Replies

1. 
   H.C._Kimball | Jan 14, 1999 05:33am | #1

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   I advise you to think long and hard about getting a pellet stove that requires electricity to operate. At this point it is questionable weather we can depend on reliable electrical service in the year 2000, due to the computer situation. There are people in the electrical industry that predict major problems-- brownouts, blackouts- for an extended period of time. There are web sites and internet news reports related to this issue that I will be glad to direct you to. As I understand it, a pellet stove is worthless if there is no electricity.

1. 
   Hambone_ | Jan 15, 1999 08:39am | #2

   *I think along the same lines as H.C. Why not take the opportunity to be less reliant on the grid? Isn't that what a weekend place is all about? I say get a good wood stove and a chain saw. And get some propane lights, too.

2. 
   Guest_ | Jan 15, 1999 10:47pm | #3

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   While I largely think the Y2K stuff is a bunch of crap, I think we all should be more worried about the deregulation of utilities. I have two reasons:

   1 - The deregulation of the phone industry. I have a few acquaintances that work at Nortel (They make the computers and software that run the industry). They say utility deregulation better go 1000% better than the phone industry. Were you aware that when you pick up your phone you are now dealing with approximately 6 different companies? It is not uncommon for parts of the country to be unable to get proper phone service, information, or billing. So how about when it's the lifeblood of your house we are talking about.

   2 - I work for a company that makes insulators and bushings for the utility industry. I can tell you for a fact that they are now running incredibly low on inventory. We are putting plans together to be able to pool resources and get a part to one of the pooled utilitites in 24 hours or less! So now when your power goes out you had better have an emergency responce plan. Why are they running inventories so low? Because their old fashioned method of basing rates on their asset base will go out the window. Now they will have real overhead! Inventories will be seen as a cost, not a source of income.

   Don't worry about Y2K - worry about deregulation. And buy a power plant from Radian (Kohler) or Plug Power and make your own electricity for a cost of 3.5 cents per kw.

   -Rob

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 15, 1999 10:53pm | #4

   *Ditto Rob. I was at a conference and a friend from England who hadn't been in the states for a while remarked "What have you done to the phones? It use to be the best system in the world and now it's crap!"More troubling is the same can be said for healthcare. All the kings and queens and princes and people with more money than I could count in a lifetime use to come here - now they go elsewhere.

3. 
   JohnE | Jan 16, 1999 12:06pm | #5

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   Gary;

   I do not like pellet stoves. The installs I've seen can sustain heat in a building, but do not have the output to get a building from 20 def F to a balmy 60-70 deg F within a weekend.

   How about a nice LPG fueled heater? You can also get units that do not require electricity and
   b DO NOT
   get ventless units. Ventless is bad enough for an occupied structure, but one that only gets fresh air on the weekends.......

   If you have to have wood, get a nice Vermont Casting stove or something similar. Efficiency of a stove, but you can open the door to see the fire, too.

   Cheers;
   JE

1. 
   Marty_R | Jan 17, 1999 10:29am | #6

   *Rob, Ive never heard of Radian or Plug Power generators. Do they have a web site? What do you think of Makita generators? I heard they are as good as hondas. Are you sure of that 3.5 cent figure? That sounds to good to be true.Any information would be appreciated.Thanks, Marty.

4. 
   gary_graham | Jan 19, 1999 01:38am | #7

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   I am considering a pellet stove as the heat source for my under-construction log cabin. It is 1500 sq ft. Mainly weekend use, some nights will get down to low 20's. Any suggestions on size, features, brands, good/bad experiences would be appreciated.

5. 
   Guest_ | Jan 19, 1999 01:38am | #8

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   Marty - I made a mistake the company is not Radian it is Capstone. http://www.capstone.com. They make a small (30 kW) gas turbine power plant that will be marketed through Kohler. Will cost $15,000 and runs on anything that burns - cost between 3.5 to 4.3 cents per kW. Plug Power makes a fuel cell powerplant that runs off of Natural Gas. They have a demo home running in the Albany, NY area. They say "in production volumes" (an unspecified term at best) that they will cost $3000 and make 2 kW. They are designed for off-grid, primary power installations. Though in a weekend cottage I doubt it would pay back anytime soon; Though running power for a mile is a bag full of money at best!

   -Rob