VF 3000 Users Feed Rate Tonight, Burr

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coalmeister
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Post by coalmeister » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 8:22 pm

Its five degrees and calm here. Inside 70 degrees, water temp a steady 135. 2500 sq ft house. Was wondering how many turns (out) on the stoker rod everyone else is running in these frigid conditions? I am cranked 3 turns out tonight.

 
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dkononczuk
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Post by dkononczuk » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 10:31 pm

I keep mine at 4 turns and water temp at 160*.
Keeps my 2 floors 1000sq ft each at 71* all day long
and I keep it cooler at night right at 70*.
If it drops down to 69* I start to hear complains from the other half. :x

Right now is 0* here in Poconos.
For the past few days my coal usage per day increased from 65lb to 75lb.
Still not bad. But january usage will be higher than december.

Dan

 
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coalmeister
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Post by coalmeister » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 11:10 pm

four turns and it would be like 55 in here

 
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Post by drsauerzopf » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 10:32 am

I just installed my VF3000 the day after Christmas. Any suggestions on the control settings on the Johnson Controls? I have a 3 story farmhouse and it was 0 last night and the stoker kept the house at 70. I have the old cast iron radiators throughout the house.

 
steveyrock
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Post by steveyrock » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 4:14 pm

with the nightime temps in single didgets I have half the grate burning,about 5-6 inches of fire.

180 degree high water temp at idle and 160 when it finishes sending hot water upstairs with the thermostat set at 72.


 
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Post by drsauerzopf » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 4:46 pm

Are you running your water circulator off of the Johnson Control unit or using a seperate control box for the circulator. I have been given conflicting info on how to wire the circulator and thermostat. The manual shows the circulator and thermostat wired to the Johnson control box yet, I was told to wire the thermostat and circulator to a seperate Honeywell Control independent of the entire unit.

 
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Highlander
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Post by Highlander » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 5:45 pm

The circulator should be controlled by the zone valves or the room thermostat, not off the Johnson Controls aquastat. The manual shows the circulator being used for a dump zone, it is very confusing. The VF3K is like any other boiler, the aquastat just controls the fuel source, adding heat when necesessary.

As far as how many turns go, set it up so that when stoking continuously, your not pushing hot coal into the ash pan, with maybe an inch or so of dead ash at the end of the grate, and leave it there. You shouldn't have to constantly adjust the feed rate based on weather conditions.

 
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Post by drsauerzopf » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 6:09 pm

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

I will make the change tomorrow. I would love to meet the creator of the owners manual. The directions are as clear as mud.

 
steveyrock
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Post by steveyrock » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 6:18 pm

drsauerzopf
you will need a relay for your 24 volt thermostat to turn on your 120 volt circulator. I use a Honeywell R8845U that you can get at a plumbing house.Taco also has a relay that will do the same thing.The Johnson controls only control boiler temp and overheat dump.You need a relay to send hot water to your heating zone. I had the same confusion about this issue and the guys on here helped me out.

if you get the R8845U relay you will need a jumper between two of the terminals,let me know I will help if needed,as I can't off the top of my head tell you without looking.

 
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coalkirk
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Post by coalkirk » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 10:16 pm

drsauerzopf wrote: I would love to meet the creator of the owners manual. The directions are as clear as mud.
Ask and you shall receive.
harman manual writers.jpg
.JPG | 44.1KB | harman manual writers.jpg


 
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coalmeister
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Post by coalmeister » Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 11:17 pm

Highlander wrote:
As far as how many turns go, set it up so that when stoking continuously, your not pushing hot coal into the ash pan, with maybe an inch or so of dead ash at the end of the grate, and leave it there. You shouldn't have to constantly adjust the feed rate based on weather conditions.
It seems to use a lot more coal when I run it that way, more overshooting, cycling on and off. I use the least amount of coal when I use the shortest stoker stroke and lowest temp possible, and then try to get it to run continuously. At 85# a day (100/day this week) I try to rein it in as much as possible. It doesn't require a lot of diddling, usually between turn 3 and 4

 
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Post by drsauerzopf » Sun. Jan. 18, 2009 8:32 am

I have a Honeywell RA89A that was on the old oil burner. Looks like it will suffice for what I need.

I wonder how many other manuals those 3 guys made???

 
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Post by drsauerzopf » Mon. Jan. 19, 2009 6:00 pm

coalmeister wrote:
Highlander wrote:
As far as how many turns go, set it up so that when stoking continuously, your not pushing hot coal into the ash pan, with maybe an inch or so of dead ash at the end of the grate, and leave it there. You shouldn't have to constantly adjust the feed rate based on weather conditions.
It seems to use a lot more coal when I run it that way, more overshooting, cycling on and off. I use the least amount of coal when I use the shortest stoker stroke and lowest temp possible, and then try to get it to run continuously. At 85# a day (100/day this week) I try to rein it in as much as possible. It doesn't require a lot of diddling, usually between turn 3 and 4
There is a gauge on the side of the feed unit, that goes back and forth. It is from 1 to 3. How far does your gauge travel on the feed? It is obvious that this will vary based on temp and home size. What do you keep your water temp at as well. Sorry for so many questions! It has been several years since I used coal and I am now back to using it again. The VF is doing a wonderful job but, I want to get the most bang for my buck!

 
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coalmeister
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Post by coalmeister » Mon. Jan. 19, 2009 8:50 pm

drsauerzopf wrote:
coalmeister wrote: It seems to use a lot more coal when I run it that way, more overshooting, cycling on and off. I use the least amount of coal when I use the shortest stoker stroke and lowest temp possible, and then try to get it to run continuously. At 85# a day (100/day this week) I try to rein it in as much as possible. It doesn't require a lot of diddling, usually between turn 3 and 4
There is a gauge on the side of the feed unit, that goes back and forth. It is from 1 to 3. How far does your gauge travel on the feed? It is obvious that this will vary based on temp and home size. What do you keep your water temp at as well. Sorry for so many questions! It has been several years since I used coal and I am now back to using it again. The VF is doing a wonderful job but, I want to get the most bang for my buck!
I can't get to the slider on the back side very easily cause of the coal bin, I like the "how many turns" method better anyway. I made a threaded block that stays wherever I put it and is easy to tell how many turns I'm at

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