Product recommendation (non satellite)

[sonnetpete]

Some of you may know that I live in an old French farm house and altogether it's a delightful abode, though heating it during the winter was always a problem.

There has been a log burning stove in here since the first winter we occupied the house. When I purchased my Rayburn for the kitchen, I also replaced the log burner with a newer model. The log burner and Rayburn are my sole form of heating and the ground floor is 225 cubic metres. The first floor is similar in volume though does have radiators supplied by the Rayburn.

Last year I began reading about stove top fans. They received good reviews in the main and I decided to purchase this one :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caframo-Eco...UTF8&qid=1416213890&sr=8-6&keywords=stove+fan

Based on the principle of a Stirling heat exchange engine (I think) the fan uses the energy stored in it's heat sink to convert to electricity and thus power the fan. I was very sceptical to say the least. However, it did seem to make a difference in that the warm air was more evenly distributed. I say this with the caveat that miracles should not be expected as some of the negative reviewers have assumed.

This year I've moved my fan onto the top of the Rayburn (which usually 'stays in' all night) and I'm now starting my third week without lighting the log burner. The temperature in the lounge drops to just below 19C during the night and rises to 20C + during the day and evening. There are no detectable 'cold spots'. I'm in no doubt that the log burner will have to fired up before too long but I'm grateful for the saving in logs that I've made thus far. I'm also thinking of getting a second fan to go back on the log burner, though I may try a cheaper (Far Eastern made) one. If you have a log burner or range cooker it's well worth considering purchasing one...

 

[rolfw]

Was thinking of getting one for my sister in France, nice to hear a positive report.

 

[rolfw]

Actually, just looked at a photo of the stove and not sure whether it'll fit in the gap.

 

[2cvbloke]

Not quite the Stirling engine effect, it's using a Peltier heatpump to generate electricity to turn the fan, just remember to not place it on too hot a part of the stove or you'll burn out the peltier...

 

[sonnetpete]

Not quite the Stirling engine effect, it's using a Peltier heatpump to generate electricity to turn the fan, just remember to not place it on too hot a part of the stove or you'll burn out the peltier...

Yes, I remember now..always did get my Stirling's and Peltiers mixed up. The instructions do warn you not to put it on a really hot part of the stove, which is probably why they also tell you not to put it in front of the flue...

Actually, just looked at a photo of the stove and not sure whether it'll fit in the gap.

Difficult to tell the size of that opening. It's a design of stove I've never seen before. Here's a photo of the fan with a hardback book for size comparison :

 

[bim]

Hi Sonnetpete, I haven't been on the link yet but I will do as it sounds interesting. We had a big open fire which we used to have bonfires in but the heat output was dismal, so a few years ago I installed a built in log burner complete with ducting to the upstairs which is fan driven. What a difference. No doubt you are the same as us half metre thick solid stone walls so not too thermally sound. Ok once they are heated up but always a heat sink. We do also have radiators upstairs and underfloor heating ground floor. As we are all solar with no connections to any external services this works quite well. We can normally keep it in winter at approx 20-21c and considering we have had it minus 20c outside thats not too bad!

 

[sonnetpete]

Bim : Not sure which Amazon would be easiest/cheapest for you if you decided to buy one. They are available in other places on the 'net. For sure getting one from the UK was cheaper for me than from France even allowing for carriage from the UK.

There was only an open fire here when we arrived and I installed a 'cheap' logburner which lasted 8+ years and got through 3 grates and an ash pan. Yes, the walls are up to 50cm thick, though I was told they keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Probably turning the ground floor into open plan wasn't a good idea but then the heat from the kitchen couldn't waft it's way through the rest of the house.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Yes, I remember now..always did get my Stirling's and Peltiers mixed up.

It's the Seebeck coefficient that converts temperature differential to electricity, Peltier works the other way round

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seebeck_coefficient

 

[2cvbloke]

I was wondering when someone would mention that...

The Seebeck effect is correct, but until I saw something on EEVBlog about it, I'd never even heard of it, it was all Peltier this, Peltier that, and technically it's a TEG, or Thermo Electric Generator, but that's getting a bit on the pedantic side...