I have just been looking through your videos of the Mother Earth heater. The fuel valve that you are using there is the ideal type, but one thing that I didn't notice earlier was the plastic fuel line. I feel that this must be replaced with metal, it's a real hazard as close as it is to the heater.
Last but not least, is the flue that you are using on your ME heater appears too short fot my heater, as the fuel air mixing relies on having a really good draft. You need 8 -10 feet minimum.
I do have the flue going up another 6 feet or so outside, so that should be giving it enough draft. I can always add some on too.
The very top of that MEN heater didn't get very hot so it wasn't making me too nervous but on your heater it gets quite hot - enough to make me nervous so I need to change that out or shield it from the heat. I do like the clear line because it makes trouble-shooting a lot easier.
I would change your line to steel or copper, it's just not worth the risk. So long as your oil is well filtered, you will have no problems. I run my oil over 30 metres to the house (100 ft) with about 5 feet of fall. I use 3/4"black polythene tube outside. This is cheaply available from gardening centres. anf everything inside the house is 1/2" hard drawn copper right up to the metering valve, after which it is 1/4" soft copper.
The oil is warm at this point and 1/4" is large enough.
Fuel control is absolutely vital, if the valve fails you could have a really dangerous situation with boiling (burning) oil flowing onto the floor.
It stinks like nothing you've ever smelt before, not to mention the mess and the fire danger.
Once you have the oil feed sorted out, drill out all the holes in the top two rows to 3/8" (10mm) and give the heater another test run. Whatever you do, do NOT touch the lower holes.
Oh that's good to know cause on that first test video of yours it looked like the bottom holes were pretty decent sized so I was thinking about drilling those out bigger.
I realize I need to put a valve at the top of the tank in case the one by the burner fails. Last thing I need is a big ol oil fire!
Thanks for the video, it's looking good, although there are a number of small possible problems here from what I see.
I will only concentrate on one problem at a time, they are all minor and should not require a lot of effort.
We'll do one thing at a time to avoid false conclusions.
My first advice is to make sure that your metering valve is still working properly, it appears to be a ball valve, and these often have nylon or PTFE seats which will melt if they get too hot.
Yea I noticed the valve got real sloppy after it got hot so either shield a valve of this type from the heat or use a different valve. I like the 1/4 turn because I'll be able to put a high-low indicator thing instead of counting turns.
i can create, the same problem like you have, check my videos, to solve it you will need to make that less air is coming in y'r stove, hope this helps
Almost looks like, maybe theres water in the oil??
dieselwarriordotcom 1 year ago
Let me know how it goes once you have enlarged the 2 upper rows of holes.
ozzirt 2 years ago
I have just been looking through your videos of the Mother Earth heater. The fuel valve that you are using there is the ideal type, but one thing that I didn't notice earlier was the plastic fuel line. I feel that this must be replaced with metal, it's a real hazard as close as it is to the heater.
Last but not least, is the flue that you are using on your ME heater appears too short fot my heater, as the fuel air mixing relies on having a really good draft. You need 8 -10 feet minimum.
ozzirt 2 years ago
I do have the flue going up another 6 feet or so outside, so that should be giving it enough draft. I can always add some on too.
The very top of that MEN heater didn't get very hot so it wasn't making me too nervous but on your heater it gets quite hot - enough to make me nervous so I need to change that out or shield it from the heat. I do like the clear line because it makes trouble-shooting a lot easier.
yonmoore 2 years ago
I would change your line to steel or copper, it's just not worth the risk. So long as your oil is well filtered, you will have no problems. I run my oil over 30 metres to the house (100 ft) with about 5 feet of fall. I use 3/4"black polythene tube outside. This is cheaply available from gardening centres. anf everything inside the house is 1/2" hard drawn copper right up to the metering valve, after which it is 1/4" soft copper.
The oil is warm at this point and 1/4" is large enough.
ozzirt 2 years ago
Fuel control is absolutely vital, if the valve fails you could have a really dangerous situation with boiling (burning) oil flowing onto the floor.
It stinks like nothing you've ever smelt before, not to mention the mess and the fire danger.
Once you have the oil feed sorted out, drill out all the holes in the top two rows to 3/8" (10mm) and give the heater another test run. Whatever you do, do NOT touch the lower holes.
ozzirt 2 years ago
Oh that's good to know cause on that first test video of yours it looked like the bottom holes were pretty decent sized so I was thinking about drilling those out bigger.
I realize I need to put a valve at the top of the tank in case the one by the burner fails. Last thing I need is a big ol oil fire!
yonmoore 2 years ago
Thanks for the video, it's looking good, although there are a number of small possible problems here from what I see.
I will only concentrate on one problem at a time, they are all minor and should not require a lot of effort.
We'll do one thing at a time to avoid false conclusions.
My first advice is to make sure that your metering valve is still working properly, it appears to be a ball valve, and these often have nylon or PTFE seats which will melt if they get too hot.
ozzirt 2 years ago
Yea I noticed the valve got real sloppy after it got hot so either shield a valve of this type from the heat or use a different valve. I like the 1/4 turn because I'll be able to put a high-low indicator thing instead of counting turns.
yonmoore 2 years ago
i can create, the same problem like you have, check my videos, to solve it you will need to make that less air is coming in y'r stove, hope this helps
ThePJpatch 2 years ago