Author Topic: Nyle L200 (Read 2033 times)

ahlkey · « **on:** December 20, 2009, 08:17:16 am »

I have just completed the Chamber for a used Nyle L200. What is the best electric heater to use to preheat the chamber? I do have access to gas but it seems electric would be better for my needs which then could be used for other heating needs at times. Anything special I should consider to preheat the chamber?

red oaks lumber · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2009, 10:33:45 am »

what do you mean by "pre heat the chamber". aren't you going to load the chamber with wood then turn your kiln unit on which already has a heater built in it.
or are you asking about adding additional heat to it? if so use elec. heat, gas heat will starve out for lack of oxegen.

Den Socling · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2009, 11:16:23 am »

red oaks,

I'm no expert with DH kilns but the ones I have seen need auxiliary heat to get the ball rolling. Then excess heat from the compressed side supplies the heat needed to evaporate water.

red oaks lumber · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2009, 12:57:08 pm »

den,
i run dh kilns, i add extra heat by using hotwater blown thru heat exchangers. his wording of preheat the chamber sounds like when you preheat your oven then put in the food.
when i ran my L200's 1 had hotwater makeup heat, the 2nd i put a 6" dia. stove pipe thru the wall and ran a diesel salamander heater for extra startup heat

scsmith42 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2009, 05:44:11 pm »

Why wouldn't the 5KW heat strips inside the L200 take care of the heating needs?

red oaks lumber · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2009, 06:04:42 pm »

it would but, in the winter with frozen wood it takes about 3 days to get up to 80 deg. to have the comp. start drying. for me pumping extra heat i'm up to temp. in 8 hours.(time is money)

scsmith42 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2009, 08:43:58 pm »

ok - that makes sense.

I added additional heat strips inside my L200, but that was primarily for getting the temp up to 160F for setting the pitch in pine (in the winter). The additional strips are each on a separate contactor, so that I can select one (the original L200 one), an extra 5KW strip, or an extra 10KW strip.

The contactors are wired into the primary one inside the controller, so it is all automatic. With all three operating it gets up to temperature within a few hours.

I added them for the pine, but tend to use at least the additional 5K strip most of the time. Did not put two and two together about the faster ramp up time benefit in the winter...

Ironwood · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2009, 08:52:36 pm »

I used base board heaters w/ the thermos taken out (this is outside in a self contained metal box, so fire is a non-worry) and hooked it to a remote thermosat on the outside of the unit. This gets my heat up quicker, I understand your need!

Ironwood

ahlkey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2009, 10:41:59 pm »

From the manual it says the compressor will not turn on until the Kiln reaches 80 degrees. If the Kiln is below the display it will show <Preheat> until the temperature is reached.

From the Nyle website I was able to pull the following from the Q & A section: " What type of heating system should be used for initial warm-up? It is only necessary to heat the kiln to about 85 degrees F (29 degrees C) to start the dehumidification process. Once started, the process feeds itself by recycling the heat recovered from the air. Initial warm-up can be done with nearly any type of heating system. Usually, small kilns or single kiln chambers use electric heat, while larger kilns may employ a gas, oil or wood boiler to provide heat."

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to configure something more practical eventually but for now use a simple base board heater that I have and believe will deliver enough heat to do the initial warm-up heating.

Ironwood · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2009, 10:49:43 pm »

Run the electrics 220v as they are much better and heat much faster.

Ironwood

ahlkey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2009, 11:07:27 pm »

Thanks Ironwood that makes sense.

ARKANSAWYER · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2009, 06:26:28 pm »

My chamber has vents at the top of the walls on oppisite sides to vent out excess moisture. I do not see why you can not pipe your diesel salamander heater into there and let the other side vent out the excess moisture. I would not put the unit inside and most likly would have about 6 ft of pipe before the heat enters the building.

oakiemac · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2009, 10:51:01 pm »

I just loaded my L-200 with about 2500bf of 4/4 lumber that had lots of snow and ice built up on the boards. We tried to scrap off the ice but this was too time consuming so we loaded with ice and all. It only took about 5 hours to go from 32 degrees in chamber with icy wood to 85 degrees using only the factory heater element. I have never had to run aux heat for my L-200.

red oaks lumber · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:59:35 pm »

that wood had to been mostly air dried, any wood with much moisture still in would be frozen, with your fans running the chamber temp. won't climb that fast. not the L200

Den Socling · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:45:57 pm »

red oaks,

That sounds a little fast to me, also and I could sit here and do a bunch of calculations but let it suffice for me to say that people don't want the attitude that you sometimes show. Oakiemac isn't lying to us and I am sure that he wasn't mistaken. Please consider other people's feelings.

Den

PS Many operations consider green wood in DH kilns as uneconomical. It probably was air dried and he simply didn't mention it.

red oaks lumber · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2009, 05:35:37 pm »

den,
that was written with no attitude, sorry to anyone that takes me as always having a chip on my shoulder. i'm probably the biggest smart a** on here. i think my problem is i can't spell very good or type so, what my mind is thinking dosen't get typed the same way, does that make any sense?
again... sorry to anyone that feels i have attitude.
thankyou steve

DR_Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2009, 05:49:41 pm »

Quote

I have never had to run aux heat for my L-200.

My DH4000 (same ad L200) has never need additional heat either. My box holds about 1800-2000 bf. My last load went in at ~30° and was up to 90° in just a few hours. I can get it up to 160° anytime without an issue.

LeeB · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:23:45 pm »

Quote from: red oaks lumber on December 22, 2009, 05:35:37 pm

den,
that was written with no attitude, sorry to anyone that takes me as always having a chip on my shoulder. i'm probably the biggest smart a** on here. i think my problem is i can't spell very good or type so, what my mind is thinking dosen't get typed the same way, does that make any sense?
again... sorry to anyone that feels i have attitude.
thankyou steve

A lot of us have the same problem and getting written word to "sound" like you want it to definatly is a skill. Sometimes it is helpful to read what you have written before you post.

oakiemac · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:48:07 pm »

The wood was green walnut cut just a few days before. Lots of ice on the lumber. I have been trying to rack my (small) brain to remember exactly how long it took maybe it was longer then 5 hours but it was certainly less then a day. I think we put it in late afternoon and by morning the next day it was up to temperature. Sorry if I miss led anyone.
My chamber is insulated with 4" of blown in foam so it is very tight. I dont think drying green lumber is uneconomical-I charge more for drying green. With the wood this wet I take my time, I leave it at about 90 degrees for about 10 days then ramp up the temp slowly. I find that temperature has much more to do with drying then compressor run time.

BTW: Merry Christmas!

Den Socling · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2009, 09:31:33 am »

red oaks,

I have the same problem in forums and with email. That's why I like these.

In my opinion, they change the mind of a reader who might start thinking that the writer has an attitude.

Happy Holidays to you and everybody here.

Den

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Author Topic: Nyle L200 (Read 2033 times)