What great features would you like in your wood pellet super stove?

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One that loads the hopper when it gets low :cool:
 
How about a way I can hook it up to a stationary bike and generate air flow and also feed the pellets next time the power goes out for a short time? Not worth hooking up the generator for an hour...
 
HOW ABOUT A LOW-PELLET ALARM THAT GOES OFF WHEN THE HOPPER IS DOWN TO THE LAST 10%. WHY NO STOVE HAS THIS YET IS BEYOND ME.


that could be easy, install a pressure plate set to a certain weight at the proper place in the hopper, when plate is release an audible warning could be wired to go of. my vote is for something akin to screaming or gunfire, somthing to wake you up shrieking at 2 am make the mount a quick connect so when at 2.03 am as its being ripped out and slammed against the wall it doesn't damage the stove:p
 
that could be easy, install a pressure plate set to a certain weight at the proper place in the hopper, when plate is release an audible warning could be wired to go of. my vote is for something akin to screaming or gunfire, somthing to wake you up shrieking at 2 am make the mount a quick connect so when at 2.03 am as its being ripped out and slammed against the wall it doesn't damage the stove:p

Then connect the alarm to the bulk storage pellet hose blower for the auto refill. Or just get my buddy Igor! Just plug his head into your computer's USB port for charging and filling instructions!
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Briansol,

Regarding the O2 sensor, it is possible to add this feature at this moment, using honeywell KGZ-10 O2 sensor series (Similar to the O2 sensors in cars) with the Oxymac50 or DE800 oxygen sensor interface boards. Using the interface output and connecting the exhaust motor to a Variable Frequency Drive it is possible to have a constant air/fuel ratio using a PID control. Total cost for sensor, interfase and VFD control would be around $1000-2000 depending on brands.
Once the motor reaches 100% speed than you would know that the exhaust blower is at maximum and stove would need cleaning. Of course more details need to be thought for all the automation. Someone here in this forum is a PLC programmer and can be give us more details on how to add more instrumetation to the stoves.However, I like my stoves simple with not many things that can go wrong.
 
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Briansol,

Total cost for sensor, interfase and VFD control would be around $1000-2000 depending on brands..

This is cost to MFG.

It's possible now to add this to any pellet stoves. However, even a mfg cost of $500 by the time it hits distribution & retail it's at least doubled. In a market where the majority of users hate to pay above $1,000 at the big box stores this wont fly. Even at the specialty shop, any appliances north of $3,000 is a tough sales.

Those components must come down to $100 - $200 mfg cost for it to make sense for the customer buy in.
 
I don't see why it's so expensive, or complicated.

you can buy 5-wire bosch wideband 02's for about $40 at autozone.
This simply produces a 1-5 voltage reading.
the board then has a simple program based on the voltage reading on a chip that allows it to feed faster, slower, or turn on more fans/etc. 10 instructions, tops.
 
I don't see why it's so expensive, or complicated.

you can buy 5-wire bosch wideband 02's for about $40 at autozone.
This simply produces a 1-5 voltage reading.
the board then has a simple program based on the voltage reading on a chip that allows it to feed faster, slower, or turn on more fans/etc. 10 instructions, tops.

Not sure how well these sensors would read with ash build up on them. I'm sure when the you start from clean, it should be able to read and allow you to tune in the proper AFR.
 
Not sure how well these sensors would read with ash build up on them. I'm sure when the you start from clean, it should be able to read and allow you to tune in the proper AFR.
removing and cleaning the sensor would be a maint. item, yes. or, some sort of torch cleaner burn off :p
 
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