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Would a rocket heater fit in my tiny house on wheels?

 
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I'm going to build an 8.5 x 14 foot tiny house.

A typical 6 inch rocket mass heater would be too big.  I was considering something like this DIY portable rocket heater that has a 3 inch pipe.  It has some thermal mass built in, but no separate thermal mass to run exhaust pipes through:
https://permies.com/t/5505/smallest-rocket-mass-heater

I'd only want this in my tiny house if I could have it fit in gracefully and not overtake the whole space.  The front area is only 5 feet long.  Current floor plan has the Cubic Mini Cub drawn in, but I prefer a rocket heater.  A rocket heater may not fit well in that same spot, but perhaps on the other wall to the right.  Right now it's allocated to storage cabinets but the plan could be reworked.

Open to feedback from those more knowledgeable than me.  Would clearances allow me for me to fit one in gracefully?  If so, any suggestions on a good rocket heater plan?  

Note that this does not have to be my primary heat source.  I will also have propane.

Thank you!      
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Rocket Scientist
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I wouldn't try to use a 3" stove like that in your place, but a 4" version with minimal mass to mitigate instant heat and stretch out the delivery by a couple of hours might work. I would build the whole thing outside, testing variations on size and volume and area of different parts to get it as good as you can, and then move it inside. A 4" version of a J-tube is going to need feeding every 10-15 minutes, but tending it for a couple of hours might keep the space warmish for half the night. If parts are 4 or 5" of cob walls encased in a metal shell, it might even be warm until morning. I would be sure to run the exhaust straight up to get all the draft you can.

Batch box technology (which didn't exist at the time that thread started) might be able to get a really useful RMH in 4" or slightly smaller size, at the cost of distinctly more complex and exacting build requirements. See batchrocket.eu for details.



 
Neera Nagero
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That's encouraging, thank you!  I will look into that.  The batchbox.eu site no longer seems to be working, but at least I now know the technology exists.  I will search around.
 
rocket scientist
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Hi Neera;
https://batchrocket.eu/en/       This seems to work fine at my house.

Fine tunning a RMH outdoors is an excellent suggestion!
Learn outside where it is safe, what  works for you.

At   https://dragontechrmh.com/   I can custom fabricate any off size batchbox parts you might need.
 
Neera Nagero
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Thanks!  The link does work if I add "/en" to it as you suggested.  And yes, I would be happy to learn more about what you have to offer for parts.  I will send an email through the website.  Thank you!
 
Glenn Herbert
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Odd, the link I posted is actually to batchrocket.eu/en, though I do get the site in Dutch if I type in just batchrocket.eu.
 
gardener
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Not that odd, the Dutch version was there first and to all the others were subsequently /en or /es or whatever added.

While the site has a row of names like that, it should come up with the translation that is normal for your country. Unless... your browser isn't configured with English as the preferred language?
 
Glenn Herbert
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I get the result I expected, I was just curious why the OP said my link (to batchrocket.eu/en) was not working - it works when I click it.


Edit: batchbox.eu definitely doesn't do anything if you type that in.
"The batchbox.eu site no longer seems to be working..."
 
Peter van den Berg
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Glenn Herbert wrote:Edit: batchbox.eu definitely doesn't do anything if you type that in.
"The batchbox.eu site no longer seems to be working..."


No wonder, as far as I know of, there's no such site. Not run by me, anyway.
 
Neera Nagero
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In the end I have decided to nix idea of RMH in the tiny house.  Main reason is that I want to have it insured and this would get in the way of me being able to get coverage.  Perhaps one day I can build one in a cabin of something (they are so cool)!  But for now will do a tiny wood stove.
 
pollinator
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Please let us know if you are able to get insurance with a wood stove in a trailer and who you got the insurance from.  I’m wanting to build a tiny house also. Thanks
 
Neera Nagero
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Hi Jeremy,
Strategic Insurance is a company that many tiny house owners I know go with.  They insure custom builds and will insure with wood stove if it is professionally installed or inspected.
 
Being a smart ass beats the alternative. This tiny ad knows what I'm talking about:
turnkey permaculture paradise for zero monies
https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies
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