4th year update

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

mwk1000

Member
Nov 12, 2008
158
Southern MI
Mostly good, runs steady. still happy to have it. Settled to a good routine but I thought I would give some feedback on the things that time needed to test.

The Tank, In 2008 I built a 1600 Gal DIY out of cinder block, layers of 2" extruded foam board, and a 2x4 frame top.The last minute add during construction of polyisocyanurate Insulation was a minor disaster this year. It absorbed water and the cover layer sagged and disintegrated into the water continually blocking the flow. Had to pull the cover and what a cleanup mess ! Drained the tank and used waiders in the hot water to start getting the small bits out. Two full trach cans later it was clean, the origional extruded foam looked brand new so I just sealed it back up without the poly refilled and we are working again. Write that one up as a bad idea that cost a days hot labor and many days of "what happened last night ?" when looking at the charging temps.

The controller, A custom built arduino with a home witten program. ( Posted in the wiki for anyone to use ) One lockup in 4 years so not too bad. I'v been through 4 OS'es on the computer it connects to with little problem keeping it up. I've made a small version for my iphone that is open to see at http://mwkigw01.dyndns.org:26/mobile.shtml. That's been great works from anywhere, even when I'm away working I can keep tabs.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.