re-visiting the cast iron radiator cooling for the 6/1

[Eugen]

Recently I found several of these radiators.

There were several members that utilised/experimented with this type of hot water home heating radiators to cool their Listers. I would like to hear some updates on the use of these radiators, did it work ok, is anyone still using these or was it a wash so to speak.

Eugen

[greasy_burger]

I have a 5 row cast iron one on mine and it works great, takes awhile to heat up and when it's super hot out I have a small window fan behind it cooling it down.

[Eugen]

I have a 5 row cast iron one on mine and it works great, takes awhile to heat up and when it's super hot out I have a small window fan behind it cooling it down.
[/quote
That's interesting that a 5 row would do the job that well.

How big a load do you run on it?

Eugen

[cujet]

Is the cast iron radiator capable of cooling a 6/1 under full load? I like the concept, and the potential reliability of a cast iron unit. I use a conventional automotive radiator and 16 inch electric fan with my twin and it's marginal at best. Under heavy loads, it's running 210 degrees (6PSI rad cap).

[greasy_burger]

So far it's worked out well, I will turn on the double fan if it's too hot out, I will be putting it to work soon, got  a renderer to buy my excess oil for a decent amount so I will be running pumps and a centrifuge to filter for them.

[LowGear]

If you're harvesting the heat then let me urge you to get a fan.  We had a small wood burning stove to ease the electric heat.  We put a thermostat on the stove that turned on a small fan when it felt 120 degrees.  The next day we were heating the main part of the house with this tiny Vermont Castings wood stove.  It was amazing.

Casey

[Geno]

I’ve been using this cast iron rad for a few years. It works very well and a fan is needed often. I harvest coolant and exhaust heat. When there is too much heat I can direct the coolant to domestic hot water as well. My 6/1 runs at about 2500 watts normally.

[Eugen]

Thanks for all the replies

My setup is a labour of love and I'm constantly looking for improvements. All the responses I've seen on the cast-iron radiators seem to fit in with my thinking. So the next project is buy an cast-iron radiator and have more fun!

Eugen

 

[Eugen]

If you're harvesting the heat then let me urge you to get a fan.  We had a small wood burning stove to ease the electric heat.  We put a thermostat on the stove that turned on a small fan when it felt 120 degrees.  The next day we were heating the main part of the house with this tiny Vermont Castings wood stove.  It was amazing.

Casey

Casey;

I'm not looking to harvesting heat from the lsiteroid, I have a woodstove (Tempwood) in my basement that  heats my 1050sq ft house (with 20+ below zero outside temperatures) without any other heat source and that in itself is amazing for me. However I do have an oil furnace backup that takes over when I'm not home to attend to the woodstove, which by the way does not happen often. We stay pretty close to home in the Winter Month's.

[LowGear]

Wow Eugen,

I'm amazed too.  I didn't know that wood would burn in those temperatures.    And I hope to never witness it.  Harvesting the heat might be food for thought. 

Our place was about 1000 square feet too but that included the attached spacious one car garage which was not heated.  The Vermont Castings was a very cute stove but we soon learned that not all fire wood was created the same.  It was not as cute as the Petit Godin but it delivered about four times the heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qp8VWRB-m4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsI7TzOFNvg

Casey

[Eugen]

Wow Eugen,

I'm amazed too.  I didn't know that wood would burn in those temperatures.    And I hope to never witness it.  Harvesting the heat might be food for thought. 

Our place was about 1000 square feet too but that included the attached spacious one car garage which was not heated.  The Vermont Castings was a very cute stove but we soon learned that not all fire wood was created the same.  It was not as cute as the Petit Godin but it delivered about four times the heat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qp8VWRB-m4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsI7TzOFNvg

Casey

Casey,

Oop's  I didn't know that either but if it could it would be handy in the Summer Months.

However harvesting heat from the listeroid would certainly be an option if it was my only source of electricity. However it is only for power-out conditions. The Petit Godin I have seen  recently and is somewhat the same as my Tempwood but only that is also loaded from the top and I have to remove the ash from the top as well. It's not a big deal with having to do this once every two weeks

[br549]

I built this stand for my  radiator.  I used a 31" diameter tractor disc for the base and was wondering how these radiators are built.   Can't tell if it is a single casting or if it is made of separate segments.  Does anybody know?
Thanks.

[LowGear]

Nice paint job but I would have gone for the deeply masculine flat black on the radiator.  I'll be surprised if you don't need a fan.  My dream was to build a sterling engine driven fan for the wood stoves.  So much for that fortune.

Your art is excellent and a great use of "found" objects.  Anybody can go down to the hardware store and buy new stuff but you are truly ahead of the curve.

Casey

[johna]

br549
They are made up of segments and long threaded rods hold it together.
John

[br549]

Hello Johna.  I noticed this is your first post.  Welcome to the Forum.  However, I must warn you that it can become habit forming.  An incredible amount of information available here and I have an idea it will become more and more useful as people need to become  more energy independent. 
Thanks a lot.
Terry