Anybody know of a pellet stove that either doesnt need electricity at all or can work in some sort of manual mode when the power is out? I found one but it doesnt meet the wifes standards for looking good. http://gravityfeedstoves.com/
The Wiseway is the only stove that is non electric and UL listed. The more you look at it, the more it grows on you. Unless another stove has come out in the last year, the Wiseway stove is it. With all the surface area, it should provide very good radiant heat, and has several spots to attach one of the Eco Fans (heat propelled). I like the looks of it. But I have been looking at them 3 years now.
spg9000 breckwell,has been out a few years,requires a full chimney style exhaust like a wiesway.Trager used to make one,was pretty dependable.
After looking the Breckwell up, I do remember that stove now. Now that stove has looks and some appeal to it. Also, for when there is power, it has an optional blower to extract the most hear possible. Breckwell hasn't received high marks in the last several years, but maybe they are turning a new leaf? I wouldn't mind having one of these either As for the power consumption of a Pellet stove. Everything has the assumption that they cost a lot in electrical department (as far as your electric bill). But this is a big myth that surrounds them. I have put a Kill-a-watt meter on several stoves and most come in somewhere around $10-$15 a month. My Quad was about $12 a month, and that'd running 24/7 non stop. My Enerzone (on On/Off mode), was closer to $10 a month. While my Pellet furnace is closer to $20, but it also has a 800 CFM distribution blower. It takes a little energy to get that spinning and keep it at speed.
Thanks for the info I like the Wiseway but my wife said absolutely not! Weve got the woodstove now but I have so much trouble keeping up my supply of wood Im considering a pellet stove again. The biggest reason I didnt get a pellet stove to begin with is the electric thing Im not concerned about power usage I know they are low consumption but I am concerned about if theres a winter storm and the power goes out I dont have a generator and dont want to be without heat in the winter. Im going to have to do a lot more research I havent made up my mind which way to go yet.
This is a cool thread! I think the biggest concern would be moving hot air off the stove would it not?
Pete what Ive been reading is with gravity fed pellet stoves you cant treat it like a pellet stove its more like a wood stove. There are some fans available for the Breckwell stove for when power is available but they seem to be overall operated and generate heat like a regular old woodstove. Im going to contact Breckwell next week to get more info about their stove well see what happens.
If wood is a problem - why not the compressed wood bricks- cost about the same as pellets- as with pellets dry storage is a must. Around here I am seeing a significant price increase on good hard wood cords- even in pulp cord ( fuel rated in this case) If I can even get a response on cord loads. Which is making the compressed blocks look like a viable alternative particularly for the shoulder seasons. I am not in a shortage of css fuel but looking at options. The scrounging this year is somewhat less than adequate due to the much greater numbers of people involved. As we had NG prices hit $1.33/therm in March with $1.06 in April and the utility calling for price increases ( for what ever obscure reasons) it seems that the compressed blocks might be a good hedge if the pricing doesn't get out of line.
Do you have a well, or are you on city water? In my case, I'm on a well, and a power outage meant we wouldn't have water, so I went with a generator. In a pinch, I could power either the pellet stove or the pellet furnace, or even the LP furnace with the generator. Depends which control board I want to fry. Honestly, if it's not too cold, I'll probably start with space heaters, and if that doesn't work, I should probably do a price check on control boards. Probably start with the Englander if the space heaters can't keep up! Anyway, I have a transfer switch installed and important things like the LP furnace, well pump, sump pump and fridge are hard wired onto the transfer switch.
Use very good quality surge protectors at each appliance to reduce problems. Or a large capacitance bank to smooth out the supply when a new load is added to system such as refrigeration units that cycle on and off. ( just like the utility substations use , of course on a smaller scale) Solidstate circuit boards do not do well against large power fluctuations, they are not designed with that in mind.So the power input boards are very minimumly set up for this, if at all.
Just some thoughts as I just hand loaded 2 tons ligs into basement and enjoying an adult beverage,generators seldom over charge,a surge protector will probably do little or protection.Older electronics seem much more durable,except for GM ecms.The Breckwell I believe you have to go to every so often and "manualy dump more pellets"through a lever system.A non electric stove chimney/flue is very critical,and may cause problems in extreme weather,as your adjustments are limited.The tent pellet stove people(made out here)prices keep dropping.Going to shoot for 2 more tons this weekend,depending how much the old truck vapor locks with the ethanol blend.Might get out my test kit,appears they are running above 18%.Oh well,time for a brew.
ASE master since the 70's,many arm operations,nobody will hire me out here anymore(almost 60)Now I stock beer and wine in closest small town,3 trucks a week,is killing me but gotta work.Truck is old golden eagle jeep 401,th400,quadratrac that I used to haul a camper in,put in rear tank with ekectric pump,so when dies just flip switch,so very familiar with ethanol and vapor lock.Also used to sell bg products on the side(bg44k) so still have some equipment and lots of knowledge.Used to be a carb/electrical specialist in the old days.Please never ask me to sync carbs again!Got a complete 350 tbi setup will put in old jeep some day.
