From OWB to EFM520 Installed in Truck Box

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Wed. Aug. 13, 2014 11:35 am

Sting is right. A foot of snow around the box would seal the bottom off.

Rob's figure is super safe. Louvered vents can come with a screen so clear opening is less. would help dry coal stored in box too. With steel chimney dry coal is important.

Lightning's suggestion for testing can remove all doubt. Temporarily just put the leg of the manometer that normally goes to the boiler through a hole to the outside. Manometer should read zero with boiler running at high heat.

As a rule of thumb I always felt that an opening the size of the smoke pipe was safe. If screened it should be larger.

When set up and testing draft with boiler running, the critical area is above the fire rather than the smoke pipe.


 
Lu47Dan
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Post by Lu47Dan » Wed. Aug. 13, 2014 1:24 pm

One thing I would do is crib the trailer up off the ground, unless I missed it there is no drainage under the pad. The water could lay in there and rot out the bottom of the box. Cribbing the box up would allow the air to circulate under the box and carry the moisture away.
Cribbing allows you to level the trailer as it settles down.
Another thing cribbing would do is prevent animals using the area as a den.
As to the roof build a gable roof over the original trailer roof, use steel roofing and pitch it at least 5/12 to shed the snow load in the winter. Than you can run the SS chimney up through the roof with the proper fittings.
I helped a friend remove four semi trailers that were setting on their frames on a bank gravel pad that the frame and floor rotted out, the three that were on cribbing were still in good shape. He replaced the junk trailers with shipping containers set on cribbing also.
Good luck.
Dan.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Wed. Aug. 13, 2014 1:45 pm

The pad as Lu47Dan refers to is a stone bed ranging from about 4" at the far end to about 18" at the other end, drainage was provided for by sloping the ground bed under the stones. The stones should allow enough air to circulate under the box to keep moisture levels reasonable . Franco,i never thought about snow sealing the bottom air off,Sting is right in bringing that issue up.I can't thank you guys enough for all the input/ideas/opinions , some I will use,some I won't,but you guys definitely have brought up some things that I had not considered even tho I've been thinking about this project for quite some time. Rob,thanks for your idea on the louvered vents,that should keep the box aired out & cooler in the summers heat too,& I will be sure to install one in the coal bin area to help dry the coal too.

 
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Aug. 13, 2014 6:33 pm

Drainage is good, cribbing is good, but support piers/columns up from well below the winter time frost level is what's best. :)

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Aug. 31, 2014 10:05 pm

Its hard to believe that 2.5 weeks have gone by since the last post on here, also hard to believe this is the last day of August. We have been working on our project approx. 1 hr each day while trying to keep after our shop work. My kidneys were performing poorly again , little energy to do anything,taking more stuff for them,feeling better & hope that feeling continues.We have a bin built that will hold up to 15 ton,boiler room is 75 % framed & insulated,hope to finish that tomorrow if energy level permits. We have taken pics & will be taking more, hope to post them tomorrow nite. Getting kinda frantic to complete this project & heat the DHW again with the coal boiler like the OWB was. Sept will greet us in the morning,some heat will be needed b4 Sept is over,we usually have some chilly rainy days that having heat is nice so another reason to get this project done.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 7:24 am

I would focus on getting the boiler running, you can always finish insulating and such afterwards.

 
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Post by waldo lemieux » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 7:09 pm

Windy,

I have 3 -32" and one tee ,and a roof support bracket and a transition to smoke pipe , metalbestos 8" chimney that you can have for your project. I used it for a wood boiler for about eight years and its still useable. I am in Freeville ny so If you want to come get it or have it shipped let me know, its yours if you want it.

waldo


 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 8:19 pm

Rob,i don't remember the thread but I remember someone saying that they wish they had painted the plywood b4 putting the pipe up,hard to imagine framing,insulating,install plywood & paint after the pipes are done.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 8:20 pm

Waldo,i have already bought all the smoke stack needed ,thanks much for the thought.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 8:36 pm

You are right about anything covered by piping, I guess I was hasty to suggest it without seeing exactly what you are dealing with. I just don't want to see you scrambling with frost on the roof.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 8:37 pm

As promised,more pics.,i did get quite a bit done today.We spent zero $$ on lumber for this project,all lumber was collected from our free wood from truck box builders dumpsters & stored for several years. We will not have showroom quality look in our boiler room but we are not installing a new boiler either. Thanks to franco for the jalousy window idea & they were free too.

Attachments

garden goodies 008.JPG

Used 21 ' transport auger

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2x3 bolted onto the metal studs to give room for r11 fiberglass insulation

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Coal bin on the other side of that wall thru the door

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garden goodies 140.JPG

ceiling insulation.....r19,outside walls r11 , inside walls r13

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garden goodies 141.JPG

jalousy window on west wall in boiler room ,taken from a mobile home on our property that is used for storage

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garden goodies 142.JPG

another jalousy window ,on the east wall comes from same donor

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franco b
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Post by franco b » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 9:19 pm

Fantastic. It looks great. Moving right along. Great planning with having to use free material or recycled which is much harder to do.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 9:54 pm

Thanks,franco ,& yes it does take a lot more planning to use odd size pieces,try not to cut the big pieces too soon,might need them later, we do still have 1 wall to build,might wait till after getting the boiler set up.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Mon. Sep. 01, 2014 10:02 pm

Rob,i don't want to be scrambling with frost but the roof is terribly hot in this weather, we will be setting up the smoke stack soon.

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. Sep. 02, 2014 7:05 am

All looks good Dave. Glad to read that your finally getting wood-free.

Just one question . . . where's the shelf for the TV going ? :D

Paul


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