Alaska Liberty Problems
Hi guys!, I have a situation, I have my Alaska Liberty running for 2 months now, and now is giving me trouble. for no particular reason the blower shuts down after an hour of operation, I have to constantly check on it so the coal does not go completely out. Yesterday I went down and even when I reseted it it did not start. Then I realized the exhaust blower was not working. and in a second it came back to life.... I manage to restart it, and after an hour, it died again. To make a long story short I have to check on the stove every hour to stay alive and not freeze to death. Is it time for a tech to look at it or there is something I Can do, like clean something? I start the coal with a bag of wood coal+mineral coal+paper. It has work so far but I run out of them.
Any Ideas?
Any Ideas?
- WNY
- Member
- Posts: 6307
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 14, 2005 8:40 am
- Location: Cuba, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90K, Leisure Line Hyfire I
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Contact:
is it a new stove? If so, YES, have someone look at it.
I assume you are talking about the combustion blower? Does it run directly 100% or does it vary with the Coal Feed control?
Sounds like the motors may need oiled. They may be heating up and thermally shutting down.
Do you have a baro damper installed and/or power vent?
I assume you are talking about the combustion blower? Does it run directly 100% or does it vary with the Coal Feed control?
Sounds like the motors may need oiled. They may be heating up and thermally shutting down.
Do you have a baro damper installed and/or power vent?
Yes it's a new stove, I'm trying for 3 days to get the the seller to inspect it. I just find out that the power vent is shutting off so then the blower does. Now if I leave the feeder in 2 it keeps on running but if I go to 4 the power vent shuts down. After 12 min or so, it kicks back on, and if I catch it I can reset the fume switch and the coal burns again, but if I don't well, is the restart game.
I have a Baro damper installed just above the top of the stove the instructions said to leave it .02- 0.4 but I don't know how to do that.
Also I have not touch the power vent at all, and according to the manual it says to oil it and clean it, do I have to do that?after 3 months operating?
Thanks for any info
I have a Baro damper installed just above the top of the stove the instructions said to leave it .02- 0.4 but I don't know how to do that.
Also I have not touch the power vent at all, and according to the manual it says to oil it and clean it, do I have to do that?after 3 months operating?
Thanks for any info
- WNY
- Member
- Posts: 6307
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 14, 2005 8:40 am
- Location: Cuba, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90K, Leisure Line Hyfire I
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Contact:
if you are having problems with the draft and it shutting down, then yes, you have to clean the power vent, they do get built up with ash and will decrease the performance, thus causing the draft not to be removed from the stove and tripping the flue switch. But if the flue switch is tripping, the stove is not exhausting the gases correctly.
You need to get a draft gauge (manometer) and actually check what your stove exhaust is doing on a full burn, you may not have enough exhaust being pulled out of the stove, therefore tripping the stove off. The installer (if professionally) installed, should have checked all of this. The baro should have a weight on it, it should be between the 2 and 4 marks (if the RC type from field controls), that will get you close.
Also, how far of a run is your exhaust in feet and elbows, etc...?
Do you have a pic of your setup, maybe we can see something we are missing.
You need to get a draft gauge (manometer) and actually check what your stove exhaust is doing on a full burn, you may not have enough exhaust being pulled out of the stove, therefore tripping the stove off. The installer (if professionally) installed, should have checked all of this. The baro should have a weight on it, it should be between the 2 and 4 marks (if the RC type from field controls), that will get you close.
Also, how far of a run is your exhaust in feet and elbows, etc...?
Do you have a pic of your setup, maybe we can see something we are missing.
OK, I will ask my husband to clean it up, since the power vent is under the deck I'm sure he'll have fun doing that.
is the power vent that shuts down if I set the speed over 3 Now is there a procedure to clean I have a book that says how to disassemble the unit to clean the head, sounds challenging, can I just clean the thing from the outside without taking it apart?If we don't succeed I guess we'll have to just wait for the guy who sold me the stove he should have a "draft gauge" and for now endure the 60 degrees we have inside the house.
This gentleman sold me and installed for me the stove.
I'm attaching the pics you requested. Hope they would help sir, I did not understand what does" RCtype from field controls" means, I apologize My husband and I know nothing about complicated machinery.
photo 1the damper we have never touched
photo 2 The fume switch gets heat from the hole I marked is this normal? I mean the cable hanging from it get a bit hot
photo 3the pipes coming out of the stove. The one on the back is the exhaust(really hot) and the one in the from is the pipe that throws the heated air to the house, But I bet you knew that. The yellow extension cord is connected to the power vent.Yes it goes thru a series of elbows and then into the hose. Can we insulate this pipe to get more heat in the house?
Thanks for your support
is the power vent that shuts down if I set the speed over 3 Now is there a procedure to clean I have a book that says how to disassemble the unit to clean the head, sounds challenging, can I just clean the thing from the outside without taking it apart?If we don't succeed I guess we'll have to just wait for the guy who sold me the stove he should have a "draft gauge" and for now endure the 60 degrees we have inside the house.
This gentleman sold me and installed for me the stove.
I'm attaching the pics you requested. Hope they would help sir, I did not understand what does" RCtype from field controls" means, I apologize My husband and I know nothing about complicated machinery.
photo 1the damper we have never touched
photo 2 The fume switch gets heat from the hole I marked is this normal? I mean the cable hanging from it get a bit hot
photo 3the pipes coming out of the stove. The one on the back is the exhaust(really hot) and the one in the from is the pipe that throws the heated air to the house, But I bet you knew that. The yellow extension cord is connected to the power vent.Yes it goes thru a series of elbows and then into the hose. Can we insulate this pipe to get more heat in the house?
Thanks for your support
Attachments
How hot is really hot. This pipe should only be in the 200* range when the stove is firing pretty hard. That makes me question what kind of a draft you are pulling on the stove. Maybe too much draft and wasting your coal.cool-coal wrote:pipes coming out of the stove. The one on the back is the exhaust(really hot)
I don't have a powervent but I have read here that some use a leaf blower to clean the powervent. It is supposed to be quick and easy. Maybe someone with the leaf blower experience will chime in.
Read this: Power Vent Rattling???
- jpen1
- Member
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 04, 2006 4:46 pm
- Location: Bloomsburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: LL110
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/ Buck
You definitely are having a draft problem, a lack of draft problem at this point. First of all you are at the limit or just beyond what is recomended for pipe lenghth on the power venter. As Jerry from leisure line stated they are only rated for 28 linear feet of pipe. Each 90* elbow reduces the linear pipe length by a factor of 11 linear feet . Being that your elbows aren't quite 90* that helps some So we'll say roughly 18' of the 28' are shot before adding in your straight sections. Now that being said when at the limit fly ash will collect at a faster rate in the pipe thus dropping the performance of the powervent considerably. The general rule of thumb iis to clean out a powervent once a month and in your case maybe bi-weekly. As for your baro damper they supplied you with the elcheapo model which you'll have no idea how to set it without a manometer. When you remove the smoke pipe make sure the baro damper is both level and plumb upon re-install as that will greatly afect the calibration of the device. Also you can save yourself the mess in the baesement by emptying your ash pan outside instead.
- WNY
- Member
- Posts: 6307
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 14, 2005 8:40 am
- Location: Cuba, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90K, Leisure Line Hyfire I
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Contact:
Does the damper open at all? it's probably set too heavy, BUT without a draft gauge, you don't know if it's even calibrated correctly. The Field controls RC damper has a weight scale to help set up correctly, but sounds like you are having a draft issue.
Get a mag. thermometer and check the temp of the stove (front) and the pipe and that will tell us if your stove/pipe is hot or not.
Get a mag. thermometer and check the temp of the stove (front) and the pipe and that will tell us if your stove/pipe is hot or not.
I went back and re-read your initial post and yes it seems you have a draft issue because of a dirty powerventer.
And do yourself and your house a favor and empty the ashpan outside. When that flyash gets some moisture from the air it will rust everything that is in your basement including your stove and will cause corrosion on things such as electrical outlets and light switches. Anything in the basement that has a motor will have a shortened life.
Yes it is a fact of life when you run the stove with a powervent. And you should probably do that every month.cool-coal wrote:Also I have not touch the power vent at all, and according to the manual it says to oil it and clean it, do I have to do that?after 3 months operating?
Why on earth did they put the powerventer under the deck? How high off of the ground is this deck?cool-coal wrote: I will ask my husband to clean it up, since the power vent is under the deck I'm sure he'll have fun doing that.
And do yourself and your house a favor and empty the ashpan outside. When that flyash gets some moisture from the air it will rust everything that is in your basement including your stove and will cause corrosion on things such as electrical outlets and light switches. Anything in the basement that has a motor will have a shortened life.
Hi guys!, finally the man who sold me the stove came yesterday, you guys where right, the damper was pretty much closed, he screwed the "thingy" in the damper and, the stove is running like a champ. According to him, this mixes the air in the basement with the one coming out of the stove thus, saving heat to go into the home.
I want to believe that's accurate. We put it all the way to 7 and it kept on running. How hot is it? don't know exactly but I spray water in the exhaust pipe and evaporates instantly, not so much on the pipe that gets into the house.Also he discovered the stove was not leveled,he forgot to do so when he installed it...maybe that was the reason why so much coal was dropped into the ash pan unburned "black" We corrected that situation and today it is all white, , after 2 tons of coal we might have savings . The good thing is he did not want any money for his visit, an I still have a ton and a 1/2.
Gambler, my husband cleaned the power vent for the exterior,with a little brush without taking it apart, and yes under the deck, and we will do so in a monthly fashion.
As for emptying the ash out side we will also, you are right, there is a lot of ashes flying and it can't be good to breathe.I promise I'll get a reading of the temp as soon as I can buy a digital thermometer. The deck is 2 feet from the ground.
Thank you all for replying the stove is working and I have my house at 65 again, our goal is 70. I will write again as soon as I have more data, manometer and temp.
I want to believe that's accurate. We put it all the way to 7 and it kept on running. How hot is it? don't know exactly but I spray water in the exhaust pipe and evaporates instantly, not so much on the pipe that gets into the house.Also he discovered the stove was not leveled,he forgot to do so when he installed it...maybe that was the reason why so much coal was dropped into the ash pan unburned "black" We corrected that situation and today it is all white, , after 2 tons of coal we might have savings . The good thing is he did not want any money for his visit, an I still have a ton and a 1/2.
Gambler, my husband cleaned the power vent for the exterior,with a little brush without taking it apart, and yes under the deck, and we will do so in a monthly fashion.
As for emptying the ash out side we will also, you are right, there is a lot of ashes flying and it can't be good to breathe.I promise I'll get a reading of the temp as soon as I can buy a digital thermometer. The deck is 2 feet from the ground.
Thank you all for replying the stove is working and I have my house at 65 again, our goal is 70. I will write again as soon as I have more data, manometer and temp.
Hi there, It has been a very cold week and we are heading for record low temps. These are the readings of the stove. I also included a photo of the grate, it shows the not only the shape and level of fire, with the stove set on #5 but it also shows the black coal I would say 10% goes thru un burned, even after leveling the stove.
The lyberty is still going off I belive it can work 10 hours (with the speed in # 5) and then the power vent shuts down, some times the power switch works, but once we woke up at 4 o'clok in the morning to the C02 alarm. Not fun at all. I have only 60 bags left and if the stove eats 2 a day like it's doing I would have to buy another ton, I 've bought 3.5 already.
But since the stove is not burning it correctly who is responsible then? is there a way to clean the ashes and reuse the unburned coal?
Right no we are cleaning ashes 2 times a day, refilling 2 times a day + just checking for operation 4 times. Thank you all for your help Stay warm.
The lyberty is still going off I belive it can work 10 hours (with the speed in # 5) and then the power vent shuts down, some times the power switch works, but once we woke up at 4 o'clok in the morning to the C02 alarm. Not fun at all. I have only 60 bags left and if the stove eats 2 a day like it's doing I would have to buy another ton, I 've bought 3.5 already.
But since the stove is not burning it correctly who is responsible then? is there a way to clean the ashes and reuse the unburned coal?
Right no we are cleaning ashes 2 times a day, refilling 2 times a day + just checking for operation 4 times. Thank you all for your help Stay warm.
Attachments
Sounds like powervent is overheating. With the baro set correctly, vent pipe after the baro should be touchable. If you
are hitting it with water and getting steam......WAY too hot. You are sucking all your heat out,loosing it, and cooking
your vent unit.
are hitting it with water and getting steam......WAY too hot. You are sucking all your heat out,loosing it, and cooking
your vent unit.
- jpen1
- Member
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 04, 2006 4:46 pm
- Location: Bloomsburg, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: LL110
- Coal Size/Type: Rice/ Buck
Well first of all you need to shut the stove down and take the pie completely off the stove and clean it not just the power venter from the outside. Secondly that baro is not the right baro damper for coal usage and you really should have a field controls type RC or type M. Then with vent pipe re installed the baro damper need set with a manometer as well as the rheostat on the power venter. You also need to clean the area inside the stove where the fume switch enter with a shop vac . It accumulates fly ash and need cleaning at least monthly with a power vent. with that sized fire your coal usage isn't overly high and as for high percentage of unburn't pieces it is just substandard coal.
jpen1 ,Paulie , gambler ,WNY :
I think I got it this time! I'm attaching a photo of a little door that was wide open inside the stove, (the Channing has a brick) this was letting FIRE to go directly to the damper, and after that to the poor power vent, no wonder the poor thing was getting hot. We cosed up that door and every thing is back to normal. Here is what I learned, that thing is to keep the stove running while on low1-2 But when we went up to 4-5 it was throwing all the flames out of the stove body into the power vent. It has been 20 hrs now and the stove seems to be doing OK.
But the ashes remain to be unburned or so it seems.jpen1 you have a Channing? does your coal look like this? could you post a photo of it?
As I said before I was very disappointed in the stove until yesterday, lets hope everything is all right now. Seems top me I should post something like a trouble shoot specifically for Alaska Liberty since I believe I'm the only one who has one. The stove vendor will deliver me a ton of coal for all this inconvenience since he forgot to close it out, again this is the only Liberty he has ever sold.
Thank you all.
I think I got it this time! I'm attaching a photo of a little door that was wide open inside the stove, (the Channing has a brick) this was letting FIRE to go directly to the damper, and after that to the poor power vent, no wonder the poor thing was getting hot. We cosed up that door and every thing is back to normal. Here is what I learned, that thing is to keep the stove running while on low1-2 But when we went up to 4-5 it was throwing all the flames out of the stove body into the power vent. It has been 20 hrs now and the stove seems to be doing OK.
But the ashes remain to be unburned or so it seems.jpen1 you have a Channing? does your coal look like this? could you post a photo of it?
As I said before I was very disappointed in the stove until yesterday, lets hope everything is all right now. Seems top me I should post something like a trouble shoot specifically for Alaska Liberty since I believe I'm the only one who has one. The stove vendor will deliver me a ton of coal for all this inconvenience since he forgot to close it out, again this is the only Liberty he has ever sold.
Thank you all.