My review of the "Coal Pilot"

First off I want to say that I have never used a Col-trol. I have not even seen one in person, only pictures on the net. I do know one person that owns one' He likes it. The Col-Trol is a proven tool that many rave about. I am in no way comparing the Coal Pilot to the Col-Trol. Only giving my personal experience with the Coal Pilot.

The Coal Pilot is a device that allows you to control your stoker with a digital thermostat.

My first experience with the Coal Pilot was with the Alaska Channing II that I just refurbished. I was sent a carpet with the Coal Pilot already mounted. All I had to do is connect the thermostat and power supply. The thermostat is a regular digital, programmable thermostat. Upon the first inspection I was impressed on how simple the design was. So simple, that there is very little room for failure / malfunction. The Coal Pilot uses the same feeder motor, combustion fan that originally came with the stove, and uses them in the manner they were designed to run. The Coal Pilot runs at an idle that you set, unless calling for heat. There for saving coal by automatically reducing the feed rate, but maintain the temp you desire. There are no delicate components to be damaged if using other than grid power.
First test : I was surprised how well it worked. I’m sure many are more familiar with the supply stroke on the Alaska than I am. Well, the Coal Pilot lengthens that stroke when calling for heat. When the desired temp is met, the supply stroke returns to an idle. This all happens from the thermostat, no adjustment on your part. Now we all know coal is slow to respond and slow to idle back. Because of this, some carry over heat is noticed. If I was bumping the temp just a few degrees, the carry over would be minimal. If I was raising the temp 10 degrees or more I could see 3 to 4 degrees carry over. My thermostat was about 9’ away from the stove, in a corner. Not sure if those results are typical of other thermostat controlled coal stoves. I will say that once your desired temp is reached, the Coal Pilot maintained the temp within 1 degree. I was impressed with that. I was testing in my shop. I went to the house for the night and left the thermostat at 50 degrees. The next morning I went to the shop, it was 50 degrees. I will not get into how the design works or is setup. I will leave those questions to GeorgiePorgie.

** Side note, When I sold the Alaska Channing The guy that bought it was so impressed with the Coal Pilot, he bought that also.

The second stove I tested it on was the LL Econo 1 that I rebuilt last summer. Same deal, I was sent a carpet that was ready to go, Coal Pilot already mounted and only needed to have the P/S and thermostat connected. When I say already mounted, it is one solenoid. That and a couple wires. That’s it. Tested just as great as the Alaska. Unreal simple, and it works great.
GeorgiePorgie designed a economical way to control you coal stove with a programmable thermostat. Just like a oil or gas furnace. Set it to lower the temp while your at work and a half an hour before you get home the Coal Pilot kicks the heat up and you come home to a warm house.
The only thing I don’t like about the Coal Pilot is that I didn’t think of it. When you see this work, you’ll say DUH, why didn’t I think of that.

Please ask some questions as Im sure I could do better at describing it. I should put a video together to show the simplicity of it.

Funny coincidence, as I was just talking to GeorgiePorgie on the phone this evening about his CoalPilot just a couple of hours before your post. From our conversation he is a friendly and very intelligent person, and has me sold on the simplicity of the design especially after he explained what parts are used, how it was set up, and how it worked. I will definitely be getting one soon, and like you said

k9 Bara wrote:you’ll say DUH, why didn’t I think of that.

I have a digital thermostat on my Keystoker and it works great. And a CoalTrol on My Hyfire, both work fine.

George, can you provide pics and maybe a short video of its operation?

WNY wrote:I have a digital thermostat on my Keystoker and it works great. And a CoalTrol on My Hyfire, both work fine.

Great, . How much carry over heat do you get when raising the temp? Just curious if my results were typical.

WNY wrote:I have a digital thermostat on my Keystoker and it works great. And a CoalTrol on My Hyfire, both work fine.

Again, not saying nothing else works. Just a review of a product.

None, I don't change it much, If at all.

k9 Bara wrote:The Coal Pilot is a device that allows you to control your stoker with a digital thermostat. .

Actually you can use any thermostat, any dry closure relay contact would do, or even a simply 6 volt 250 ma power supply.

But programmable digital thermostats are really the way to go !

Thanks for the Post George:

It was my intention to design something very simple that works without interrupting the motors,( thus, extending the life of motors ) and to take advantage of the newer technology of off-the-shelf thermostats and provide the benefits of convenience and cost saving to coal stokers users. All at an affordable price for the average consumer.

Surprinsingly, the test results exceeded my expectations, thanks to newer developments in digital thermostat technologies using newer algorithms

Below are two pictures of a CoalPilot unit for the Leisure Line lines of stoves during off position, and on position , with a detailed operation of its working.

During an Off cycle, as crank arm C rotates, Bearing B approaches plate A which is welded to pin P .
Guide hole G along with the two bolts shown, ensure smooth movement of plate A and pin P pushes the small tab T against the carpert/slider causing it to move by a distance D.

During on On cycle, Solenoid S is energized through electrical connector E forcing arm K to engage itself in front of tab T and thus changing the travel distance D to be an increment of 1/4 inch or so ensuring a bigger load.

A metallic spring M brings back plate A, for a fresh operation every cycle.

CoalPilot units for other models operate on the same principle. The Coalpilot is in a Patent Pending status, A Patent is about to be issued !

Any Questions ?

Nice work!

I want one. Let us know how to get one.
John

Looks Great! Sure would simplify alot of stokers out there. It would probably even work for my DVC-500.
Hey George! Let GeorgiePorgie use your DVC-500 as another prototype

I know a few people who would definatly be interested in one of these. Do you have a ball park price yet????

For a complete package, ( Power supply, digital programmable thermostat, connectors, wires, including the proper slider/carpet) with one year warranty, should be under $200.00 including shipping, I am in the testing phase of high grade stainless steel that would be offered with 2 years warranty for only 20 dollars more!

Products for Triburners ( Alaska, Reading ) will be ready to ship by March 10 2010, other products will follow soon !

thanks

Ok, I got around to letting the stoker go out and getting a video of the CoalPilot in action. Sorry for the poor quality, it's my cell phone .

1st pass of stoker: Shows how the carpet is at when the temp set has been reached, or not calling for heat. You set the adjuster to your minimum / idle burn. The thermostat shows 55 degrees in the shop and not calling for heat until 54 degrees.

2nd pass of stoker: Shows the activation of the arm as the thermostat is bumped up to call for heat. I believe the width is 3 full turns of the adjustment nut. Whatever it is, it was right for this stove. Full grate of coals when calling for heat.

3rd pass of stoker: Shows what would happen if the thermostat called for heat when the carpet was depressed. It just waits til next revolution to increase the feed rate.

Then I was just showing again how the armature drops, increasing the feed rate.



Still picture just shows the view from other side, showing the power and thermostat connections.

Sounds really good! I would also be interested in one Georgieporgie. I have an Alaska Channing 111, about 4 years old.