Coalgun- Puff backs & Explosions

macdabs wrote:The mother of all BOOMs!!!! .... One T cap was embedded and wrapped around the floor joist!

Way too scary. I'm glad no one was hurt.

Holy *censored*!! That beats my glass-cracking boom by a large margin!

It should be obvious to any coal appliance owner that the owners manual you received with your appliance is much less than ideal. The same is true with the AHS Coalguns manual. I do not believe someone new to burning coal can be expected to properly install and operate the Coalgun based on the supplied owners manual. The Coalgun and others suffer from poor installation and instruction manuals. They assume some level of installation or prior coal burning experience. Here we have a new owner who is having considerable difficulty. We can all make suggestions, but none of us are there to observe and evaluate what's wrong. Clearly something is. The "explosion" class of "puff back" is far, far from normal. The owner needs help. Ideally on site help by an experienced person. The owner and AHS collectively need to meet the owners needs. Clearly what has been done so far is unsatisfactory. Each person with a product support problem reacts differently. Some just give up. That has been suggested here. I suggest getting AHS's attention with a registered letter complaint. I find it stunning that a manufacturer with representatives on this forum would not respond to the many, many pages of puff back experiences documented in this thread. What the hell are they waiting for? Do they need the flying baro damper door injure someone. Are they waiting for the liability lawyer's letter?

In my opinion the manual gives little instruction on significance of the burning coal column height and how to adjust it. There is no discussion of adjustments needed because of measurement tolerances. Using a thermocouple measurement system with precise digital set points gives false unit to unit comparisons. A setting that works for the factory or a particular owner may be nowhere near what's required for another. The dynamic range and measurement tolerance is just too great. Think about it. A-A does the control with a rotary bi-metalic dial device. AHS does it with a precise digital device. Do you think the precise numbers have any significant? It's BS. You need to understand the combustion process and how it's changed by raising or lowering the coal height in the "anthratube". None of this is explained in the manual.

Yanche wrote:You need to understand the combustion process and how it's changed by raising or lowering the coal height in the "anthratube".

I think the maker needs to understand which apparently they don't, especially the properties of gasses and their combustion.

The silence of the maker in this thread is deafening.

The Coalgun owners on this board should draft a letter to AHS and collectively submit a signed letter. In my opinion, only the unified voices of so many concerned owners will generate the needed response from AHS.

Yanche has explained, in great detail, the steps needed by owner(s) to get the attention from the manufacturer. If I were an owner, I would act immediately on Yanche's advice.

I think instead, you have hit on why Harman does not talk to owners at ALL. They expect their dealers to be trained and experienced with coal. Selling to even techy intelligent people is fraught with danger from the standpoint of liability. AHS is checking their disclaimer on professional installation now.

Kevin

AHS called me back yesterday and I will be emailing pictures of the grate motor and the control box. I guess some changes have been made and he wants to look at what model I have.
Heard the same, could be the coal? Something clogged? Did I clean the furnace this year ? Did I loose draft? I explained I could run 4 ton without any issues and the temp outside could be 65* and never have an issue.
My draft is a 8" flue and I am using a digital manometer to verify the .02-.06 draft. The final answer is to lower the SV to 113 and 3 diff. way below than the manual recommendations. I guess he is also going to look into some of the changes they made on the newer models that the grate only ashes with the fan on and so many seconds before the fan shuts down. I guess what bothers me is the fact they act like they never had this happen before and it can be expected depending on the coal.

I guess I have no option but to lower the Sv and hope for the best. As others mentioned the manual leaves a lot ot be desired and tells you not to lower the SV below 120. My question is what more can you do ? I am using Blackshak coal ;Installed the best 8" stainless flue with a good draft that is monitored;The boiler is sitting in a brand new building and can burn 2 ton or more without any burp or issue. Works great for heat output and purs like a kitten the majority of the time. Then out the blue will blow everything apart .

I understand the learning curve of burning coal. If you got draft, good coal(Blackshak), settings as recommended, what more can you do? This is a design issue that needs to be addressed.
Mac

amen

The silence of the maker in this thread is deafening.

Sorry guys, this is a critical fault in my estimation and the reaction of the manufacturer puts them in Harman territory. I will never own one, even assuming I could master the Ph.D. in mechanical engineering required. If I get sick in the winter my wife or even a neighbor, has to operate whatever I buy. It just shouldn't be that hard. Look the fire power (IQ) on this thread and no absolutely fool proof fix? forgedaboutit.

I said it before and I'll say it again. I do not put things in my house that have a propensity to explode without warning and without being abused.

anything new happening with AHS on this one?

506 posts and the poor horse is still being flogged!!!! Painful.....and yes I burn in a few of them with no issues. It is NOT Rocket Science!!!!!!

You are correct it's not rocket science, but it is combustion science. And in my opinion a coal appliance manufacturer needs to explain it to the buyer/operator in the owners manual. Few do it well.

Hopefully "macdabs" will post the solution and the support he got from AHS finding a solution for his installation. We can all learn from it.

I was gonna post a picture of a coal-fired Rocket for Doug but that would make fun of a serious situation.

I have not heard a word from AHS since I emailed him picture of the setup of the boiler.. Darren recommended lowering the SV to 113 and the grate timer from 5 to 3. I replaced my Baro for the second time and had the stove back on line since last Sat.

I went through two ton last time before the big bang so I guess time will tell if the setting changes keep the boiler from exploding again. I would say it is a matter of time before all AHS owners get a letter in the mail from the safety police... I doubt the problem will go away without a design change.

Mac