KAA-2 Boiler Does Not Have a Option for Oil Burner

I had seriously considered the oil burner option for my Harman VF3K, right now, I can't quite justify the expense to add the oil burner when oil is topping $4 a gallon, but if you are currently heating with oil, it isn't that much more expensive. I too agree that a lot of potential home buyers might be put off with a coal fired heating system, most people I tell about coal think black smoke must pour out of my chimney.

The Harman oil kit consists of Wayne oil burner, firing at .75gph, they rate the efficiency at about 84% when properly set up. It mounts to the fire door opening, and has a micro switch which cuts off the burner when the door is opened. Like the EFM you can't fire on oil and coal at the same time, there is a cover which must be placed over the end of the gun when coal is being burned.

I am very happy with my boiler, but you would probably be well served with the Keystoker KA6 or the EFM 520.

Thanks for the info.
I have a 6" SS chimney on my P68 weil mclain boiler.
Wanting to use the existing chimney (6") I found that the VF3000 calls for a 6"pipe.
although in the specs it says 7"flue.

K6 calls for a 8x8 inch chimney
I also read that the k6 sometimes goes out when it idles back during the summer.

I went to Keystoker's factory to check out the Kaa2 and K6. They told me they could both be direct vented. I was quoted $4,000.00 for a Kaa2 with the direct vent kit and all controls to operate the boiler. As I don't have a chimney I am seriously considering the kaa2 with the direct vent. Does any one here have any experience direct venting a boiler ? I already ripped out the oil tank to make room (actually just moved it carefully ). Just got done drilling new holes through my foundation for the new oil fill pipes tonight but hope I don't need them much. I plan on hooking the boilers up tandem, oil as back up. The oil boiler is only 7 years old, I hope to only feed it another 100 gallons or so .

concretewolf wrote:I went to Keystoker's factory to check out the Kaa2 and K6. They told me they could both be direct vented. I was quoted $4,000.00 for a Kaa2 with the direct vent kit and all controls to operate the boiler. As I don't have a chimney I am seriously considering the kaa2 with the direct vent. Does any one here have any experience direct venting a boiler .

I am in the same boat as you learning on this forum, every time I read about someone direct venting a coal boiler they suggest using the chimney for the coal boiler and direct venting the oil boiler. since the oil boiler will usually never be running . if you direct vent the coal boiler it will be running 24/7.

My oil boiler is direct vented, my house has NO chimney! That is why the keystoker seems so attractive. I was concerned with what happens to the gases when idling, keystoker kaa2 comes with a timer that fires the boiler every 15 minutes or so regardless of the load being pulled, this is what I understand keeps it lit. All this is second hand knowledge as I have no experience with coal boilers. I need to learn.

With any coal stoker / boiler you will need a Timer on it to run in the summer time to keep the fire going Most will be
a 30min or a 1 hr. timer if you use a 30min timer you will set it to run 2 to 3 min every 30min A 1 hr. timer would be
4 to 6 min on the Hour Now some will be less or some might be more It will depend on a few things How well is your draft in the Chimney and how Much hot water you use if you are heating hot water with the stoker The more hot water you use well then you would set the timer for less mins per 30mins or less mins on the 1hr.timer because the fire will be firing more to heat the water if you do not use a lot of water then you would set the timers to run more mins on the 1 hr. timer and the same goes for the 30min timer You will have to find the right setting when you hook the stoker/boiler up Not every ones will be the same Some will be more some will be less

concretewolf wrote:My oil boiler is direct vented, my house has NO chimney! That is why the keystoker seems so attractive. I was concerned with what happens to the gases when idling, keystoker kaa2 comes with a timer that fires the boiler every 15 minutes or so regardless of the load being pulled, this is what I understand keeps it lit. All this is second hand knowledge as I have no experience with coal boilers. I need to learn.

From what I have gathered is the direct vent will always be running even when the coal boiler is idling.
I have been reading in this forum for a week and I haven't come across a KAA-2 with direct vent.
You will be the first one, I hope you keep us posted on how it goes.

coal berner wrote:With any coal stoker / boiler you will need a Timer on it to run in the summer time to keep the fire going Most will be
a 30min or a 1 hr. timer if you use a 30min timer you will set it to run 2 to 3 min every 30min A 1 hr. timer would be
4 to 6 min on the Hour Now some will be less or some might be more It will depend on a few things How well is your draft in the Chimney and how Much hot water you use if you are heating hot water with the stoker The more hot water you use well then you would set the timer for less mins per 30mins or less mins on the 1hr.timer because the fire will be firing more to heat the water if you do not use a lot of water then you would set the timers to run more mins on the 1 hr. timer and the same goes for the 30min timer You will have to find the right setting when you hook the stoker/boiler up Not every ones will be the same Some will be more some will be less

This is interesting, what if you set it for no one is using any hot water for 48 hrs.
Can the coal stoker stay lit if no one calls for heat or hot water for 2 days?

This may happen to my coal boiler because the solar hot water will make all the hot water I need.

To answer your question about the fire staying lit, the answer is yes.. the timer will 'rev-up' the fire every 30 minutes to keep it burning, and it can do this for all summer.

I have an Axeman Anderson 260 boiler,, I have a timer set to run the boiler for 1 minute every 30 minutes. This is maintaining a fire even during 75* weather, and no hot water use in 24 hours. [just a morning shower each day].

The items needed to keep a coal fire burning are fuel, air supply and sustained heat. So with a timer set to run every 30 minutes, the stoker will feed some coal to the fire, and with a modern stoker, there is a constant running combustion blower providing air. With constant air, and some added fuel every 30 minutes, the fire will be maintained..

Hope this helps,, Greg L

.