Time for the Pros to Chime in PLESE

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 2:16 pm

pacoalroller wrote:Don't quote me but I thought I read so somewhere that a 700 is 400,000 btus. Which would be enough. But does anyone have one forsale?

The S-30 stoker in a 700 has a rated capacity of 30 lb/hr, which I would translate to a gross boiler input of about 330k btu/hr. The S-30 shares many components, including the burn pot, with its predecessor, the 16A conversion stoker, which was rated at 26 lb/hr. I've never heard an explanation of the source of the difference between the 26 lb vs 30 lb ratings. In my experience the S-30 may have trouble getting to 30 lb, so the 26 lb number (about 287k btu/hr gross boiler input) might be more robust.

The last time I had an S-30 to sell, it had been used for a few years after being reconditioned, and it was bought from me by an EFM dealer for $2750 cash. Anyone looking to buy one should check the condition carefully, as I think the last of the new ones were made in about 1978, so they all potentially have had at least 35 years of use.

Mike

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 2:23 pm

Pacowy,is the 330k BTU of the EFM700 as much as the National sectional boiler is capable of ? OR,is a hand fed only good for its max rating a few hrs of the burn cycle because of ash building up . A stoker like the 700 would be capable of running at the max indefinitely Do I have this idea correct ?.How about putting 2 520 stokers into the sectional boiler ?

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 2:50 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote:Pacowy,is the 330k BTU of the EFM700 as much as the National sectional boiler is capable of ? OR,is a hand fed only good for its max rating a few hrs of the burn cycle because of ash building up . A stoker like the 700 would be capable of running at the max indefinitely Do I have this idea correct ?.How about putting 2 520 stokers into the sectional boiler ?

I don't have ratings info on National boilers (and would be more comfortable with the 287 number than the 330 number, as mentioned above). I think you are correct that maintaining max output is more easily achieved with a (properly-sized) stoker than with hand-firing. The 520 stokers do not have rotating pots (or ash cutters), and therefore require greater clearance than do rotating pot units like the S-30/700 stoker or 16A conversion stoker. I'd want to look more closely at the dimensions to reach a conclusion about the concept of using two 520 stokers.

Mike

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 3:31 pm

If each section is worth about 35k BTU x 9 sections would put this one in the 300k BTU ball park,but then that figure would be at the hand fed's max firing ,so a 700 pot with the capability of maintaining it's max continuously would be far more capable for the 24 hr duration . pacoalroller did say that he would like to keep the Koker for quick heat-up off the shop,so maybe the 700 stoker & the Koker would handle all the heating needs.

pacoalroller · Post by **pacoalroller** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 3:35 pm

Yes I want to keep the koker in my large shop area because the forced air is quicker heat than the radiators. I think with out a doubt a 700 unit would be my fix all!!

Scottscoaled · Post by **Scottscoaled** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 4:50 pm

All the experts here seem to think a 700 will fit the bill nicely. I'm sort of doubting that because I know the only way that it will burn enough coal to meet the 30 lb / hr expectation would be to have a fast burning coal. I tried with my 700 to get an 8 teeth setting to work with some Jeddo which isn't a fast burning coal and it walked the fire right off the edge of the pot. There is also the space thing with putting a new style stoker in the bottom of the boiler. It isn't just a matter of sticking one in the door. No,,,,,, I don't think a 700 will fit the bill. I also know that it would take major reconstruction to use 520 stokers under the boiler. It is a simple space problem. A base to support them would have to be built, the boiler disconnected and lifted. Lots of work. Expensive. Fact is, that a stoker will fire coal to a higher temperature than a handfed. So what ever rating the hand fed would have is based a a slower, lazy fire. A stoker, a conversion stoker, wouldn't have to be capable of running at full bore to satisfy this boiler. This isn't something new. These things have been around for a long time. It would make the ashes easy to deal with and give you a better efficientsy than your hand fired. Cheaper too.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 5:47 pm

Well,... if only an expert would post an answer

Scott,i read your post several times & can't find the answer

A 700 won't work because ?? Will 1 520 work ?? Any Van Wert work ?? Will ANYTHING work ?? Should he just hammer the sectional unit to pieces & install a big Keystoker & then use an auger to feed the hopper ?? We are waiting for an answer,don't leave us hanging

Scottscoaled · Post by **Scottscoaled** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 5:49 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote:Well,... if only an expert would post an answer Scott,i read your post several times & can't find the answer A 700 won't work because ?? Will 1 520 work ?? Any Van Wert work ?? Will ANYTHING work ?? Should he just hammer the sectional unit to pieces & install a big Keystoker & then use an auger to feed the hopper ?? We are waiting for an answer,don't leave us hanging

I thought I was pretty clear about what would work

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 5:52 pm

Scottscoaled wrote:All the experts here seem to think a 700 will fit the bill nicely. I'm sort of doubting that because I know the only way that it will burn enough coal to meet the 30 lb / hr expectation would be to have a fast burning coal. I tried with mine to get a 8 teeth setting to work with some Jeddo which isn't a fast burning coal and it walked the fire right off the edge of the pot. There is also the space thing with putting a new style stoker in the bottom of the boiler. It isn't just a matter of sticking one in the door. No,,,,,, I don't think a 700 will fit the bill. I know that it would take major reconstruction to use two 520 stokers in parallel under the boiler. It is a simple space problem. A base to support them would have to be built, the boiler disconnected and lifted. Lots of work. Expensive. Fact is, that a stoker will fire coal to a higher temperature than a handfed. So what ever rating the hand fed would have is based a a slower, lazy fire. A stoker, a conversion stoker, wouldn't have to be capable of running at full bore to satisfy this boiler. This isn't something new. These things have been around for a long time. It would make the ashes easy to deal with and give you a better efficientsy than your handfired. Cheaper too.

Yes I think it would be cheaper and easier in your case to get a good used boiler,keep looking for one since you need one,but can wait untill one shows up For Sale Coal Boilers, Furnaces, Stoves and Heating Related Items Member "Glenn Harris" seems to have used efm 700's listed occasionally.In order to fit an efm pot in the National the base would have to be raised to get a ash pan underneath,meaning the boiler would have to be shut down and that's not an option at this time of the year,

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 5:53 pm

My computer must have a grudge with you ,it didn't let the answer come thru

Scottscoaled · Post by **Scottscoaled** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 5:56 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote:Well,... if only an expert would post an answer Scott,i read your post several times & can't find the answer A 700 won't work because ?? Will 1 520 work ?? Any Van Wert work ?? Will ANYTHING work ?? Should he just hammer the sectional unit to pieces & install a big Keystoker & then use an auger to feed the hopper ?? We are waiting for an answer,don't leave us hanging

You have experience with,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1 residential boiler, and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1 crane 404. Enough said.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 6:00 pm

Well Scott,i have tried to generate some sensible help for the OP ,but you are now being totally unreasonable. I have read your post several times & can not find your answer for his needs. You say that a 700 WILL NOT work,what will ??

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 6:02 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote:Well,... if only an expert would post an answer Scott,i read your post several times & can't find the answer A 700 won't work because ?? Will 1 520 work ?? Any Van Wert work ?? Will ANYTHING work ?? Should he just hammer the sectional unit to pieces & install a big Keystoker & then use an auger to feed the hopper ?? We are waiting for an answer,don't leave us hanging

I'm certinly no expert, with time and money anything will work,BUT money is an important issue and with 22 tons of coal being burned a year, effecency is also a very big important thing not to be over looked.Many good used boilers are advertised here,so keep looking for a good deal to come along and when winters over and theres no chance of freezing and bursting pipes,then swap out your boiler and enjoy your spare time instead of feeding the fire all day long

Coalfire · Post by **Coalfire** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 6:13 pm

I think the second post in about Talking to keystoker is very sound advice, They have without a doubt the boiler to fill his need, and if they didn't have a good product they would be out of business. So with that in mind what say everyone? New the keystokers seem to be priced very well.

Eric

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 14, 2014 6:19 pm

Yep ,Coalfire ,the Keystoker sounds like the logical choice for a replacement unit.Better to buy a new unit than to go with an old refurbed unit with unknown life expectancy !! And they are local too !