The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: vfauto on January 05, 2018, 06:30:44 PM
I put a load of maple and walnut slabs in the new Solar kiln and wondering if it is a waste of time and electricity to run the fans when it is cold outside in New England. When the sun is out it reaches 135 degrees for a short time during the day.
Two guidelines...the kiln temperature should be over 50F throughout, not just the gable. When this hot, run the fans.
AND the kiln temperature throughout the kiln should be 25 F hotter than the outside. In the winter, due to cold outside and low sun angles, you might run the fans for only a few hours on a sunny day in MA.
Get much snow?
Quote from: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on January 05, 2018, 10:28:10 PM
Two guidelines...the kiln temperature should be over 50F throughout, not just the gable. When this hot, run the fans.
AND the kiln temperature throughout the kiln should be 25 F hotter than the outside. In the winter, due to cold outside and low sun angles, you might run the fans for only a few hours on a sunny day in MA.
Get much snow? Thanks,got about 8"
I took your advice and added a thermostat that overrides the timer when it is under 50°
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/23688/B0BA3B93-142A-4E3C-943E-61D3265158D9.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1515281933)