First fire for EKO 25

[easternbob]

This seems like a silly question but I'm going to fire my 25 up for the first time in the next day or two. I've read all about fine tuning and how to build a fire for quicker gasification. But here's my question, After I start the fire and it's going and I turn the controller on is there anything else I need to do or will the controller (old style) (with defult settings) take care of everything else for there??
Thanks,
Bob

 

[Nofossil]

Assuming that you've got it set up so that the EKO controller manages the EKO circulator, that's about it. I assume that there is some provision for water to be delivered to heat loads - that is, there are zone valves or zone circulators or some other way for heat to be taken out of the loop. Basic operation is pretty straightforward.

Good luck and post results. First fire is always fun.

 

[easternbob]

Nofossil,
Thanks, I thought it was that easy but wanted to make sure (too good to be true?). Yes the EKO circulator and the zones are all hooked up (or will be in a day or two). I also printed out your pdf about starting a fire so I should be set. I'm excited to go from a wood stove that has heated one room of our house really well for 13 years to a system that will heat the entire house. Although I figure I saved a lot of electric when the kitchen is 45*, the fridge doesn't need to kick on much.
Bob

 

[stee6043]

Hah - I had the same thought about my fridge one day a couple weeks back when a "late work meeting" kept me out too late and my storage dipped below usable temps. There is an upside to everything!

What's really amazing is how quickly you get used to the higher temps in the house. Last year I was keeping my home at 64 when we were home, 58 at night. With the EKO I'm 70 when home, 63 at night. The wife now complains anytime the temp dips below 67 when we're home. Geeze...what have I started....

 

[mhearts]

Best of luck with that first burn. The saying around my house is " You crank ...you carry" That refers to when I find the thermostat at 74 and more wood is need to be hauled from the wood pile to the garage for buring in the EKO. The family just keeps raising the bar one degree at a time. Not sure where it will end.

 

[Rugar]

I First Fired my EKO25 three weeks ago and I was nervous about everything and didn't know how I would get anything done like closing doors and turning on the switch in time. But it really is simple. I suggest to start a small fire close it up and "sit down and enjoy all your hard work with a beverage before you start to check everything and get worried". It will all likely be fine. Just enjoy Congradulations.

 

[easternbob]

Thanks for all the support. The first burn will be either tonight or Monday (have to go away for weekend, oh man it will kill me to wait). I'm actually upgrading to the new controller, picking that up today. I guess I bought my 25 right when they were switching and I got "stuck" with an old style. Figured what the heck I should just bite the bullet and switch right now.
Bob

 

[timberr]

Bob,

When I started my Eko 25 about 1 month ago I started with a small fire with 3-4 pieces if wood. As the boiler started to heat up I lowered my set points to verify that my circ-pumps started up as expected and then there is the cross your fingers that a leak doesn't show up as things get to temp. At least with a small fire things are manageable if there is a problem. Then once I was certain everything I heaped the wood in and let her run.

Good luck and enjoy the heat!

 

[pybyr]

Good luck- you're almost there! I had the first fire in my Econoburn on the night of January 15 in the middle of the cold snap- and have burned - 0 - gallons of oil for heat since. My house temperatures vary now, as I do not have my storage on line yet, and I run hot steady fires rather than letting the unit idle.

 

[easternbob]

Well nearly two months late but I fired up the boiler for the first time last night (the delays of building a new house....). Worked good. Although the first load I started with was a little small I guess because as soon as I turned the fan on I burned thru it really quick. I loaded more in and it started up pretty fast. Had good gasification, although I see how critical it is to have a good bed of coals over the nozzle as this really changes the gasification flame. Didn't mess around with fan speed or anything like that yet. The smell of the black pipe coming to heat was a little strong at times but I was able to mask that with wood smoke because I kept peeking into the top chamber to see how much wood was left. I now wish it would be colder longer.
Bob

 

[mtnmizer]

My first week of running the gasifier was during
a below zero snap two weeks ago. I ran the excess
heat into a 55 ton radiant slab. Watching the wife
in running shorts and a tee shirt complaining about the
heat was priceless.....good luck!!