alaska channing III?

bk how old is your channing? keep me posted on coatrol wife got a job so we are going to buy one. Paul, have you seen a decrease in coal usage since you put yours on? thanx

I just went through my first ton last week!!! Although it has been warmer than usual. I would have to say "yes" if only for the fact that I don't have to regulate it. That should save a half a ton easy!!! I started the stove in October so thats pretty good, even with the warmer temps. I thought I was having a problem with the "unit", but after talking with Neil and going over a few things, I shut down the stove Saturday, and pulled the stoker unit, which was totally packed with debris around the combustion fan as to cut off the feed air. Cleaned and re-installed, now back to keeping the ranch at 74 even when its been well below 0. I am burning about a bag a day now. 40lbs. Thank you Neil for the info and as usual it seems to be my mistake, as the "unit" does not need 120, 110 seems to be perfect. Paul

Wally,

My Channing was bought new in Sept, after running the Coal-Trol basic for 1 week I am impressed. Instalation was easy I had to make a cord for the stoker feeder,everything else just plugged in.

My settings are Min 5,
Max 40.
HLF 0.

It is 9 degees outside this morning and the control is running at 86% feed rate. The house is 75 degrees inside.I have a whole house humidifier and that helps it feel a lot warmer in here too. Moist air holds more heat than dry air.

Last week when it was warmer out side,say 25low/40daytime high the contol went back to about 30% feed rate. otherwize my wife would not have turned it down and the house would have been 80 degrees +.

This unit works as advertised, it keeps the house at a constant 74 degrees.

The house is a 75 year old, story and a half, 35 new windows, pump in foam isulation in exterior walls and blown in in attic.

Automation correct is a grat company to do bussines with,only a phone call away, spoke with Neil about the set points. They are very nice and helpful.

BK

To Paul and Neil,

Been running Coal-Trol Basic for 3 weeks on New Alaska Channing.

This thing works great!

Thanks

BK

Thanks for your kind words!
Neil

bksaun:

I have a new Alaska Channing 3 too and a Coal-trol. Did it take you a while to find the 40 h 5 low feed rate? The guy from Colatrol said that 40 might be a little high for my stove. What do you think? Are you happy with the low fire too. I use to have it set that I could run the stove for days on the low setting (manual knob) Also, how did you hookup the feed motor. I used a computer cable and then plug that into the Coal-trol module. I'm not sure what to do with the plug that use to go into the dial (1-5 knob thermostat that came with the stove). I think there is some juice running through it. Any advice is appreciated.

Trader,

It didn't take long to find the right setting, after a little tweaking I have it set at 5 for low fire and 38 for high fire. I saw dimminishing returns for anything higher than 38, at 40 my fire was still staying on the grate but I was not gaining any more heat from it.

This unit keeps the house at 74 degrees 24/7. On the low fire setting my fire is smaller than the original reostat would do on setting #1 and still gives a complete burn of the coal.

I am very pleased to say the least.

Hook it up just like the directions say, don't go through your reostat, just unhook it. Buy a 3 prong cord and some spade terminals, cut it just long enough to hook directly to your feed motor, the convection fan and combustion fan cords should be long enough to plug right in to the coal trol. I mounted mine on the back of the hopper.

The computer cable run's from the thermostat to the coal trol box (24volts I think),not to the feed motor,I don't know how you did that. Remember you are running 110 volts through that wire to the feed motor,I don't think computer cable is rated for that.

When the outside temps are from 0-15 degrees the unit runs 90%+, when the temps get from 20-30 the unit cuts itself back to 20-40%.

I used to leave the reostat set in the 2-3 range and the house temp would go from 69-80 degrees depending on the outside temps, the Wife whinned a lot.

Now she is satisfied with the indoor temp, but now she is whinning about something else.

Maybe these guy's could design a control for that!

BK

I have the network cable installed from the thermostat to the Coal-trol unit. The computer cord is connected to the feed motor - let me explain. The 1-5 setting thermostat that comes with the stove plugs into a female connector. I unplugged this and then plugged an electrical cord that you would use to plug into the back of a computer. It has a female connection which allowed me to plug it into the feed motor and by pass the stock thermostat. I'm just very curious how you hooked up your feeder motor to the Coal-trol?

Trader,

Now I understand what you have done, had the wrong mental picture.

I don't use the 1-5 thermostat, which is just a reostat. I used a new 3 prong cord with spade teminals. The plug go's into the Coal trol module marked "stoker" and the spade terminals connect to the feed motor.

Hope this helps.

BK

This is the first night with my Coal-trol. I'm a little conerned. The temp is set at 72 and the thermostat is reading 76. For some reason the convection blower is not thottling down and too much coal is being feed. I'm going to give another 30 minutes and see if it calms down. Something is not right. Also, did you set yours on Triburn? I have it set for N for Triburn.

Trader,

Set N for triburner.

Make sure of 2 things.

1 your stoker feed is not still going through your original 1-5 controller.

2 When setting your Max feed rate don't leave that display on or it will continuously feed the max setting whatever is. Go back to the round robin display.

Also make sure the heat from the stove can get to the thermostat.

Set your HLF to 0 for now.

You might want to turn it off for 5 minutes and let everything reset, your fire should not go out, all you will have to do is reset the clock.

BK



BK

Hi,

I just got back from vacation and finally got my Coal-trol installed correctly. I had to run a plug with spades to the stoker control. Everything else is pug and play. Then I tested the unit and everything seemed to function properlyl. It's been about 45 minutes and the temp in the room is staying steady. I even played with manual controlling the fan which worked like a charm. Thanks for all the tech supprt from Paul. I'll know more in a few days.

Thanks

hey bk did you buy the basic and did you have to buy the wiring set? gonna order one i know winter is almost over but i will be set for next year.also i am reading about having to make a cord whats this about

Yes,I bought the basic unit,

The combustion fan and convection fan plug into the coaltrol. you dont want to plug the reostat from the stoker into the coal trol, just make a new cord and plug the stoker directly into the coaltrol.

New plug and wire is $6.95 at home depot and get some spade terminals.

BK

bk i am a little confused on where the spade terminals are used. i am pretty good with mechanical things and must be having a brain fart. a little pic would be nice gonna order mine today. you did or did not get the wire package? thanx for all the information.