Teardown of a heat powered stove fan.
Added 2019-01-31 05:09:33 +0000 UTCThis unit is designed to derive its power from a heat gradient and blow the hot air surrounding the stove into the room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H7SZO4okXk
Since making the video earlier today I've deduced what all the components are and listed them in the description. I've ordered new motors, a peltier plate and some silicone insulated wire to try and get the thing running again. It may be that the motors would respond well to lubrication, but the replacements are cheap enough to just get anyway as a precaution. I think the bearing sleeves sound a bit too rough.
Comments
I commented on youtube but I'm not sure anyone ever reads those comments... The motor in the dual fan one is almost certainly a Mabuchi RF-500TB-12560 - you can get chinesium for about 1.5€ a pop from the usual scumbags. As always over-order, because some of them will be DOA. Just do a search on RF-500TB and you're golden.
horrovac
2019-02-13 16:30:19 +0000 UTCWe have one of the devices that looks like a small ice chest that has a peltier based cooling/heating unit. It's about 20 years old. A few weeks ago we had need to take it down and use it . I would estimate it had been about 3 or 4 years since it had been turned on, and I honestly didn't expect it to work. Pleasantly it did, cooling the contents about 30 degrees (f) below room temperature as measured by a cheap fridge magnet while plugged into mains.
2019-02-04 03:40:31 +0000 UTCit would be interesting to see a comparison between the really cheap peltier devices and the more expensive ones, although it might be a bit inconvenient to test, as i suspect the issue may be with the longevity of the device
2019-02-04 00:36:50 +0000 UTCI've seen them mentioned and used by several youtube narrow boat channels
Glenn Achten
2019-02-02 17:51:20 +0000 UTCseems like one more thing to have to worry about. I was thinking about buying one, but I think I'll just stick with the electric fan pointed at the slow combustion stove. I do wonder if they could make it better heat proofed, perhaps enamelled copper wire instead of the insulated wire. And I have seen some magnetic bearing motors that might be interesting.
Stuart Goggin
2019-02-02 03:06:05 +0000 UTCThat's cool. ...one one side, anyway.
Michael Thompson
2019-02-02 00:48:11 +0000 UTCThe big one is probably a Chinese eBay clone. It was far too cheap compared to the usual posh ones.
Big Clive
2019-02-01 05:51:37 +0000 UTCWhat about putting an ice cube on a fin that won't drip into the fans/junctions?
Dustin
2019-02-01 03:19:51 +0000 UTCOK, so take the Peltier from the dual, and repair Ralfie's single, then bin the rest. Problem solved. Thanks, Clive.
Chuck Kirchner
2019-02-01 01:09:04 +0000 UTCIs the larger unit an Ecofan made in Canada? I've got one and I've found they have replacement motor kits available as well as pretty good troubleshooting information. They indicated that the motor is the first thing to fail if the unit is allowed to overheat. Mine is rather fickle with my woodstove as the stove doesn't have a particularly flat top, leading to too little contact with the fan base. I've wondered what I could put in between the stove and the fan base that's flexible and thermally conductive, but won't burn up when the stove is hot.
2019-01-31 23:36:38 +0000 UTCSeems like the big ones do a much better job of keeping the motor away from the heat :/
Jamie Magin
2019-01-31 22:28:32 +0000 UTCNever seen one of these fans, interesting.
Richard Boyce
2019-01-31 20:46:20 +0000 UTCtoo bad that the bi-metallic strip didn't protect it
Paul Schuur
2019-01-31 20:15:34 +0000 UTCI have never seen one of those before here in the US for wood stoves. The story of your Mom made me laugh.Sorry.I take care of my Mom and have days like that too.
2019-01-31 17:22:57 +0000 UTCI didn't realise electric versions of these existed, I'm familiar with the stirling engine fans though and frankly I'd rather have one of those. These thermoelectric (see how I dodged the name issue there) cells still fascinate me though.
Matt Tester
2019-01-31 13:46:18 +0000 UTCI am using a homemade Peltier rig on a big cooler (ice chest) so we can keep stuff cool in the car when traveling long distances here in the US. The key is to not have it drawing power when the engine is off. I was surprised how much current it draws. But it is very effective.
2019-01-31 13:32:08 +0000 UTCWhen I made mine I recall the coolers work to make power but aren't necessarily rated for the heat. I'm betting that the more expensive ones are rated for heat but that's a total guess. One of my first videos on YouTube with my most views of 27k. <a href="https://youtu.be/pdECusBa1_E" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/pdECusBa1_E</a>
Aaron Nadler
2019-01-31 11:30:32 +0000 UTCI learned something new today and look forward to seeing your repair.
Nuts 'n' Proud
2019-01-31 11:19:19 +0000 UTCI have a similar fan on my stove, it works really well to spread the heat around the room. Mine has a different peltier element that is not sealed on the sides, looks like a bunch of small metal cubes sandwiched between the two plates with a slight gap between each cube... It also has the element and motors connected to a small circuit board between the fans that distributes the power so all the wires are in the open and not touching the hot metal. The bimetallic strip is missing from mine tho, despite the space and screw whole being there... I'll have to check with the store if that is normal. The top of my stove is not flat tho, so i doubt too much heat could couple through anyways.
Thor Syvertsen
2019-01-31 10:06:30 +0000 UTCI prefer the Streisand Effect for my generators :)
Moz in Oz
2019-01-31 09:50:35 +0000 UTC
