prediction from recent past history in time, how long it is taking at a given draft blower speed to elevate the water temperature from some temperature to some higher temperature.  Same type of calculations are performed on time needed for water temperature to lower....  This is how it works and is able to keep a tight window around the set point temperature and within the capacity of thermal recovery of the stove (providing there is fuel for the fire), maintain this set point temperature even as various home heating loads are imposed.

Picture of i723 out of the enclosure. http://www.burnrite.net/images/product_002.jpg  There are two 32 MHZ microcontrollers on the back side of the assembly which talk to one another using a protocol, they are optically isolated for safety from the AC voltages while performing the calculations and PID math, gathering temperature and providing information to users via the LCD display, checking for errors and safety function calls to shut the OWB down in the event of disconnected temperature sensor or over temperature.  There is a system imposed whereas if the OWB is calling for heat and over time, the actual temperature begins to degrade from set point,  it is assumed that the system is out of fuel and will stop the draft blower motor and close the solenoid valve, while displaying a message on the display of that affect.  Rebuild your fire, press the button and your off again!

It is USB enabled for use with specific software as an option.  The i723 will operate completely unassisted/stand alone.

[Scott7m]

Have fun building a creosote container folks....  Owb do not work this way and need to cycle in order to burn clean...   A fire is the most efficient when it's roaring, to just idle it a long at one temp will make it really inefficient and much more creosote.   

[martyinmi]

I am thinking you are right Scott. It may work on a gasser, but I think a variable displacement nozzle would also be needed. I offered to be a guinea pig, but he don't need one, I guess....??

[Scott7m]

I am thinking you are right Scott. It may work on a gasser, but I think a variable displacement nozzle would also be needed. I offered to be a guinea pig, but he don't need one, I guess....??

Lol it's a perfect part.

He used to try to convince us this would work in the heatmaster thread...  The piece may work, but it sure will not help the stove and in the real world can only hurt it