View Full Version : Pepsi-G stove burn time problems...
jgop_151
10-03-2005, 01:13
I built this stove exactly as it is described and pictured... http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml
My problem is that .5 ounce of HEET burns up in 3.5 minutes at room temperature and only a couple hundred feet above sea level. Using an aluminum pot filled with 2 cups of cool water and with the bottom of the pot resting 1.25" above the burner holes, the water doesn't even begin to bubble before the fuel burns out. The obvious solution would be to add more fuel, but from what I've read, shouldn't I be getting much longer burn times for .5 ounce of fuel? I am however getting a nice hot blue/violet flame, and it is coming from the burner holes but there is also a large flame that burns from the large center hole. Is it possible its getting too much oxygen? If so, what to do? It just seems as thought I am burning fuel up much faster than I should be.
Thanks in advance.
I built this stove exactly as it is described and pictured... http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml
My problem is that .5 ounce of HEET burns up in 3.5 minutes at room temperature and only a couple hundred feet above sea level.~~~ Your burner holes may be too large.
Before making a new stove try the following:
1. Move your pot closer to the stove
2. Improve efficiency by using a windscreen. It should completely surround the pot, and provide a 1/4" gap between it and the pot.
Roland
12hrsN2AT
10-03-2005, 08:55
With a pot directly on my stove and .5 ounce of denatured alcohol, I can boil one cup of water. I would be amazed if anyone can get 2 cups of water to boil with a .5 once of fuel.
Nightwalker
10-03-2005, 10:13
with the bottom of the pot resting 1.25" above the burner holes...
The pot is supposed to sit directly on the stove. That's your problem. It's supposed to be a pressurized stove.
jgop_151
10-03-2005, 11:00
The pot is supposed to sit directly on the stove. That's your problem. It's supposed to be a pressurized stove.I'm not so sure. It has open center hole, not a small fill hole. Henderson's site even says... "Hold the pot about 2.5 cm (1 in) above the flame." I'll try moving the pot a bit closer and using an ounce of fuel. If that fails, I'll try a different design. Forgot to mention, I did using a windscreen when I tested it.
Thanks folks.
12hrsN2AT
10-03-2005, 13:22
You should try what Nightwalker and I are saying since it's free to try. PUT YOUR POT ON THE STOVE. Also could you please show me where you have read anyone boiling 2 cups of cool water with a 1/2 once of fuel, I think the problem lies in misinformation and not the stove. Also take a look here, this one works great everytime.:
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog-topic-gallery-view1.asp?id=263&selfpath=/86
jgop_151
10-03-2005, 21:24
I tried putting my pot down directly on the stove twice and it burned out immediately both times I tried it. The fuel gets next to no oxygen when I put the pot directly on the stove. So, I tried 1 ounce fuel with a little bit better results. I achieved a boil of 2 cups of water in 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The fuel burned out entirely in 7 minutes, 30 seconds. I think I will try making a wee bit smaller burner holes and perhaps a few fewer. I'll also modify my pot stand so my pot sits .5" closer to the burner holes.
Also could you please show me where you have read anyone boiling 2 cups of cool water with a 1/2 once of fuel...Just to stir things up...
http://www.ionstove.com/specifications.htm
Working on one now myself.
12hrsN2AT
10-04-2005, 00:10
I thought he was talking about pepsi can stoves, heck the ION is pretty close to my specs, but why be so frugal with fuel, compared to what allot of people carry, it's lighter.
15 Oz. of fuel can make 30 meals for me and with Denat available in so many places I go nutz and use .6-.7 of an ounce, even if it means I have to eat my oatmeal cold one day. I also take into account I may need a splash of the alcohol for something else like removing tree sap. I try to carry at least 2 ounces more than I need to get to another fill up, or keep some trioxane tabs Just In Case. But again, why be so frugal, I agree with counting every gram, but 15 Ounces of fuel will last a long time, even an 8 Oz. bottle is worth it's weight.
Nightwalker
10-04-2005, 01:09
I thought he was talking about pepsi can stoves, heck the ION is pretty close to my specs, but why be so frugal with fuel, compared to what allot of people carry, it's lighter.
15 Oz. of fuel can make 30 meals for me and with Denat available in so many places I go nutz and use .6-.7 of an ounce, even if it means I have to eat my oatmeal cold one day. I also take into account I may need a splash of the alcohol for something else like removing tree sap. I try to carry at least 2 ounces more than I need to get to another fill up, or keep some trioxane tabs Just In Case. But again, why be so frugal, I agree with counting every gram, but 15 Ounces of fuel will last a long time, even an 8 Oz. bottle is worth it's weight.
Try Heet sometime (Yellow bottle). Cheaper than denatured, doesn't stink, and it's straight Methyl alcohol. Available more places, too.
Nightwalker
10-04-2005, 01:10
I tried putting my pot down directly on the stove twice and it burned out immediately both times I tried it. The fuel gets next to no oxygen when I put the pot directly on the stove. So, I tried 1 ounce fuel with a little bit better results. I achieved a boil of 2 cups of water in 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The fuel burned out entirely in 7 minutes, 30 seconds. I think I will try making a wee bit smaller burner holes and perhaps a few fewer. I'll also modify my pot stand so my pot sits .5" closer to the burner holes.
You have to let it get good and hot before you set it down. Takes about 40 seconds.
Nightwalker
10-04-2005, 01:20
I built this stove exactly as it is described and pictured... http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml
My problem is that .5 ounce of HEET burns up in 3.5 minutes at room temperature and only a couple hundred feet above sea level. Using an aluminum pot filled with 2 cups of cool water and with the bottom of the pot resting 1.25" above the burner holes, the water doesn't even begin to bubble before the fuel burns out.
I went and looked at that page. Good pepsi can design, but pepsi stoves are a couple of generations back. it'll take 3/4 oz to boil 16 oz of water on a regular basis. And again, if you look further down the page, after you test with the pot 1 inch above the stove, he says to set it down on the stove. That type of stove is designed to be used that way.
The most common pepsi stove out there is the "Tin Man" stove. He's sold a bozillion of them. Go to his http://www.alcoholstove.com/ site and check out all of his info there. You can even email him with questions. He's a good friend and a great guy. :)
Actually this type of stove DOES require a pot stand and the pot shound be about 1" above the flame
From http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistoveinstruct.shtml: My pot is about 25 mm (1 in) from the flame. I currently use 3 light weight tent stakes which serve double duty as tarp stakes.
For a pressurized stove that doen't require a pot stand (or a pot to be placed on it after 40 seconds of warm-up time in order to pressurize it) check out this stove. (http://www.uswebfoundry.com/robanna/stove/) It does need a primer plate though.