Fire Chief FC1000/Shelter SF1000 update.

[Medic21]

So I installed the new draft blower and fired the furnace back up after a 48hr shift of amazing fun.

I lit on a clean firebox this time, normally I bank even the cold ashes up the sides. The new blower while having hole also has the updated slide riveted in place.

Thermostat is set at 72 and it took 30 min to get an established fire.

Was harder to get going with the fixed slide. Stack temps were 600 when I closed it up and immediately they dropped to 410. Walked outside and it’s burning clean.

Nothing coming out chimney and good heat from the ducts. I usually opened the slide and ran it about 550 so we will see. The true test will be when the heat is satisfied and draft blower shuts down. I may have to drill the rivet out, we will see.

 

[Mrpelletburner]

Also think the test is does it back puff?

 

[Mrpelletburner]

Was harder to get going with the fixed slide. Stack temps were 600 when I closed it up and immediately they dropped to 410. Walked outside and it’s burning clean.

What is your current outside temp?

How much time past from initial lighting to when you measured 600 stack temps?

Do you have a barometric damper installed?

Any chance your monitoring the draft?

 

[Medic21]

Also think the test is does it back puff?

I’ll find out soon...

It’s like the old twilight zone tv shows...

 

[Medic21]

What is your current outside temp?

How much time past from initial lighting to when you measured 600 stack temps?

Do you have a barometric damper installed?

Any chance your monitoring the draft?

Took about 20 min to get going and then I added a piece or two at a time to get the load going.

No damper installed and no draft monitoring. I know that is good.

 

[Medic21]

Holy (whatever they used to say) Batman.

The stack temps are staying up high enough it appears to actually be burning with the draft blower off.

Cycled twice with no puffing.

Unfortunately I have to go to Purdue for a class for work this weekend, even though I don’t think you can get smarter there. I’ll know more next week but, this looks promising.

 

[Medic21]

5hrs out of the first load and that warmed the house from 66 to 72. 70 degrees when I reloaded. No puffing on the first load but, that one usually burned with the draft blower going continuously. Difference is instead of blowing through that load in 2.5 hours with the house jumping to 76-77 it was consistent.

I will see how it does over night.

 

[Medic21]

The thing ran all night, no puffing. Loaded at 2100hrs, was 70 at 0500 when I reloaded. Seems like it is running too cool between calls for heat but, at least it’s not puffing...

 

[Mrpelletburner]

I need to see if they can ship out that draft blower, I would be willing to hook up the old girl and test her out. After all she is still in the same room.

 

[Medic21]

Well only had one incident of a puff. Burning low because it wasn’t that cold out and the cold air return got blocked. Don’t know if it was a puff or if the circulation blower pulled smoke out.

Other than that it seams to stay burning. My only issue is going to be when I check the chimney I think I’ll have some creosote buildup I didn’t have before.

 

[Mrpelletburner]

Well only had one incident of a puff. Burning low because it wasn’t that cold out and the cold air return got blocked. Don’t know if it was a puff or if the circulation blower pulled smoke out.

Other than that it seams to stay burning. My only issue is going to be when I check the chimney I think I’ll have some creosote buildup I didn’t have before.

Is the suspected creosote build up because you’re letting the stove idle and not using the draft blower to keep the firebox from back puffing?

 

[Medic21]

Is the suspected creosote build up because you’re letting the stove idle and not using the draft blower to keep the firebox from back puffing?

It is cooler for extended times than I would run and does smoke some. Time will tell.

 

[Plaster79]

New draft blower?

 

[Mrpelletburner]

New draft blower?

Yes, HY-C has an updated draft blower design (same shape, with 2 extra holes, might still be in development) that they have shipped out to “some” customers to test.

 

[Plaster79]

Just bought sf1000 few months ago. Having same problems with draft blower.

 

[Medic21]

Just bought sf1000 few months ago. Having same problems with draft blower.

So far it seems to be a huge improvement with the new blower. Only two incidents of it puffing. Both times dog was laying on the return.

Its been going since Saturday night non stop. It’s not perfect yet but this new blower helps. We have discussed adding an additional hole in it.

 

[maple1]

Not sure if the return being blocked would cause a puff?

 

[brenndatomu]

Not sure if the return being blocked would cause a puff?

It could if a blocked return was enough to cause a negative pressure on the basement...

 

[Medic21]

Not sure if the return being blocked would cause a puff?

I don’t know if it’s puffing. I’m thinking it briefly sucks smoke out of the motor when the fan kicks on. I have multiple ways for the air to pull into the basement but this is directly at the stove.

 

[Medic21]

Ok, I am 8 days into 24hr operations of this thing with the “redesigned” blower. First time in a year I actually had to do a hot clean out of the ashes.

It has performed fairly well, these last couple days and nights have been cold. Lows at 10 but, no wind. I’m getting a good 8 hours during the day with the temp holding above the gas furnace for 10 hours. Stays warm for 6-8 hours at night. Have had some windy, 25mph-30mph, days that were in the low 30’s and it really did great. Those are a typical Indiana winter day.

I am not happy yet with it. It will be into the 40’s this week and I’ll check creosote buildup then. I checked the secondary chamber and there was none so that’s promising.

I did notice that as the ashes built up I was getting more cycling of the blower and I really had to dig into the firebox to break it up this morning. So I’ll need to clean it more than once a week to get the performance. My old Juca was only cleaned every other week for a complete clean out.

 

[Mrpelletburner]

I am not happy yet with it.

I feel the same with the 1500

I did notice that as the ashes built up I was getting more cycling of the blower and I really had to dig into the firebox to break it up this morning. So I’ll need to clean it more than once a week to get the performance. My old Juca was only cleaned every other week for a complete clean out.

I had the same thing today. Under the hot layer of ambers there was at least 1-2” of black ambers that I had to literally break apart.

 

[Medic21]

I feel the same with the 1500



I had the same thing today. Under the hot layer of ambers there was at least 1-2” of black ambers that I had to literally break apart.

I’m no longer thinking about returning it by throwing it into the backseat of someone’s car in the parking lot in Missouri. So, that’s an improvement.

Part of my unhappiness is me. I grew up with the wood burner in the living room so I was used to that nice even heat with a circulation blower that just rotated the air around the house. My dad Has a ton of common sense for an engineer. I know duplicating that would be perfect but the wife does not want a burner upstairs.

 

[Apollo kid]

I’m no longer thinking about returning it by throwing it into the backseat of someone’s car in the parking lot in Missouri. So, that’s an improvement.

Part of my unhappiness is me. I grew up with the wood burner in the living room so I was used to that nice even heat with a circulation blower that just rotated the air around the house. My dad Has a ton of common sense for an engineer. I know duplicating that would be perfect but the wife does not want a burner upstairs.

I’m no longer thinking about returning it by throwing it into the backseat of someone’s car in the parking lot in Missouri. So, that’s an improvement.

Part of my unhappiness is me. I grew up with the wood burner in the living room so I was used to that nice even heat with a circulation blower that just rotated the air around the house. My dad Has a ton of common sense for an engineer. I know duplicating that would be perfect but the wife does not want a burner upstairs.

I went to the dealer where I'd bought my fc1000, showed them the picture of the blower you posted and asked them if they were aware, and they weren't, the owner said he would get in touch with hy-c and get back to me, did you receive the complete blower motor or just the shroud that covers the cage

 

[maple1]

I feel the same with the 1500



I had the same thing today. Under the hot layer of ambers there was at least 1-2” of black ambers that I had to literally break apart.

I don't think that is uncommon. I get that with my boiler. Clinkery type stuff. I try to keep a layer of it on top of my refractory - it's been cracked for going on 6 years now and I haven't touched it. Likely mainly because of that layer of stuff I try to keep there.

 

[Medic21]

I went to the dealer where I'd bought my fc1000, showed them the picture of the blower you posted and asked them if they were aware, and they weren't, the owner said he would get in touch with hy-c and get back to me, did you receive the complete blower motor or just the shroud that covers the cage

They are not aware of it because there have been less than a dozen sent out.

I received the complete setup from them. Call Nathan at HY-C customer service direct.