KA4 Project (Pic Heavy)

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 10:00 am

The boiler has been humming along nicely. Maintaining idle draft between .01 and .025. I'm currently running 160/180 with 15*diff. Doing some digging on the aquastat, I never realized that the hi limit is just that, a limit. It does not act as an active control on the boiler temp other than cutting power to be in the event that temps reach set hi limit mark, not unlike as 6006 would.

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I also had some time to begin phase 2 of my boiler project.

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CoalisCoolxWarm · Post by **CoalisCoolxWarm** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 10:55 am

You can HEAT that conduit to bend, or make new bells on the end. I used a MAPP torch, which left it blackened, but if I care about it, I can probably sand or do something. I'm not that worried about it

lzaharis · Post by **lzaharis** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 11:49 am

CoalisCoolxWarm wrote:
lzaharis wrote:All this time GGGRRRRR; so called expert plumbers GGGGRRRRRRR
So anyway its where it belongs, it will run even better now.

gggggggrrrrrrrrrrr!
????

Did you put your check valve in backwards? You gotta try it, LOADS of fun! Ask me how I know

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No, I have no swing or spring check valves in this dual fuel boiler replacement. No need to mess with that type of install on mine as I have 54 gallons+- of water.

The over fire draft is still running at .04 when the boiler is hot and the stoker is running.

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 5:50 pm

Got a new toy. Was just messing around with it when I got home.

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Uninsulated basement foundation

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lzaharis · Post by **lzaharis** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 6:32 pm

Now you get to drive your self a bit crazy about
insulating, finding air leaks, fixing air leaks and
when you can afford to insulate, not if.

At least your saving money heating your place
like I am with mine now. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Someday when I can afford to replace the windows
and fix everything as I am saving money on fuel.

Wood was nice when it was cheap but I don't miss
it especially after I found out I was paying for a 800%
mark up for wood that was not even split well or 14
inches long as was promised by the seller.
I lost all respect for that gentleman when I found out he
was buying green log length cord wood for $33.00 U.S.D.
a ton.

Post by **StokerDon** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 7:13 pm

Nice Q!

Well I guess we now know your boiler insulation works!

Looks like some of that insulation might come in handy for those basement walls.

-Don

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 7:21 pm

Nice Q!! How about some detail on the toy?? Some of us may need another tool!!

Is the last pic of the pipe directed toward the hopper the beginning of a coal vac??

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 7:52 pm

The new toy is a Flir One for Android. They make them for iOS as well. Plugs into the bottom USB and it's ready to go. $250. Works really well messing around with what I have. I downloaded a red party app to run it. Works better than the Flir app.

Yes the 2" pipe is the start of the coal vac.

CoalisCoolxWarm · Post by **CoalisCoolxWarm** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 9:05 pm

Cool! The HTC has a backwards USB plug, never got one. Always thought they were neat!

What app are you using?

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Wed. Jan. 18, 2017 10:06 pm

CoalisCoolxWarm wrote:Cool! The HTC has a backwards USB plug, never got one. Always thought they were neat!

What app are you using?

It's called "thermal camera+". The camera has its limitations but it would most certainly be a useful tool for certain situations, troubleshooting, etc. there is another camera similar called Seek that has good reviews too. The Flir only has a thermal range from -4f to +248f. I think Seek has a range from like -32 to 650*

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Thu. Jan. 19, 2017 9:13 am

Very cool tool! Will have to research that a little to see if it has good reviews and can work with my old S4.

Post by **Rob R.** » Thu. Jan. 19, 2017 1:58 pm

So now that you are into the wild world of stokers and hydronics, how do you like it?

You are an interesting case since you already had a hand fed stove and we're successfully moving the heat throughout the house.

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Thu. Jan. 19, 2017 5:04 pm

Rob R. wrote:So now that you are into the wild world of stokers and hydronics, how do you like it?

You are an interesting case since you already had a hand fed stove and we're successfully moving the heat throughout the house.

So far so good. Other than moving the feed nut in the wrong direction to start...It has been easy. As a wise man once said, set it and forget it. I'm sure I will continue to mess with it a little to get coal consumption down, but overall I am pleased. Nice not having to feed the stove twice a day.

I'm working on getting a coal vac together and would like to get my 4th zone established for the garage.

Qtown1835 · Post by **Qtown1835** » Fri. Jan. 20, 2017 9:54 am

Did a test run with the coal vac last night. It actually work surprisingly well for the "quick and dirty" run I did with it last night. I was happy that my shop vac was able to pull wet rice from 60' away with little trouble. I have (03) 45*ell and (01) 90*ell along the run. The total lift is about 7' using 2" sch40 conduit. I want to come up with a baffle for inside the vac chamber to see if that helps the performance at all. I currently have the incoming feed entering the side of the bin about 3" from the top and the vacuum port feeding from the top of the bin 90* from the inlet. I have some AL trim coil laying around to see what I can come up with tonight.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Jan. 20, 2017 10:09 am

Qtown1835 wrote:It actually work surprisingly well

Great that it works and just leaves you with tweaking it to maximize performance!