Coydon Wallham

I feel like RMHs where the firebox is enclosed without a window are the exception, not the rule...

Benjamin Dinkel wrote:As of yesterday the first Rocket Mass Heater designed and built by me is functional!
I’m very pleased with it. Jumped right to life despite being cold and wet.

The finishing plaster will be installed today and tomorrow.

I’ll update this thread with a documentation of the building process once I’m home and with a working PC.

Is the bypass not connected yet?

Seth Cardenas wrote:REBEL #3
This week I was ranch sitting for former boots Josiah and Jennifer. The week consisted of watching cows, clearing brush, rendering tallow, and of course a long walk home after locking my keys in the car.

Grandma was a waitress and would bring home stories to us from work. A frequent one was customers who would ask if she was expecting a tip, then tell her "don't wear high heels on the job!"

Sounds like you should trade out work boots...

paul wheaton wrote:updated chrome, no change.  Bounced chrome.  No change.  Which makes sense because the other two browsers are having the same problem.

Bounced my o/s (it has been running non-stop for several weeks).  

Now it works.  

There has been chit chat on my OS list about a security upgrade to the Dovecot server software that just came through and broke older versions. No idea of specifics, just thinking if it was an OS thing, Dovecot might be integrated into Paypal or Mint somewhere?

Caitlin Steve wrote:I’m one of those noobies and maybe to give context for you noticing that trend… I’ve seen permies on Reddit/google/chatGPT. Basically anytime someone asks “where can I find off grid singles” the interwebz sends them here. That’s how I discovered permies and why I don’t have much posting history. I’ve been learning a lot through the different forums but feel too novice to contribute to the conversations. It’s hugely educational for me though. The singles forum was just what got me
in the door and I’m sure in time I will have great contributions to share but it can be intimidating for someone with less experience than all these permaculture gods and goddesses out here sharing all the cool things that are so fun for me to be exposing myself to. It’s a whole new world and I feel like that’s a mission everyone here shares- community and converting people to a better way of life and the singles forum is a great introduction

Don't be shy in asking questions on any topic that interests you in any of the forums. I'd suggest reading up on the 'Wheaton Eco Scale' here- any questions that help everyone understand better what it takes to encourage people moving from "level 1" to "level 2" (or even 0 to 1)  would be pretty central to the 'mission' of this site...

thomas rubino wrote:The tighter the seal the better it will work.
You could fold up some foil to cover the feed and place your firebricks over that.
I suspect both piped mass and a strat chamber are very similar in heat loss, if allowed to draft.

A piped mass might flow better, but by volume, it is tiny,
A strat chamber is huge in comparison.
Ultimately, both rise through a vertical chimney pipe.

I kinda suspect the foil would be too much fuss on a daily basis for most users. The plug for the FPH is a well crafted piece. I'm surprised Paul hasn't done more bragging about it, maybe he's just too shy and timid to say anything. But seriously, you should check it out, this might be another design that could be offered by Dragon Tech, if there is enough of a J-tube market out there any more. I'm just curious how much draft actually will still get around two firebricks.

For piped vs. stratification, both systems have say an 8" exhaust going up. The ducted system is designed as one big chute, usually ascending through the entire mass (particularly if following the Wisners' advice from the Builders Guide). I think the strat chamber would function as a bit of a plug compared to the inverted sink of heat that would flow through the ducts. The bottom of the strat exhaust is pulling the coolest air, the heat of the mass will work with the warmer air to stay above that level and resist flow out the exit...

Am I correct in my understanding that it is much more important to block the flow in a ducted mass than a stratification chamber? Seems the ducts would be much more efficient in drawing heat straight out of the system.

I'm not sure how familiar you would be with this concept Thomas, but I was at Wheaton Labs when Caleb designed a custom plug for the feed of the RMH in the Fisher Price House. I've since been wondering if the difference between something like that and the two firebricks I use would be measurable...?

I'll temper my previous statement by saying that shapes like yurts and domes don't suffer much of the problems with wind as more blocky buildings do so that might not be a large concern in your case, but there would still be clear benefits to having the exhaust exit as high as possible.

I've never heard of a chimney that was too tall that it worked negatively against draft...

Kendal Webster wrote:I'm still debating where to place the exhaust. With any luck I'll start a layout using tape tonight. This will help my visual brain see things better. Also another chance for feedback from the experts here before I start buying materials.

Your picture showing exhaust going up at an angle gives some extra ideas, but the very central part of the dome will not be an option, but any point up to where the loft will eventually go is available. We will see how it all comes together in the next several weeks... or as long as it takes!!!

Discussions I've seen on RMHs with side wall exits have been about irreconcilable problems, sounds like it is always more rewarding to put time in figuring out how to have exhaust exit through the roof (or highest point available). More efficient in radiating heat from the exiting gas into the building, and avoiding problems with airflow around the building. Looks like plenty of room in the triangle frames adjacent to the cupola, the closer to the peak the better...

No need to have the RMH in the middle of the footprint with the pipe running straight up and out through the center of the dome top:
Also, with the bench as a stratification chamber, the exhaust can be right next to the Liberator on the central side of the bench.