Wiring for 220v or 110v?

[richard5933]

I was actually using coal as an example of solid fuel, not suggesting anyone actually burn it in their bus.

But, it can be done.  Not sure how this translates to life in a bus, but here's a video of two guys living in a narrowboat and their coal stove. Afterall, a narrowboat is nothing but a bus without wheels floating down a canal.

See 12:20 for the stove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SNCh-rMiTE&t=759s

And cleaning the chimney/stove at 15:56
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxI-sbq2K6A

[Glennman]

I've installed probably a hundred Jotul wood and gas stoves during my contracting days. They are hands down some of the best stoves on the market. One thing about the cast or heavy steel stoves in this discussion is that they will hold heat for quite a while, opposed to some of the tiny, super thin stainless models I've seen advertised/presented on YouTube. Also, coal should not be burned in any stove that is not designed for such. Coal burns much hotter than wood, and can destroy a stove that isn't built for it in short order.

[chessie4905]

Good coal stoves are lined with fire brick or the lighter ceramic bricks and different grade of cast iron grates.

[dtcerrato]

We have the small Jotul 602 & a Dovre Heirloom side loader. Both total 100,000 btu. Wood. Ironically the Jotul is in Tok & the larger Dovre is in the FL home. And ironically again AK wood is white spruce and FL is oak. Kind of wish it was reversed but that's how it panned out!

[luvrbus]

Since we went to wood heat I have ? if you are on the move how would you handle the screwed up law about crossing state line with fire wood from another state.I had a ranger in NV that took my wood for camp fires and made me a small bundle from a camp host for 7 bucks.Some laws are stupid you know he burn the wood or tossed it in a dumpster.LOL California friut fly inspection stations even ask now do you have fire wood   

[richard5933]

Since we went to wood heat I have ? if you are on the move how would you handle the screwed up law about crossing state line with fire wood from another state.I had a ranger in NV that took my wood for camp fires and made me a small bundle from a camp host for 7 bucks.Some laws are stupid you know he burn the wood or tossed it in a dumpster.LOL California friut fly inspection stations even ask now do you have fire wood

Pellet stove? No restrictions on moving pellets that I'm aware of. Or, cut up some old pallets - no restrictions on transporting kiln dried lumber.

[dtcerrato]

On the USA Canadian border stations we've see piles of wood furniture alongside the road. Wood is harder getting across international border than the states. And heaven forbid you gather local wood in Most national & provincial parks. When traveling it's diesel, LP. Or electric heat for us but we campfire on both ends - AK FL

[Jim Blackwood]

Coal is rather nasty stuff to heat with. It stinks and it's hard to keep that smell out of the house.

Jim

[dtcerrato]

Quite a bit of AK residents we met store coal only as a backup fuel as it is readily available with little excavation.

[Jcparmley]

I wasn't planing on burning coal, but I understand the example.  Lot's of Skoolie's have wood stoves in them.  I would burn only kiln dried hard wood unless I ran out, then I would burn only hardwood to keep the creosote down.  I like the idea of having a source that is cheap and available such as wood.  I also like the dry heat.  You can find wood anywhere you go and if I can't I can always carry those fire bricks made out of sawdust.  Easy peasy.

[Glennman]

Pellet stove? No restrictions on moving pellets that I'm aware of. Or, cut up some old pallets - no restrictions on transporting kiln dried lumber.

Pellet stoves are a nice alternative to woodstoves in some cases. The problem is that they have too many moving parts such as a fan for heat, a fan to expel products of combustion, an auger motor and a computer board. They can be vented out the wall or through the ceiling. I don't know if a bus moving down the road would affect the power venting system (they seem to work fine in areas with high winds). Either way a vertical vent is best. We had customers that soon discovered that even though the vent had a fan in it, the little bit of natural draft from a vertical vent would be enough to keep the room from getting smoked up until the fire finally went out. If I recall, there were models out there that had battery back up, and there may be some that don't have as many moving parts.

[Jcparmley]

I just found a Dovre Heirloom for sale not far from my house.  $200 and still working.  What a deal.  The side loader will be perfect and it's UL listed and has both the side and rear shields and catalytic converter so it's insurable.  Thanks for putting me on to this stove.  I wouldn't have looked it up without your suggestion.

We have the small Jotul 602 & a Dovre Heirloom side loader. Both total 100,000 btu. Wood. Ironically the Jotul is in Tok & the larger Dovre is in the FL home. And ironically again AK wood is white spruce and FL is oak. Kind of wish it was reversed but that's how it panned out!

[chessie4905]

fine for a house. Would roast you out in a coach.

[dtcerrato]

I just found a Dovre Heirloom for sale not far from my house.  $200 and still working.  What a deal.  The side loader will be perfect and it's UL listed and has both the side and rear shields and catalytic converter so it's insurable.  Thanks for putting me on to this stove.  I wouldn't have looked it up without your suggestion.

Great buy on a great stove! Heck new in 1990 we paid $525 for the Heirloom! The 6" catalytic is $100 these days. We burn oak from our woods - great stuff. With the stove loaded and catalytic engaged it'll do an 8 hour burn with coals enough to start another round. Love the ash tray for easy dump. It's a 60,000 btu stove @ 23" log. We have a screen for open burning like a fireplace for social aesthetics but it eats wood in that mode. In the photo we've been using a 1500W heating element in the stove - it maintains 400F & warms the living room & loft above so far this winter. Tomorrow the chimney cap comes off for all out wood burning as our winter finally is arriving (low 30s) We bump it's max temp on catalytic @ 1800F.
The 2nd photo is our smaller Jotul 602 @ 16" log- It's in a small shelter in Tok AK side by side with a vintage Sears & Roebuck oil burner at 60,000btu total.
Nice find!...

[Jcparmley]

You don'tneed to run it full bore.
Probably won't need to run another heat source.  It's 29 inch wide by 16 inch deep, so it's not as big as it looks.  Only 60k btu full bore.

 

fine for a house. Would roast you out in a coach.