blower use and power outages

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burr

burr

Member
Nov 26, 2008
96
SC near ClarksHillLake
My buck insert has a 110v blower that uses a close-by outlet. Maybe for safety from over-cooking, the blower should run by the thermostat control unless the doors are wide opened, then the heat is dissipated by that means (I reckon). This insert is a double walled system that normally (or never, as far as I know) does not get hot enough to boil water on the smallish shelf. Buckstove homebase suggested such procedure and did not really get specific.

My question is about this stove and a power outage. If the blower does not function during a power outage, does this mean that I would be safely burning with stove doors open only ? I am strongly considering purchasing a small 110v inverter to use in such emergencies so that the blower can remain running. Removal of a car battery and hooking up for a temporary fix to the blower would be an easy enough solution if needed in such a pinch. I wonder how long a common 12v car battery would run the small fan motor that is probably similar in all insert situations.

Is this a back-up idea or solution for veteran wood burners ?
 
burr said:
Buckstove homebase suggested such procedure...
Click to expand...
Wow, that surprises me. I don't own a Buck and am not familiar with it but the notion of running a stove with the doors open scares me.

My RSF is a ZC fireplace and rather than an internal blower, I have the central heat option. The stove has adequate convection flow that even in -40 temps with a power failure, I can run the stove as hot as it will let me without opening the door. I would not want to run it for days that way, but have run it for several hours.

I suggest you test how well it can perform without power before entertaining a backup power source.
 
That is surprising. What model Buck stove is this?
 
it's a 'Little Buck', definitely not a newer EPA model, and to use it with open doors, a screen would be used (naturally). Thru inquiring emails with mfg, they suggested that if the blower was not used, the doors should be opened. I had originally asked the question of not using the blowers at times when the room was getting too warm; I have labeled these times as 'bra and panties' conditions. Into my second season, I have learned to control the temps (somewhat), as we have had terrible cold here this week and we have not gone down to our briefs.

so anyway, about the inverter deal, does it make sense ? Is it done by some of you in more demanding climates ?
 
and a picture...
 

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Putting the question of the inverter aside, there are probably two or more factors to consider WRT whether or not a fan needs to be used.

1.) Would you get sufficient heat output without a fan? This can easily be determined by trial.

2.) Would there be a risk of overheating a stove? This is not best determined by trial. Given that it is an insert into an existing fireplace that should be able to have a fire in it directly, would it be possible for a fire that is contained within two layers of steel with some convection airflow between them pose a risk of greater heat to the firebrick and flue? If that were the case, simply adding glass doors to an existing fireplace should pose a much greater hazzard.

As for using an inverter and car battery, you would have to do the math. Most inverters are inefficient and very limited in output without spending a lot of money. I would think a genset would be more versatile.
 
Visit the DIY forum with the battery/inverter question. Also search the pellet forum, as this is a more common question there. It can be done, but unless there is decent battery capacity it would only work for shorter power outages and not for multiple day outages like we can get.
 
A lot of guidance here: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/59055/

My suggestion, inverters are not a good option, unless you are going to get a lot of batteries. I suggest a small generator. The type should be based on your personal requirements. If you are JUST looking for the blower to be powered, get something very small, like this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/engine...s-900-max-watts-portable-generator-66619.html

You can get it on sale for about $89 easily, there are lots of 20% coupons int he newspapers around here, or sometimes on the internet.

image_1879.jpg
 
I was just wondering how much power can a little fan require ? And is it as simple as that - a 29.95 400w power inverter from HarborFreight (+20% off), 12v battery outta my tractor, plug it in and turn it on. I realize it wont last for a prolonged outage but something to think about instead of burning without the blower (as explained above). It would be a simple cheap back-up if it works. and besides the blower, maybe a coffee maker, not a 24/7 type situation.

Thanks
 
PFFT! Check the wattage on that coffee maker.
 
Is the fan accessible? Just thinking out loud here... but you might consider installing a 12 volt fan rather than using a 110v inverter. Something like a computer fan would be significantly smaller that what you already have, but would run for much longer and still move a reasonable volume of air. I'd be curious to see this experiment.
 
The inverter will also eat up a lot of power. When I ran my inverter and blower off of my car's battery, it would last about an hour... maybe hour and a half... before it got too low. Also, my inverter produced a square wave and it made the blower motor buzz and make terrible sounds, which I did not feel safe about. My zero clearance fireplace puts out about no heat when the blower isnt on.... even with a exterior fan pointed at the fireplace, its minimal.

As stated above, if you can get a 12V blower, that would make it much more efficient. However, do the math, amps the motor requires compared to amphours for the battery, and how long you want it to run. Hope thats good enough for you, because it is more of an elegant solution!
 
To answer does anybody do it. Yes. I do. I have four deep cycle batteries on a float charger in the basement with a inverter attached. The primary function of the lash-up is to power my communications rack and computers when I don't think the power is going to be out long enough to fool with the genset. But I have also used it to power the blower on the 30-NC for a while too. According to my Kill-A-Watt the blower only uses sixty watts and is a double squirrel cage so probably the same size as the Buck blower.

As to how long it will run things, I don't know. Two years ago I was determined to do a test and after seven hours of it running two HP 2000 honkin servers, a rack full of switches, the DS1 equipment and two workstations I gave up and switched back over to grid current and the normal 16VA UPS setup.

A full charged car battery should run that blower for a long time. Just don't drive it into deep discharge and wreck the battery.
 
LLigetfa said:
PFFT! Check the wattage on that coffee maker.
Click to expand...

For sure. When I wake up and the joint is without power the kettle either goes on top of the 30 immediately or the genset gets fired up if the stove isn't up to temp. Gotta have that coffee. Fast.
 
Gas range and a French press for me if the power is out.
 
burr said:
My buck insert has a 110v blower that uses a close-by outlet. Maybe for safety from over-cooking, the blower should run by the thermostat control unless the doors are wide opened, then the heat is dissipated by that means (I reckon). This insert is a double walled system that normally (or never, as far as I know) does not get hot enough to boil water on the smallish shelf. Buckstove homebase suggested such procedure and did not really get specific.

My question is about this stove and a power outage. If the blower does not function during a power outage, does this mean that I would be safely burning with stove doors open only ? I am strongly considering purchasing a small 110v inverter to use in such emergencies so that the blower can remain running. Removal of a car battery and hooking up for a temporary fix to the blower would be an easy enough solution if needed in such a pinch. I wonder how long a common 12v car battery would run the small fan motor that is probably similar in all insert situations.

Is this a back-up idea or solution for veteran wood burners ?
Click to expand...
You have a Buck 26000. The manual says as you have indicated that the doors should be opened and the screen in place....burn like a fireplace, if the power goes out. They state the reason is the electrical wiring and components may be damaged by heat without the blower going. If you get an inverter, make sure it has an improved sine wave. A cheap inverter with a square sine wave will not run the blower on your buck...and as others have stated the battery will not last long. The small generator in a previous post would be a better investment.
 
BrotherBart said:
As to how long it will run things, I don't know. Two years ago I was determined to do a test and after seven hours of it running two HP 2000 honkin servers, a rack full of switches, the DS1 equipment and two workstations I gave up and switched back over to grid current and the normal 16VA UPS setup.
Click to expand...


That is impressive. Were these some old HP 2000LCr rack mounts?
 
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