Heat generated fan for woodstove--anyone used?

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In Plow and Hearth catalog, there is a fan which is to be placed on top of a woodstove, and is powered by the heat from the woodstove. It looks promising, but wondered if anyone has used such a device and if it works? Don't want to spend the bucks unless it really works well. Says it pushes heat at about 100cfm, and would be nice to help circulate the heat instead of using an electric fan, as we now do. Any experience out there with one of these, or a similar type? Thanks, Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), December 02, 2000

Answers

Jan not sure if it is the same thing,ours is a "box"that fits into the woodstove pipe.The heat going up the chimney triggers it to start thus blowing the hot air out of the pipe and into the room. It is electric but the heat starts and stops it,we love it . the room heats up 50-70% faster and the woodstove pipes remain cooler to the touch.We got this a Ct supply, it is for an 8in. pipe and ran around 120.oo ,ours was dented so we got it 1/2 price. I highly recommend it.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), December 02, 2000.

I have and use one. Its converts heat into electricity to turn the fan,,got mine at real goods on sale for 89.00,, if the room is small,, works great,,, dont know about larger rooms,, but I keep it on the woodstave all the time and you can feel the difference

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), December 02, 2000.

I believe the one you are mentioning is called the "Eco-Fan", made in Canada. It uses no electricity. You just set it on the woodstove and the heat generates it's motion. I have read nothing but raves about it! So simple. I know Real Goods sells it but I also saw it cheaper at an Amish store in Shipshewanna, Indiana. Maybe Lehman's has it now as I haven't looked there. It's way too cool--a must for every woodstove owner! Actually, there is also another larger one available but I'm not sure if it's from the same manufacturer. It costs over twice as much. We haven't decided if two of the smaller ones would be better than the one big one. Hmm.

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), December 02, 2000.

Yes, the eco fan is what I saw. I was hoping that hubby could make something similar, but not sure if the blades have to be aerodynamic or what. The one in the catalog has blades bent in a couple different shapes. Our small woodstove really does a great job of heating the place, but we do use a vornado electric fan to help circulate the heat to the far north end of the house. Otherwise, the heat drives you out of the room with the stove, and leaves the living room, in the north end, chilly. Thanks for the input. Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), December 02, 2000.

Ours is from Canada, with a maple leaf and all, it is a great fan, we actaully have ours facing the flue so it circulates the air back to the fire wall and out into the room, the longer you use it the faster it runs also, only maintenence is to keep the little piston area oiled with a few drops of oil. It is very well made, husband in his first life was a sheet metal mechanic so he really appreciates good workmanship like this. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 02, 2000.


the only thing i see different is our fan catches the heat leaving the stove that would go un used.How about both?1 to use the heat in the pipe the other to use the radiant heat off the stove?

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), December 02, 2000.

its not the rising heat that turns the blades. It has a little "waffer" that actuallly generates electricity to run a small motor that turns the blades,, the higher the heat, the more elctricity

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), December 02, 2000.

I have one of the little Eco fans, and have it on top of my back-up firebox in the living room. They work pretty well for a general area, but not the entire house (mine is kind of sprawling instead of compact, due to all the remodelling over the years). As I understand it, there is something to do with different types of metal used that heat/cool at different rates that makes it spin. Mine doesn't have enough heat to get started on its own, so when the heat is up, I have to 'push start' it with one finger to start it going around. After that, it distributes the heat in the central rooms (living,dining,den) pretty well. I got it so that when we have another ice storm or windstorm take out all power (again...) it will be back-up heat for a central area where everyone (family and animals) can be moved to for the interim. For that purpose, it works pretty well. Maybe try a few of the bulletin boards to find if anyone bought one as a Y2K item (I saw them at the fairs) and doesn't want it and will sell it cheap?

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), December 02, 2000.

I've seen something like whats being described, I think. The one I saw was actually a sterling heat engine driving the blades. A sterling operates and creates mechanical power from heat differential.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), December 02, 2000.

Lehman's has or used to have two different kinds. One with a piston that costs alot and one that is made in Canada for $100. Which one is preferrable and where would you suggest finding a used one?

Kathy

-- Kathy (DavidWH6@juno.com), December 03, 2000.



they are avilable in canda at most large suface area hardware stores i checked them out a bit they use the same device that is used in electic cooler/refgerator for the car when used in revers apply current and the unit freeze one side heats the other they work on a tempature diffance cost was 89.00 can$ last time i looked

-- nick (raymondetdesrosier@smpatico.ca), January 25, 2001.

If you mean the ECO-Fan don't waste your money!Sure, when it heats up it spins like a demon. But is it moving any air? The only air movement I noticed was up! Don't know if your place is any different,but at my place, the heat go's that way on its own.

-- K. Brooks (kbrooks56@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

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