Hello Sirs,
I recently purchased a Keystoker 105. After reading forums on coalpail.com I was considering the coal a trol. Please tell me your thoughts on efficiency ease of use. realistically would I save 50 lbs of coal per heating season or 500? Is it worth the money or is a little tweak that I won't notice. Your honesty is greatly appreciated.
Thank You!
albert
Considering Coal Trol for a Keystoker 105
I highly recommend the Coal-trol! 
I currently use it on a Reading stoker, in non-Tri-burner mode, that is where a constant combustion blower is running, and find that it really shines during the low heat demand times and gives a wonderful even steady temperature. It has lived up to it's claim of keeping the temperature within one degree of the thermostat temperature setting. That is something I was rarely able to achieve with other methods of combustion control with a thermostat.
As for saving a lot of money, well I just haven't calculated it to the penny, but using the Coal-trol did cut down my excessive coal usage during lower heat demand and over shoots of the thermostat. Once it is set, it takes all of the guess work out of operating your coal stoker. I also like the extra option of being able to choose the set points of the add on inline duct boosters that I installed to push the air to my far hard to reach rooms.
The Coal-trol is number ONE in my book!
So, I would get one again! That is my two cents worth.
I currently use it on a Reading stoker, in non-Tri-burner mode, that is where a constant combustion blower is running, and find that it really shines during the low heat demand times and gives a wonderful even steady temperature. It has lived up to it's claim of keeping the temperature within one degree of the thermostat temperature setting. That is something I was rarely able to achieve with other methods of combustion control with a thermostat.
As for saving a lot of money, well I just haven't calculated it to the penny, but using the Coal-trol did cut down my excessive coal usage during lower heat demand and over shoots of the thermostat. Once it is set, it takes all of the guess work out of operating your coal stoker. I also like the extra option of being able to choose the set points of the add on inline duct boosters that I installed to push the air to my far hard to reach rooms.
The Coal-trol is number ONE in my book!
So, I would get one again! That is my two cents worth.
-
2001Sierra
- Member
- Posts: 2211
- Joined: Wed. May. 20, 2009 8:09 am
- Location: Wynantskill NY, 10 miles from Albany
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90 Chimney vent
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Buderus Oil Boiler 3115-34
I went from a hand Buderus to a Keystoker 90 with all the options. My last chance to get perfection. It has performed very well, no overshoots once it learns your heat load, and quite honestly should of been named Coal Cruise Control. It works just like that.
-
pvolcko
- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 1063
- Joined: Mon. Jan. 16, 2006 4:26 pm
- Location: Syracuse, NY
- Contact:
Hi Albert,
We claim that the Coal-trol Digital will save customers, on average, about 11% coal use due to eliminating over and undershoots that normally occur with on-off thermostat controls. Obviously the amount of coal that will be depends entirely on how much you burn in a given year and thus the "pay off" time for the upgrade will depend on how harsh the season is, how much you burn, etc.
If you do not have temperature swings or are otherwise satisfied with what you have then, by all means, stay with what you have. We aren't into the hard sale and we don't want customers that are only marginally happy with the choice they made. However, many people have had less than satisfying results with their OEM controls, be they knobs and switches or older style dial thermostats or even modern on-off thermostats designed for "instant" on and off heat sources. Others are looking for the ease of use our control provides, particularly compared to manual controls (timers, stoker knobs, etc.). And a few are just wanting to try the latest and greatest tech for their coal stove. For all these people and others, the Coal-trol is a great choice.
Keep in mind, we have offered since the start (and continue to offer) a 90 day money back guarantee. If you aren't satisfied we'll refund you the purchase price of the controls. I'd say no questions asked, but we will most likely ask a few questions and try one last time to help you solve any problems you've encountered. What we won't do, though, is give you a hassle if the time comes you want to go back to what you had.
If you'd like to learn more, check out our site at www.coaltroldigital.com, call us at 315-299-3589, or feel free to ask some more questions here or in a private message. You can also order off our website or over the phone.
Lastly, if you (or anyone else reading this, for that matter) are in the Central New York area, we will be attending the open house at Dennis Coal & Stove this year, once again. We'll also probably be helping out at one or more of the stove dealer booths at the NY State Fair, too. We generally offer discounts for purchases made at the show, you'll get to talk to us one on one, can watch us do installations on stoves being sold at the show, and if you're buying a stove at the show you can opt to have us install it before you leave or come back to pick it up.
Thanks for considering the Coal-trol, Albert, hope to hear from you soon!
We claim that the Coal-trol Digital will save customers, on average, about 11% coal use due to eliminating over and undershoots that normally occur with on-off thermostat controls. Obviously the amount of coal that will be depends entirely on how much you burn in a given year and thus the "pay off" time for the upgrade will depend on how harsh the season is, how much you burn, etc.
If you do not have temperature swings or are otherwise satisfied with what you have then, by all means, stay with what you have. We aren't into the hard sale and we don't want customers that are only marginally happy with the choice they made. However, many people have had less than satisfying results with their OEM controls, be they knobs and switches or older style dial thermostats or even modern on-off thermostats designed for "instant" on and off heat sources. Others are looking for the ease of use our control provides, particularly compared to manual controls (timers, stoker knobs, etc.). And a few are just wanting to try the latest and greatest tech for their coal stove. For all these people and others, the Coal-trol is a great choice.
Keep in mind, we have offered since the start (and continue to offer) a 90 day money back guarantee. If you aren't satisfied we'll refund you the purchase price of the controls. I'd say no questions asked, but we will most likely ask a few questions and try one last time to help you solve any problems you've encountered. What we won't do, though, is give you a hassle if the time comes you want to go back to what you had.
If you'd like to learn more, check out our site at www.coaltroldigital.com, call us at 315-299-3589, or feel free to ask some more questions here or in a private message. You can also order off our website or over the phone.
Lastly, if you (or anyone else reading this, for that matter) are in the Central New York area, we will be attending the open house at Dennis Coal & Stove this year, once again. We'll also probably be helping out at one or more of the stove dealer booths at the NY State Fair, too. We generally offer discounts for purchases made at the show, you'll get to talk to us one on one, can watch us do installations on stoves being sold at the show, and if you're buying a stove at the show you can opt to have us install it before you leave or come back to pick it up.
Thanks for considering the Coal-trol, Albert, hope to hear from you soon!
Last edited by pvolcko on Sat. Apr. 01, 2017 3:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
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