Heat Jacket on LL Hyfire I

Finally after some thought and a couple designs, I had a local sheet metal shop fab up a few panels (2 side, front and top) for my heat jacket. I had them put 2 - 8" opening in the top. WOW, it turned out really well!

I put a 4" hole in the bottom of each side, and plumbed to a separate small blower, so it still uses the stock blowers for the back, top and thru the heat ducts (now open to the front part of the plenum) and the separate blower for the sides.

So far, it seems to work great, more heat upstairs, it is maintaining 68 degrees (Setpoint) and only using the 40K burner, it was 28 out last night!! Can't wait to fire up both burners, it will really crank.

Looks good Dave.

Nice work!

Does it connect up to a central duct system or just dump the warm air upstairs at one place?

Thanks
Unfortunately, It is just plumbed one place (8") thru the existing 36" Square convection furnance opening which is in the center of the house. I don't have any other duct system.

I have the extra port to plumb to another location if needed. but so far, not needed.

Looks great Dave,, I guess I'll have to find something else to tease you about !!

Is the basement noticably cooler??

Did you hook the inlet side of the new 4" fans to a 'return duct' ?

More photos from different angles please!! and a good close up of your duct attached to the distribution fan inlets... These will be helpful for answering the frequently asked questions about how to move and distribute heat...

Great job..

Are the cats all sleeping on the floor register/grate??

Greg L

My jacket feeds air from the basement/shop/crawl space pulled by the oil fired furnace fan. Last winter I experiment disconnecting registers from the furnace, the registers then became cold air returns back to the basement. My shop where the coal stove sits would range from 62 to 67 depending on the weather, while the upstairs living area maintained a steady 70 degrees. Every corner of the living area was comfortable and the shop temperature was perfect for watching the coal burn.

It;s working quite well, it maintained 68 last night with only the 40K burner, it got down to 24 degrees, it was cranking pretty good, but kept the temp stayed pretty constant. I think it's going to work great! I am going to try the 90K burner next to see how much more it will put out, even at Idle, it pushing quite a bit of hot air upstairs.

I will put a temp. switch on the bonnet temp to control that blower with my old rheostat(s) I took off the stove to keep it blowing slower/faster when needed. !!

The basement is much cooler now (60-65) since I am not loosing any heat from the sides. It would normally get 65-70+.

Hi Dave, no reason for all the heat in the basement, unless you are going to put a hot tub down there!!

Sounds like it is working like we hoped it would..

Greg L

Any new reports with the cold [er] weather?

Greg L

I just got my adjustable Snap switch for jacket and wired a box, plug, override switch and the temp. switch to the extra blower, but I think I need a lower setting, I got the 140-180, and it cycles on/off a lot, but it kicking out the heat!! The stove isn't cranking much, it might work better once it gets hotter. I drilled a hole in the side and mounted on the side, put a small piece of foil around it to try keep it out of the direct air flow.' But when the other blower kick on, it lowers the temp too. I think I need the 100-140 adjustable. Just have to experiment.....

Even on idle, with no blowers, it kicking up 140-180 upstairs!! I think it was only 110-130 last winter even cranking.
Most was lost in the basement.....I may have to put a extra vent/damper to put a little heat in the basement, it hasn't really gotten cold outside yet, but time will tel. Only down in the hi 20's a couple times. It was just 60 here on sunday.