Calling All S-130 Owners

 
rychw
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Joined: Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 2:23 pm
Location: Sykesville, MD
Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by rychw » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 2:44 pm

I had that very same reaction the day I fired my S130 up for the first time. I was an oil burner for years and the recovery time is much faster since the oil fire is instantaneous and the coal fire has to build. It takes getting used to especially if you have a domestic hot water coil but the saving for me this year alone will be at least $3000. I will be ahaed of the game next heating season having recouped the cost of the boiler in 2 1/2 heating seasons. I expected it to take 5 years!!! There is nothing more satisfying than hearing the oil truck back up to all my neighbors houses. I used to get an ulcer when I heard that sound and when ever I heard that oil boiler fire up. Now I smile when my S130 comes on and I spend more time in the furnace room than ever before. Happy heating with coal.

 
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beatle78
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Post by beatle78 » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 3:00 pm

Wotseurba wrote: beatle78:
I attached the AHS outline drawing for you, I hope this helps.
Thanks, yep that was the number I was looking for.......

So that REALLY bites, The exhaust outlet is 2" higher than my flu inlet on my chimney. I would have to do some masonry work in order to even consider this boiler grrrrrrrrr.

 
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LsFarm
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 3:23 pm

Putting a hole in a masonry chimney is not a difficult task, just some work. You use a hammer and chisel or better, use a masonry drill to make the circle for the thimble, then break out the brick, and flue liner with the hammer and chisel.. If you make a larger opening than planned, just use redi-mix mortar to shrink the opening size...

I certainly wouldn't let something so simple determine which boiler to buy. More importantly, do you have enough ceiling height to fill the AHS S130's coal hopper? It's fairly high.

Greg L.


 
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beatle78
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Post by beatle78 » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 3:33 pm

LsFarm wrote:Putting a hole in a masonry chimney is not a difficult task, just some work. You use a hammer and chisel or better, use a masonry drill to make the circle for the thimble, then break out the brick, and flue liner with the hammer and chisel.. If you make a larger opening than planned, just use redi-mix mortar to shrink the opening size...

I certainly wouldn't let something so simple determine which boiler to buy. More importantly, do you have enough ceiling height to fill the AHS S130's coal hopper? It's fairly high.

Greg L.
Yah you're right. I always hesitate taking on a task for the first time.

I think my basement ceiling is +-~7.5' high.

I see the height depending on the hopper size is 60", 64" 70"

Does anyone know what the 250lb hopper size is according to that height chart? If 60" is 250lbs, I think that would leave me with enough height.

 
Bob
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Posts: 304
Joined: Sun. Mar. 18, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Schuylkill County
Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Anthracite

Post by Bob » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 6:33 pm

Wotseurba wrote:In reagrds to temperature settings, I have left all of the aquastats settings as they cane from the factory. The operating aquastat came factory set at 180. I don't remember the settings of the over-temp & over-temp pump settings. My "owners manual" (term used loosly) does not mention temperature settings,
If you just purchased your boiler you should have received the manual published in 2007. Look on the cover page of the manual --at the text to the right of the exclamation point that starts out WARNING.

I started out with the operating setting at 180 and found that I was frequently going over 200 and activating the override circuit. Since I lowered the operating temp to 160 that is much less of a problem.

 
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Wotseurba
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Post by Wotseurba » Mon. Feb. 04, 2008 9:40 pm

Bob:
Thanks for the heads-up an the possibility of an updated manual. I ordered my S-130 February 2007, took delivery in July. I'm going to call Jeff at AHS Tuesday to discuss a few things anyway, I'll be sure to ask if the current manual is different from what was shipped with my unit.

BTW, my over-temp aquastat is factory set at 210, and the pump overide temp is set at 220, which looks like maximum setting.
Brian


 
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beatle78
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Post by beatle78 » Tue. Feb. 05, 2008 8:36 am

Does AHS have a soft copy of their manual? If so, could someone post it here? They must have it in PDF somewhere.

Thanks!

 
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Yanche
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Posts: 3026
Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2005 12:45 pm
Location: Sykesville, Maryland
Stoker Coal Boiler: Alternate Heating Systems S-130
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Pea

Post by Yanche » Tue. Feb. 05, 2008 4:27 pm

beatle78 wrote:Hi guys,

Did I read that correctly? There is no bottom on the AHS 130 and the ashpan sits directly on the floor????

Also, can anyone tell me the height from the ground to the flu outlet to the chimney and an AHS 130? I only have 43" to my chimney and the AHS 130 is one of my finalists. :)
I have a similar height limitation on my chimney thimble. It's a 6" ID clay thimble. On my AHS S130 I used a slightly cut down 5" single wall stovepile adjustable elbow. Measured from the floor the top of this elbow is 49-1/2 inches off the floor. My exhaust pipe has a slight rise to the thimble. The 5" pipe is cemented in the 6" thimble with all the cement in the bottom of the thimble raising the pipe as high as possible.

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