It's Getting Cold. Burning Soon...
- ShawnTRD
- Member
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 1:04 am
- Location: Spencer, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA6 (New in April 2014)
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice
- Other Heating: Weil Mclain WGO-2 (Net 75k BTU)
Anyone turned on the heat yet? My KA6 should be plumbed in on Wednesday. Any recommendation for startup settings? The system will be in series with my fuel oil boiler. With I guess a circulation loop keeping the fuel oil boiler heated 24/7. And if the water drops in temp the fuel oil will kick in. Does this sound like good setup?
- davidmcbeth3
- Member
- Posts: 8505
- Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
- Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra
I won't let a 2-3 day cold snap rushing me to start burning that black gold .... a sweater will do
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
Use the settings that Keystoker recommends in the manual on page 3. Set the timer for 1 minute every 15 minutes.
My heat kicked on several times yesterday, but that's what happens when it is 50 degrees with roaring wind. As I mentioned in you other thread:
My heat kicked on several times yesterday, but that's what happens when it is 50 degrees with roaring wind. As I mentioned in you other thread:
You DO NOT want a new boiler sitting around full of oxygen rich water.Rob R. wrote:Your system will be full of fresh water, you need to fire the KA-6 up immediately after the install and get everything up to temperature. I would let it run and enjoy the hot water and warm basement.
Fired up the VIG II yesterday morning as it was 49 and Momma showed up downstairs in her winter robe and slippers with
"The Look." That told me it was time to light the stove. Since this was my first fire in this stove it took a bit to get it dialed in to the lowest burn I could get. The temp shot up yesterday and I let it go out.
Fired it off again last night and got up this morning to a nice gentle heat.
46 outside... 70 upstairs and all three bedrooms.... 72 in the living room and dining room. The stove is in the dining room. Regulating temps with judicious use of windowstats.
Rev. Larry
New Beginning Church
Ashland Pa.
"The Look." That told me it was time to light the stove. Since this was my first fire in this stove it took a bit to get it dialed in to the lowest burn I could get. The temp shot up yesterday and I let it go out.
Fired it off again last night and got up this morning to a nice gentle heat.
46 outside... 70 upstairs and all three bedrooms.... 72 in the living room and dining room. The stove is in the dining room. Regulating temps with judicious use of windowstats.
Rev. Larry
New Beginning Church
Ashland Pa.
- anthony7812
- Member
- Posts: 5154
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 12, 2011 2:04 pm
- Location: Colley,Pennsylvania
- Stoker Coal Boiler: VanWert VA 400
- Coal Size/Type: Buck/Anthracite
Today im hoping to wrap up loose ends and start a "test fire". Who knows how long the test fire will last
- ShawnTRD
- Member
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 1:04 am
- Location: Spencer, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA6 (New in April 2014)
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice
- Other Heating: Weil Mclain WGO-2 (Net 75k BTU)
Yup firing it up will be the plan. My father in-law said he's had trouble with over heating in the warmer parts of the season. I think he said his timer is set 4 pins ever 15 minutes. So that got me thinking. Is there anyway to setup a high temperature switch to turn on the zone pumps? This way if the boiler runs high the main zone kicks on and tries to cool it off.
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
You need to sit down and read the manual. They clearly tell you to install the L4006B aquastat to activate a dump zone.
You should be able to get things adjusted so that the dump zone does not activate while the boiler is idling. Some guys run the timer 45 seconds every 15 minutes with good results.
You should be able to get things adjusted so that the dump zone does not activate while the boiler is idling. Some guys run the timer 45 seconds every 15 minutes with good results.
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- Member
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Thu. Feb. 28, 2008 9:40 am
- Location: South Central, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1953 EFM520 Highboy
As Rob said you MUST fire that boiler when filling with Fresh Water.... all it is doing in there is breaking down your boiler slowly until that point....
I have started my stoker on or about Oct 10th every year in the last 6 except 1 year, when I was installing my Radiant heat zones and that put me back a little on start up.
This year I guess the weather guessers are saying its to be colder earlier so who knows. Maybe it'll be sooner than later!
I have started my stoker on or about Oct 10th every year in the last 6 except 1 year, when I was installing my Radiant heat zones and that put me back a little on start up.
This year I guess the weather guessers are saying its to be colder earlier so who knows. Maybe it'll be sooner than later!
- ShawnTRD
- Member
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 1:04 am
- Location: Spencer, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA6 (New in April 2014)
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice
- Other Heating: Weil Mclain WGO-2 (Net 75k BTU)
Got it.
HIGH LIMIT AQUASTAT – This control should be mounted in bypass loop above boiler. This acts only as a safety control and should be set at least 220 degrees. If boiler temperature becomes too high, this control starts circulator pump to relieve boiler temperature and will heat radiators, acting as a signal. If this condition occurs, refer to overheating
HIGH LIMIT AQUASTAT – This control should be mounted in bypass loop above boiler. This acts only as a safety control and should be set at least 220 degrees. If boiler temperature becomes too high, this control starts circulator pump to relieve boiler temperature and will heat radiators, acting as a signal. If this condition occurs, refer to overheating
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- Member
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 10, 2011 4:38 pm
- Location: Central PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Burnham SFB 101 (sold)
This is how my timer was set when I got my boiler from keystoker. So far, so good.. I fired up friday night saturday I saw outside temps of 70f and boiler water temps of 210f - 215f today so far the high has been 68f and boiler water temp is hovering at 150f - 160f. The only real difference I see is draft seems to be a little better today.Rob R. wrote: Some guys run the timer 45 seconds every 15 minutes with good results.
- michaelanthony
- Member
- Posts: 4550
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 10:42 pm
- Location: millinocket,me.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant 2310, gold marc box stove
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Gold Marc Independence
- Baseburners & Antiques: Home Sparkle 12
- Coal Size/Type: 'nut
- Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace
Ok time to pick up some coal tomorrow and get a couple ton's delivered, my co-worker had to buy oil today he said 100 gallons will last 3 weeks my first ton will last at least 8-10 weeks for less money...and my house will be warmer!
- Wiz
- Member
- Posts: 926
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 27, 2011 8:45 pm
- Location: Tannersville Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker Ka 6
- Coal Size/Type: Casey Junk Coal :(
You'll be trying allot of different set ups to get the best performance, do small adjustments. You'll need to do loop like Rob mention 4006b. Also keystoker recommends a 4006a thats straps onto oil burner water pipe. This will help k6 if you haven't seen them. Keystoker KA-6 Operation Guide.ShawnTRD wrote:Anyone turned on the heat yet? My KA6 should be plumbed in on Wednesday. Any recommendation for startup settings? The system will be in series with my fuel oil boiler. With I guess a circulation loop keeping the fuel oil boiler heated 24/7. And if the water drops in temp the fuel oil will kick in. Does this sound like good setup?
We hit 32 deg f Monday early am so I fired up the SuperMag and all is great. I don't know if I'll be shutting it down this season. Looks chilly all week and so on. The Mag idles down so nice and being in the basement it works well with keeping the basement ok and upstairs fine as well in these temps.