NG not enough energy to roast on IR stove?

[Igneous88]

I was able to hook up the NG line in my house to the IR stove with larger orifices for NG.  I'm posting my two roasts from this morning.  My first roast was a batch weight of 454g with a weight loss of 18.3 percent.  The second batch was a 300g batch that had weight loss around 16%.  With the larger batch, I was full throttle on the gas, which was a little over 1 kpa.  Is NG on the IR just not strong enough to get the ROR where I need it to be.  If not, would you try switching out the stove, or just go with propane at this point?  All I would have to do is switch out the orifices back to the LPG ones that were sent with the stove. I haven't had a chance to cup as of now, but they definitely smell good...
 
Let me know if I'm not displaying something correctly or if you have questions.  Thanks!

[hankua]

I think you are running low with the NG. 1kPa is only converting to 4" of water column. A general google search is showing an average of 7" of water column for US households.

7" wc converts to 1.74kPa question is what is the pressure your getting? And is 7" wc enough to roast 325g in 12 minutes or less?

There are smaller LPG cylinders available in case you have to change over, and move them in and out for each session. Depends on how often your roasting and how much convenience factors in.

Edit: What about trying a 250g roast using the 1kPa gas?

[Igneous88]

Since my target batch size is >400g, I'm going to switch over to propane.  I bought the tank today and a regulator.  Is there anything in particular besides switching over the orifices, having a propane tank, and regulator that I need to do before I start roasting?  Are there special regulators people use?  I just have the one that comes with a grill type regulator.

[hankua]

Well, that's an interesting question as most all of the roasters are supplied with a green Taiwan LPG regulator that can reach 4-4.5 kPa.

Is a standard regulator that maxes out at 3kPa good enough? Probably so, although it would be good to hear from someone who's used both.

[Igneous88]

Yea, I was wondering the same thing last night when I turned the stove on and only got 3 kpa.  I'm going to e-mail Mr. Li and see about the regulator he sends with the stove.  Also, if I have the capability of getting 4 - 4.5 kpa, does that mean you would get the a pressure gauge that maxes at 3.75 or would you get one that goes to 6 kpa? 

[Wayneg1]

Yea, I was wondering the same thing last night when I turned the stove on and only got 3 kpa.  I'm going to e-mail Mr. Li and see about the regulator he sends with the stove.  Also, if I have the capability of getting 4 - 4.5 kpa, does that mean you would get the a pressure gauge that maxes at 3.75 or would you get one that goes to 6 kpa?

There are quite a few of us here that are using the 3.75 gauge and getting along just fine with it.  I think it's adequate for roasting on the Huky.  Cheers. 

[Igneous88]

Great, now all I need is the proper regulator.  Me. Li suggests that I get a regulator that is =<5.5 kpa.  I'm going to call up to the local plumbing supplies store tomorrow and see if they have a 50 mbar regulator. I have a flare fitting on the stove, so I'm guessing I'll just find the tubing with a 3/8" flare fitting.

[SusanJoM]

Make sure your connections are secure.

[Igneous88]

Susan, thanks for the picture.  I like the idea of having a shutoff near the stove.
I tried to source a 50 mbar (5kpa) propane regulator this morning locally with no luck.  Does anyone have an online option that they like?

I've brewed the 300g (I would say a full city but not certain) batch a couple times now on a technivorm and I'm trying to figure out the different aspects of the coffee.  I have noticed that the beans taste a little like char to me.  Although, I'm not sure if this is "smokey" or "char" taste.  How does one tell the difference between these two?  I read Scott Raos book and it seems that char flavor means that there was burning due to an overheated drum, and smokey flavor means I had insufficient airflow.  How do I tell which one I need to improve on? 

Thanks for the help!
-Michael

[Igneous88]

Would something like this work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Propane-gas-hose-Pressure-controller-2016-Standard-30-or-50mbar-40-500cm-/112387600828?var=&hash=item1a2ad2b1bc:m:m4cPQdmPGnJGE7_TMMgp7_A

Will the fitting work with a standard US 20Lb propane tank with POL connection?

[edtbjon]

Would something like this work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Propane-gas-hose-Pressure-controller-2016-Standard-30-or-50mbar-40-500cm-/112387600828?var=&hash=item1a2ad2b1bc:m:m4cPQdmPGnJGE7_TMMgp7_A

Will the fitting work with a standard US 20Lb propane tank with POL connection?

The idea of the offered kit is nice, but I'm pretty sure that you can find something similar in the US at a similar price, with a POL connection. If everything else fails, contact that Ebay seller for a quote for a 50mBar regulator kit with a POL connection.

(I did start out with a 30mBar regulator, but after switching to a 50mBar I found myself having more options and that I never ran out of "throttle", even at 500g charges. You should also know that even a very small amount of added exhaust fan will have a very positive effect on the flame when running the burner at high kPa's (due to a more effective gas/oxygen mix).

[Igneous88]

I called around to the local shops and didn't have any luck finding one

Here is a kit from the US, but it's $100.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIGH-OUTPUT-COMMERCIAL-COFFEE-ROASTER-PROPANE-REGULATOR-KIT-HOSE-20-WC-FLOW-LPG-/172678077118?hash=item28346a5abe:g:Pz8AAOSwjqVZGzXG


I'd love to buy one of these, but the site says that it won't work with appliances that need <1-2 psi
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-5ft-Hose-20psi-Adjustable-Propane-Gas-Regulator-BBQ-Grill-Burner-Wok-Fryer-/170896202843?epid=1662187580&hash=item27ca351c5b:g:ZGwAAOSwX61ZCQK3

[SusanJoM]

Maybe I've missed something here, but why don't you just ask Mr. Li to send you what you need for the stove you purchased from him?

[Igneous88]

I asked him if he had a regulator and this was his response.

"Please find a commercial regulator (Maximum pressure=< 5.5 Kpa ) in the local."

[SusanJoM]

I asked him if he had a regulator and this was his response.

"Please find a commercial regulator (Maximum pressure=< 5.5 Kpa ) in the local."

Aha....
I'm surprised, but that's nothing new....