Sar Biomass 200s

[AdamT]

I just picked up a used sar biomass corn stove for my shop and I don't know how to use it. We started a corn fire in the bottom pail and once it gets hot the blower fan kicks on, but the auger never feeds more corn to it. We assumed once it got hot it would start feeding feeding the fire.

It sounds like the company has closed and sold off their equipment.

Does anyone have a manual for this burner or any advice?

 

[Mt Bob]

Only thing I could find http://www.dir.industrialleaders.com/ilg/07/02/014.html

 

[AdamT]

Only thing I could find http://www.dir.industrialleaders.com/ilg/07/02/014.html

Thanks, that's all I've seen so far too.

 

[FirepotPete]

Thanks, that's all I've seen so far too.

The high limit safety switch fan control has set points that will turn the blower on and off. On a call for heat by the thermostat, or in the cycle mode, if the low limit safety switch detects that the flue temperature is not high enough to allow the system a re-ignition source, the auger will not turn on.

That's where I'd start looking.

 

[Ssyko]

You might contact this co and talk to them about a manual.

(broken link removed)

 

[AdamT]

The high limit safety switch fan control has set points that will turn the blower on and off. On a call for heat by the thermostat, or in the cycle mode, if the low limit safety switch detects that the flue temperature is not high enough to allow the system a re-ignition source, the auger will not turn on.

That's where I'd start looking.

This leads me to believe I'm not getting it hot enough for the auger to start. The large blower fan will kick on automatically when it gets up to a certain temp, but it's probably still not high enough for a re-ignition source.

There is another fan on the back that feeds air into the fire that hasn't turned on yet. It looks like it is wired into the computer, so I'm not sure how to get that to kick on and I'm pretty sure that is the reason I'm not getting high enough temps for the auger to kick on.

 

[AdamT]

You might contact this co and talk to them about a manual.

(broken link removed)

Thanks, I sent them an email. Hopefully I hear back from them today.

 

[Ssyko]

I would think a thermister or snap disk would be involved in the proof of fire but without the manual or wire diagram I cannot say for sure. The stove may be set up for corn only.

 

[Ssyko]

Adam can you take some pictures of the components in side the firebox and the back of the stove? So we could get a visual of whats involved, motors, snap disk’s .

 

[AdamT]

I would think a thermister or snap disk would be involved in the proof of fire but without the manual or wire diagram I cannot say for sure. The stove may be set up for corn only.

Most of the corn burners I'm seeing online have a switch to turn on the burner fan once they've got the fire started. The wires on this one go straight to the computer and I don't see a switch for that fan anywhere. Is that common for these that they would have the burner fan fire up automatically, or should I keep looking for a switch?
I'm tempted to wire the fan straight to an outlet just to make it turn on and see if the auger will run when it gets up to temp.

 

[Ssyko]

Take pics of the control board to.

 

[Ssyko]

we need to know what components your working with. I don’t recommend hot wiring anything yet. Unless you pull the motor and bench test to make sure it works

 

[AdamT]

we need to know what components your working with. I don’t recommend hot wiring anything yet. Unless you pull the motor and bench test to make sure it works

 

[AdamT]

This is the computer

 

[AdamT]

I pulled the fan off and tested it. I think I found the problem because it didn't budge. I got a replacement on order and it should be here wednesday

 

[Ssyko]

Ok that is a PLC (programmable Logic Controller). Lets hope it is still in good shape and not corroded up. Can you get some pics of the other components? Might have to take off some panels to see them

 

[Ssyko]

The bad fan, was that the combustion fan(exhaust)?

 

[heat seeker]

Those Fanucs are generally bulletproof, but expensive.

 

[AdamT]

The bad fan was the one that feeds air to the fire. My exhaust fan works just fine

 

[AdamT]

I cheated last night and hooked up a shop vac blower to the combustion tube and just kept an eye on it. It got the fire going well enough to start the auger. Everything was working except for the turn table the fire bucket sits on.

The new combustion fan came in today, so I have everything wired the way it's supposed to. The new fan comes on shortly after I turn the power on so that's working. Right now I'm just holding out hope that the turn table wasn't working because of the broken connection at the combustion fan, but I'm not too optimistic.

Right now I'm just happy to have a sustainable fire in there.

 

[Ssyko]

Nice!! we like pictures of thing that come back to life

 

[AdamT]

Nice!! we like pictures of thing that come back to life

I don't know if I'm ready to say it's come back to life yet, but it's definitely on it's way. I keep running out of fuel even once the augers started a few times. Maybe I need to put more fuel in when I start it to give it a head start. Tough to say without the manual. Just trial and error till I figure it out. Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Eric in Kansas]

I am currently sitting by my SAR 200S I've used for the last 10 plus years. When starting the cold (off) stove. Install the fire pot 2/3 in the door. 1 fill the fire pot with 4 to 8 inches of dry corn. (Depending on temperature outside\inside. 2 Build a fire. With small sticks or charcoal. When you get a strong roaring fire slide the fire pot inside the furnace hang the door protection shield. Flip the switch (s) on shut the door as you hear the air fan start. Do not leave the stove until the fan switch reads 150F ( silver box with a dial temperature gague that has the fan settings and a manual blower fan switch. The indicator is on the 6:00 position) if the saftey switches are closed under the hopper lid the feed augar should start. But the augar will not run long if your thermostat us not calling for heat. You must do a complete shutdown and restart every 40 to 45 bushels! You will burn off the end of your augar! I have a short pieces of augar available. I have replaced my augar 2x they get thinn after 300 bushels/year. I also modified the hopper lid with a gasket and sealed the hopper seams. Only use stainless steel chimney the corn burns too hot and when it cools reacts with humidity corrodes steel.. Make an extra firepot. So you can restart sooner when cleaning. Clean the chimney with a vacuum cleaner and a bent tea spoon. Hopefully you have smaller hands as it is difficult to reach in that 4 inch pipe and scrape with the spoon. One more thing when the fire pot cools save the black chunks of charcoal to start the next fire. By placing them on top of your fire of sticks. (Cooking oil soaked cardboard shaped like a triangle teepee with charcoal on top.) Held in place 2 inches above the corn & by the 4 inches of shelled corn.

 

[Eric in Kansas]

I am currently sitting by my SAR 200S I've used for the last 10 plus years. When starting the cold (off) stove. Install the fire pot 2/3 in the door. 1 fill the fire pot with 4 to 8 inches of dry corn. (Depending on temperature outside\inside. 2 Build a fire. With small sticks or charcoal. When you get a strong roaring fire slide the fire pot inside the furnace hang the door protection shield. Flip the switch (s) on shut the door as you hear the air fan start. Do not leave the stove until the fan switch reads 150F ( silver box with a dial temperature gague that has the fan settings and a manual blower fan switch. The indicator is on the 6:00 position) if the saftey switches are closed under the hopper lid the feed augar should start. But the augar will not run long if your thermostat us not calling for heat. You must do a complete shutdown and restart every 40 to 45 bushels! You will burn off the end of your augar! I have a short pieces of augar available. I have replaced my augar 2x they get thinn after 300 bushels/year. I also modified the hopper lid with a gasket and sealed the hopper seams. Only use stainless steel chimney the corn burns too hot and when it cools reacts with humidity corrodes steel.. Make an extra firepot. So you can restart sooner when cleaning. Clean the chimney with a vacuum cleaner and a bent tea spoon. Hopefully you have smaller hands as it is difficult to reach in that 4 inch pipe and scrape with the spoon. One more thing when the fire pot cools save the black chunks of charcoal to start the next fire. By placing them on top of your fire of sticks. (Cooking oil soaked cardboard shaped like a triangle teepee with charcoal on top.) Held in place 2 inches above the corn & by the 4 inches of shelled corn.

The first is the clinker after 45 bushels in my original fire pot. Less some ash about 2 gallons. The second is the fan switch the blue mark is where the augar starts on mine. The 3rd is the spoon i use to drag the ash so my vacuum can remove it. The way i start a fire with soaked cardboard and charcoal. The 5th is the box i covered the makeup air blower so it draws outside air inthe furnace. & the 80degree fitting for sucking the ash out of the chimney.

 

[Eric in Kansas]

The fan in the back should come on as soon as the switches are on. Mine uses square fire box no turn table inside.. Here is a picture of the snap disk. The snap disk closes the switch aproximately120F on the fan switch (that is the final switch for the feed augar)