Rocket Mass Heaters - a few questions

Hi All,
My name is Tom. I'm currently working in Afghanistan. I came across your group via google and youtube (can't beat the combo). You have really peaked my interest in the RMH systems. We live in southern Ohio in the country on 57 acres (so wood is a natural heating choice) and we currently heat with propane. We have a 20KW backup whole house generator as we lose power regularly, especially in the winter. I was researching outdoor wood furnaces (really expensive) when one page led to another...and another and here I am.
Our aim is to be off the grid as much as possible. I see a lot of these RMH videos and people have the daybeds, etc... How much radiant heat do you get off these? How well does it keep the rest of the house? I have a 1500 sq ft home with a full basement, cement slab floor. I was thinking of putting a RMH downstairs in the basement as it stays cooler there. How large of a RMH would I need? Would it heat the main floor as well; or would I need a RMH on the main floor as well? I see they burn a lot less wood than an outdoor wood furnace and have far less ash to clean up.
I'm soaking everything I can up about this project... any good sites for reference? Or just keep sifting through Google and Youtube?
Any help or information will be greatly appreciated.

VR,

Thomas Clodfelter
FOB Shank Afghanistan
Thomas_clodfelter@yahoo.com

Welcome to permies.

There are many threads here that can help you make your homestead more sustainable.

Here's a couple places to start--you can listen to the podcasts, or just check out the links:

Paul's Podcast #19

https://permies.com/t/19607/podcast/Podcast-Rocket-Mass-Heaters

Paul's Podcast #241

https://permies.com/t/22472/podcast/Podcast-Ernie-Erica-Rocket-Stoves

Thomas Clodfelter wrote:
I'm soaking everything I can up about this project... any good sites for reference? Or just keep sifting through Google and Youtube?

Hi Tom and welcome!

At the risk of repeating what you might have already found, here's a few links.

Paul's rocket stove mass heater article (includes many YouTube videos and further links): http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp
The 4-DVDs on rocket stove mass heaters: http://www.woodburningstoves2.com/
Instructors Ernie and Erica also offer plans: http://www.scubbly.com/store/ernieanderica/?affid=8092

We are looking at hosting another workshop next fall, possibly with a portion as a reunion or follow up for these first RMH workshop attendees.

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:We are looking at hosting another workshop next fall, possibly with a portion as a reunion or follow up for these first RMH workshop attendees.

For more on what the first RMH workshops looked like at paul's project, see two rocket mass heater workshops in October 2013 (note that there are multiple pages to this thread).