Electric boiler agitator

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acfixer69
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by acfixer69 »

Man that looks sweet shady. I know I got one of those not ready for the junk box but can't remember last time I used it so I won't miss it. Really nice job :clap:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

I figure gear reduction would help the air motor work better
But first, I need to make sure the seals work :lol:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by Kareltje »

Among other things this thread clearly shows: never throw anything away! Keep it somewhere where you can find it again.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Kareltje wrote:never throw anything away! Keep it somewhere where you can find it again.
I've got the "never throw anything away" covered
The finding it again requires lots of time
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by Kareltje »

ROFL.

Once I had a landlord with the same problem. He needed some thing, he knew where it was, even: in the back of a fully stuffed garage. :mrgreen: So he decided to buy it again. :twisted:

You found some things again, didn't you. Unexpectedly, but all the more making you happy. :thumbup:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by hpby98 »

Throwing out a jiffy mixer

http://jiffymixer.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

304 Stainless mixer. Lots of different sizes. Excellent build quality.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

After making a run with the agitator. Here's something I didn't think about.
Agitating the wash, allows more power to be used before the boiler foams up and pukes :thumbup:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Can water be used to spin an air-motor :?:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by Yummyrum »

you're a legend Shady :clap:
got any close ups on how you coupled that rattle gun to the shaft .That would be my undoing .

hows the noise when its running ...guessing it might mask a thumper :lol: .

I like your water thinking . ....could make it a whole lot quieter .

What about steam
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by steelmb »

Yummyrum wrote:you're a legend Shady :clap:
got any close ups on how you coupled that rattle gun to the shaft .That would be my undoing .

hows the noise when its running ...guessing it might mask a thumper :lol: .

I like your water thinking . ....could make it a whole lot quieter .

What about steam
Just run the output from your boiler through it before the condenser. :moresarcasm:
I believe MCH may have said it best. "It's your hooch, you get to choose."
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Yummyrum wrote:got any close ups on how you coupled that rattle gun to the shaft
The "rattle gun" was already drilled and taped.
I drilled a 1/4" hole for the shaft it stick in
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shadylane
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

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shadylane wrote:Can water be used to spin an air-motor :?:
Busted
Don't know about all air-motors, but this one didn't run worth a damn on water
I think the speed control valve doesn't let enought water flow
Another problem, it would leak water all over the boiler :roll:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by acfixer69 »

shadylane wrote:Can water be used to spin an air-motor :?:
Hell I though you were joking. Air tools need oiling after each use because of moisture in the compressed air. That's why they have air driers in the lines after the compressor. Speed of air cfm to water cfm is not going to happen.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by steelmb »

acfixer69 wrote:
shadylane wrote:Can water be used to spin an air-motor :?:
Hell I though you were joking. Air tools need oiling after each use because of moisture in the compressed air. That's why they have air driers in the lines after the compressor. Speed of air cfm to water cfm is not going to happen.
Not only that the fluid(air or water) being used needs to expand as the motor rotates. Water will not work for this reason. Steam would work but is a very bad choice with no real gain and lots of drawbacks to using it.
I believe MCH may have said it best. "It's your hooch, you get to choose."
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

acfixer69 wrote:
shadylane wrote:Can water be used to spin an air-motor :?:
Hell I though you were joking.
Now Ya tell me :roll:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Here's another hair-brained idea
Use a brushless DC motor to spin the agitator
Some thing similar to this
https://www.amazon.com/Hobbypower-1000k ... B99CTMKJ1Z" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by Kareltje »

Ah, now I see. You want to prevent sparks near a flammable fluid/gas.

I forgot what it is called, but there is a construction like the cage of Faraday that works to contain flames. It was used in coalmines around the lights and the grind on Bunsen-buirners serves the same purpose.
(Sorry: it is late for me and I used my product.)
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by bronctoad »

Am I missing some thing here? why do you want a DC motor to begin with? :wtf:
wouldn't an AC motor with a cheap speed controller be a safer and more
controllable set-up? :eh: or a totally enclosed DC motor, brushless or not? :econfused:
edit addition: Sorry shady loggged on to say the D.A. motor conversion was way cool :clap:
got lost after that :oops: but repurposing junk for re-use is my drug of choice :ebiggrin:
Way to go :clap:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

I'm playing around with different options for a DIY agitator
The professional agitators use expensive AC gearmotors and a VFD for speed control
Enclosed brushed motors have a problem with Ozone attacking the insulation
Air motors a LOUD and inefficent, next on the list of possiblities are stepper motors and brushless DC
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by hellbilly007 »

I figured if I'd ever build an agitator I'd use one of these https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Motor-26 ... ref=plSrch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. That should be plenty of torque to move through the thickest of muck.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

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hellbilly007 wrote:I figured if I'd ever build an agitator I'd use one of these https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Motor-26 ... ref=plSrch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. That should be plenty of torque to move through the thickest of muck.
That's what I'm thinking also :thumbup:
The down side of a stepper motor, is it needs a controller and the controller needs a DC supply :roll:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Yummyrum wrote:hows the noise when its running ...guessing it might mask a thumper :lol:
It reminds me of some of the punk rock bands I've heard.
The motor shrieks, the seal squeaks and the prop-shaft rattles.
And the thumper supplys the drummer
Figure it's time to try using a stepper motor.
I'll need the motor, DC power supply, Driver and a signal generator to drive the driver :crazy:
The parts are on order
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

While I'm waiting for parts, figured I'd design a new speed controller
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Yes, that's heat shrink used for a coupler :lol:
I don't have all the parts yet, so I'm doing a prototype
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Kareltje wrote:As for the motor: a friend used the motor of a windshieldwiper. Alternating movement already build in.
Those work good for turning a rummager :thumbup:
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by Jeff34 »

What are you using for a shaft seal? I plan to make an agitator using a brushless DC gearmotor. Speed control from a power supply for now. Not sure how I seal on the 1/4” shaft.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

Here's a couple picts
The tube came from a corny keg
The compression coupling from my junk box
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by der wo »

Jeff34 wrote:What are you using for a shaft seal? I plan to make an agitator using a brushless DC gearmotor. Speed control from a power supply for now. Not sure how I seal on the 1/4” shaft.
There is no need for a shaft seal, if the shaft bushing is always immersed into the wash. It has to be a long bushing of course when usig this method. See the link in my signature.
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

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shadylane wrote:Here's a couple picts
The tube came from a corny keg
The compression coupling from my junk box
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Re: Electric boiler agitator

Post by shadylane »

The pressure seal is the shaft bushing being immersed in the wash
The homemade top seal stops the little bet of leakage
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