IT'S ALIVE!!!!!

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:54 pm

After another weekend spent putzing with the Keystoker, I am proud to say it is finished (well, OK, ALMOST finished). Yesterday and today were spent installing all the gaskets, the window glass, and reassembly of all the electrical controls and blowers to the back of the stove. Fortunately, everything went back together pretty smoothly, and after a few glitches, it all powered right up. Also blew out a big cloud of ash and rust all over the carpet from the air vent on the front. OOOOPS! :shock:

But, overall, I'm surprised it's fairly quiet, even with the direct vent not connected to anything yet. Still have to do a little sealing around that part with some high temp silicone RTV.

Now it's just installation.....which should be another weekend project.

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:58 pm

Some more pics.

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:00 pm

One last pic - this was about HALF what was under the grate plate.

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:41 pm

For those counting watts, I ran a few numbers from my Watt Miser:

1) Just the direct vent blower - 71 watts
2) DV blower, stoker motor, and combustion blower - 129 watts
3) Add in the convection blower - 241 watts TOTAL for the entire show.

That's quite a bit better than I expected, especially for the DV blower alone, which runs 100% of the time.

Some other observations - the previous owner had a speed control wired to the direct vent motor, and from where it was marked on the dial, turned down pretty far. I wired it to run full speed, and will have to see what sort of draft I end up with once she's running with a fire. Maybe it was needed? I don't know why it would have been, and it's not stock.

My intention is to use the speed control instead to control the convection blower. That would be nice to run at a slower speed during periods when you want less noise.

Lastly, I have the stoker motor and combustion blower wired together, as it originally was - "tri-burner" style. I did run an extra wire so I could split the combustion motor off and have it run with the direct vent 100% duty cycle. Might be an interesting experiment.

Chris

LsFarm · By: **LsFarm** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:10 pm

Very nice job Chris, do you want to 'borrow' my AA boiler for a month and make it look new like your Keystoker???

Greg L

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:41 pm

Thanks for the thought, Greg.....I'll take that as a compliment!

But, um, I'll have to pass on your offer

.

I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. I'll be even more proud when it's actually burning a real fire. But, I had no idea I'd pour this much work into it when I started out. Still worth it, though, as not too many other people have the skills and patience to do something like this (and a demented sense of what 'fun' is.....)

Chris

Matthaus · By: **Matthaus** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:13 am

Nice looking Stove ya got there!

I am in the middle of redoing 8 (2 Harmans, 4 Alaskas, and 2 Keystokers) a few of which are worse than your Keystoker. The weather was supposed to be cool so that the sandblasting was not so miserable... just my luck we have 82* flippin weather as soon as I started.

I think you will find that the variable speed control will be needed on the direct vent, unless of course the piping has lots of els. Just remember to seal the pipes inside with hi temp RTV and tape, since it is pressurized you don't want any leaks. :!:

Have fun with the science project of getting it to run the way you want, that is the reward for your patience and skill, plus you get to watch the blue dancers (the most fun of all!). :lol:

Rex · By: **Rex** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:31 am

europachris wrote:For those counting watts, I ran a few numbers from my Watt Miser:

1) Just the direct vent blower - 71 watts
2) DV blower, stoker motor, and combustion blower - 129 watts
3) Add in the convection blower - 241 watts for the entire show.

That's quite a bit better than I expected, especially for the DV blower alone, which runs 100% of the time.

Chris

So you looking around 20 amps while running?

dang.

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:58 am

Rex wrote:
So you looking around 20 amps while running?

dang.

No, actually 2 amps. volts x amps = watts. I was surprised it was so little draw.

Chris

Matthaus · By: **Matthaus** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:03 am

Rex wrote:So you looking around 20 amps while running?
dang.

Actually Power consumption =volts times amps figuring 120 volts and a total power of 340 watts equals amperage of 2.84. Not too bad.

OOPS! I'm a little slow! :oops:

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:03 am

[quote="Matthaus"]

I think you will find that the variable speed control will be needed on the direct vent, unless of course the piping has lots of els. Just remember to seal the pipes inside with hi temp RTV and tape, since it is pressurized you don't want any leaks. :!:

[quote]

Interesting. I was surprised at how much air comes out of the direct vent blower. I'll have to see what sort of draft I end up with. I'm wondering if somehow the original owner was running too little draft which contributed to the stove getting so fully packed with fly ash?

Looks like I'll need to purchase an additional speed controller for the convection blower, too, so I have the potential to add one to both motors.

Chris

Rex · By: **Rex** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:09 am

Matthaus wrote:
Rex wrote:So you looking around 20 amps while running?
dang.

Actually Power consumption =volts times amps figuring 120 volts and a total power of 340 watts equals amperage of 2.84. Not too bad.

OOPS! I'm a little slow!

Yes.. I stand corrected.. Hit the wrong numbers into the old calculator..

Matthaus · By: **Matthaus** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:11 am

Actually what I heard about the previous owner (an Amish fella) was that he just ran the stove, no maint!

I have a good source for quality controllers: http://www.electricmotorwarehouse.com/

europachris · By: **europachris** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:17 am

Matthaus wrote:
Actually Power consumption =volts times amps figuring 120 volts and a total power of 340 watts equals amperage of 2.84. Not too bad.

Actually, it's only 240 watts total draw, so even better!

Matthaus · By: **Matthaus** On: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:24 am

ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I guess I read the total as the power consumption of the convection blower, see what happens when you don't look carefully! :oops:

Where did you get your Watt Miser and how much?