Outside air electric damper

[hyfire]

Has anyone thought of using an electric damper to close the outside air when the stove is not in use so you don;t have a huge draft in the room, when the stove is off. I think this is a great idea, I would wire it in with a relay so when your combustion motor runs the valve opens....Is this a good or bad idea?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Durozone-4-...715?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2a176d7b

 

[TheMightyMoe]

Why would there be draft in your room?

 

[bellini13]

the outside air would vent into your stove, and the right back outside through the exhaust vent. Most stoves have an internal flap that would shut if the stove is not sucking air in. I'm sure a strong breeze could open the flap however.

With that said, where is the draft you are referring too? Is it that the stove or vent pipe is getting cold, and acting as a cold radiant source?

 

[hyfire]

On my model stove the air intake is open inside the stove and it mixes with room air, however the flap is fixed in the open position, unless i manually close it.

 

[Bioburner]

Quads have the pseudo OAK system too. Air can be drawn from room. Just localizing where the air is coming into the stove behind firebox. Another reason the Santa Fe went down the road.

 

[bellini13]

any reason to not close the internal air intake and just rely on the external air?

 

[moey]

Ive thought about it not because the draft but its just less air coming in to encourage corrosion. I don't think its a good idea if it malfunctions then what?

Do you really get that much of a draft its a fairly sealed system except for the air wash. Depends on the stove of course I sealed up the few spots on my stove where it would pull inside air so all that would leak would be the air wash. I dont think youd get much radiant back into the room.

 

[briansol]

My stove has that stupid sorta outside air hook up.... I have scott from PSS fab me up a manifold to make it a true outside air setup. i'd suggest going down that route for both the draft and performance

 

[ChandlerR]

It looks like you can shut off the outside air but not the inside. I can see using a shut off in your case. I too would look into converting the system you have to an outside air only. It looks to me that if you removed the flap that is there you would have a way to connect the two with an elbow. If I had a choice, I would spend the money on that fix rather than a damper.

 

[hyfire]

I will have to talk to the stove manufacturer, they must of made it this way for a reason? I could fab up something to make it a direct hook up, I;m pretty good with welding. I would just box up the enclosure. I can get a 3 position damper and it has a switch on it, to tell that it is in the open position. I would have to do some wiring to prevent the stove from igniting if that damper is closed..

 

[ChandlerR]

I can't see any reason to do that. Most stoves that have an OAK have it connected directly to the intake of the combustion air blower, mine included. It just seems like a lot of work and more potential for problems. I like the KISS theory. Maybe someone on the forum can explain why the manufacturer did this?

 

[briansol]

yeah, no need for a damper if its closed off--- cold air will only get out through the exhaust pipe as it will make a circuit.

Frankly, you'd need one on the exhaust side too when its off if its still open, as air can come down that through the burn pot and out the open intake that way as well.



Just fab it up and block it off. Why the mfg'ers made these half-assed sorta outside air kits is beyond me.

I don't think you need to go as crazy with the welder either. Anything non-combustible wiill work. Mine is made out of high temp ducting and (real) duct tape.

 

[FyreBug]

I cant remember the chapter or verse but the reason for the OAK is a certification issue - UL I believe.

 

[Harvey Schneider]

The crew that installed my Mt Vernon AE hooked it up with the OAK stopped three inches from the stove intake. They insisted that was the way Quad wants it.
It only took one day with wind blowing against that side of the house before I called to have them fix it. The cold air would sweep across the floor when the stove was off.
They sealed the OAK to the stove with silicone rubber sealant and I have been happy with it since.
Just make sure the air intake is above the snow line.

 

[hyfire]

Ya I'm getting frost bite near the stove when its off. We need a better solution, like a flap on a hinge?

 

[briansol]

just complete the circuit and call it a day

 

[hyfire]

just complete the circuit and call it a day

Ya I might have to do that..........thanks for the idea

 

[Centurion]

Ya I might have to do that..........thanks for the idea

I kinda like the idea of an electric draft connected to the exhaust fan, as you mentioned Hyfire. My pellet boiler is connected to a full size chimney and in late spring and summer I get downdrafts which brings the smell of the chimney into the house and then my wife complains about it. I wonder how well this would inhibit the air flow? When I do my final Spring cleaning I remove the exhaust vent and stuff a rag in it to block air from the chimney. Thanks for the idea and the link!

 

[briansol]

They make things for muscle cars called "e-cutout" which basically is a damper for running straight pipe at the track or through the mufflers for the street.
they have a 3" and 4" model.
maybe you can get this to work? http://www.dmhperformance.com/ecutout.htm
not sure how to fab it up though, as you wouldn't want the Y pipe at all.

maybe salvage the motor or find something similar?

 

[hyfire]

You could not use those dampers in the link from ebay, as they are not meant for high heat , only to be used on low temp applications. They have a foam seal inside, and are not really what you should be using for high heat, those other cut out things look interesting.

 

[hyfire]

Not sure if I should go with the 3 wire damper or 2 wire spring return, one opens in 7 seconds other in 15..