countk said:
"I will have a spreadsheet with ALL the numbers completed when jtakeman is finished with the test, so you can compare any pellet to another to determine which really does represent the best “value” for your money…the results so far have produced some interesting results."
BTU, that will be priceless!! (no pun intended).
Of course, it will be totally un-biased?? Right!
Since math is the only true science...it will be un-biased....You take a brand and compare the heat output from both and determine the difference as a percentage. Then you assign a % of how much you want to discount based on ash content...for example...one brand produces .45 % ash and another .70% so you may want to discount the higher one say 6% total for that. This number you can move up or down, depending on how important ash content is to you. From this you can combine the numbers and produce a "value" for that brand and now you can compare the two brands and determine which is a better buy for you. It does not take into considerations how many fines there are, if the pellet will dirty your glass, how they smell, if you have to pick the pellets up at the retailer or if he delivers, if you like the look of the bag or if they are hardwood or softwood, if they are made in your backyard or across the country or for that matter even in another country. Another words, its a very simple real world spreadsheet based on heat and ash only, to be used as a simple guide to see if buying Brand A at $X.00 is worth more than Brand B at $Y.00...
I realize that Jay's test is not a lab test and there are variables, but I believe he has done the tests using the same process each time and has the equipment to give some accurate results that most of us can live with (no you can't keep 100% of everyone happy all the time). This isn't rocket science....but with about 25+ brands he wants to test..this is an easy way to compare each brand. For some of you, the results won't mean anything since you have your favorite brand(s) and will buy them regardless...and that's OK...For others, the ash content doesn't bother you whatsoever, so you won't use that as a discount.....but for most of us, we want to see if Brand A really is worth that $30 per ton more based on heat and ash results and this will be an easy way to see it ....what you do with that information is totally going to be left up to you..