Infinatly adjustable feed rate without using feed cup shims?

[sting]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/6Z906?Pid=search

OK this is the motor we want to control

Currently, our systems require that we shim the feed metering cups to change the amount of fuel chucked into the burn pot at any given time. Combustion air is also manually controlled but lets save that for another thread.

mkling brings up an interesting idea --

and let me expound on that idea

why not limit the line voltage signal to the feed cup motor in increments of each minute of on time?

Currently I am looking for some control ( cheep -- you know me) that will interrupt the line voltage to the feed cup motor in increments such as but not limited to

on the full 60 seconds of every minute
54 seconds per minute on 6 seconds off
48 seconds per minute on 12 seconds off
42 seconds per minute on 18 seconds off
36 seconds per minute on
etc etc

currently I am thinking of salvaging something off an old washing machine timer but????
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When you turn your boiler on -- Does it return the favor?
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[sting]

like this

but 130.00 bucks????

Plus a simple ice cube relay to control the amps

Still thinking

http://www.seagatecontrols.com/client_images/catalog19903/pages/files/SSAC_Timing_Module.pdf
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When you turn your boiler on -- Does it return the favor?
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[mkling]

Too bad it's not a DC motor... if it was it would be a lot easier.

[sting]

this isn't too bad

set the dip switches so the thing accepts line voltage

Set it so the first cycle is an on cycle

set the cycle time amount

then set the on and off time

a couple of wires - stick it all in an old abandoned mechanical timer box with a nice door to protect the itty bitty bits from boiler room drama

WaLaaaa


Now we just dragged ourselves from stone age simple feed rate adjustments to similar crap that folks complain about with their little stoves they huddle around

best part -- I think ill just overwire a SPDT toggle to bypass the thing if I want all three cups to feed or if I want to test.

next -- Ill have to get some sort of lambada control -- stick a O2sensor in the smoke stream - find a mechanical damper to control air flow -- because I don't want to interrupt the low speed fan for idle fire -- and there - we have a 15,000.oo European control style boiler in our basements.
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When you turn your boiler on -- Does it return the favor?
I am sorry - My responses are limited - You must ask the right question!

[mkling]

All of these things have crossed my mind before.... it would be great to see it work.

[sting]

ok

you work on the combustion air controller

Ill keep at this

-- maybe tie my part it to a run time monitor, so if the boiler hi fires for more than say 30 minutes it will advance the feed screw motors on time one step ( by switching to a second or third cheep PCL set to the next level)
That would facilitate a hotter burn to bring Baby boiler into balance with the increased load due to degree day changes quicker -- as in responding to a cold windy night after a sunny calm day!

Something I was thinking about last night about 10 pm -- looking at the PCL on the bench and clearing the bin to pull a feed cup shim.

But that will require automatic combustion air modulation!

Time to go check my Staint Nick stocking hung on the wall with care -- See if he brought me any extra PCL's
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When you turn your boiler on -- Does it return the favor?
I am sorry - My responses are limited - You must ask the right question!

[CanadaJoe]

Oh there is a lot to be happy with just letting the machine run the way it is. Get all the extra stuff added and you loose the beauty of the simple machine. Got cold enough to have it run often enough to work perfect here.

Even if I am not burning corn!
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Burning pellets and loving it.