International Thermal Research Prospector Installation And Operating Manual

20101112 rev6

Installation and

Operating Manual

Revised for Drill Shack Modification

CERTIFIED TO CSA AND UL STANDARDS

International Thermal Research
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents .........................................................................i

Table of Contents ........................................................................ ii

Overview....................................................................................1

1. Safe Operation ......................................................................1

2. DOs and DO NOTs .................................................................2

3. Components..........................................................................4

4. Installation ...........................................................................6

5. Operation ...........................................................................12

6. Oil Control Valve..................................................................14

7. Maintenance .......................................................................15

8. Trouble Shooting ................................................................. 16

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND SAVE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

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Overview

Make sure you read and
understand this manual
before installing and
operating your
Prospector. If you have
any questions, or
require any explanation,
please contact your
authorized ITR dealer.

Thank you for purchasing International Thermal Research’s
(ITR) Prospector space heater.

The Prospector Heater is a vaporizing-type oil burner space
heater with a simple, effective design that produces radiant and
convection heat through the efficient combustion of liquid fuel.
With regular maintenance and proper operation your heater will
function satisfactorily for many years.

The heat output range for your modified Prospector heater is 20,000 to 35,000 BTU’s.
This is sufficient capacity to heat areas such as cabins, workshops, small warehouses, etc.

Table 1: General Information

Nominal heat

output

35,000 BTU/Hr 0.32 US Gal/h 0.41 US Gal/h .050” W.C. .060” W.C. 58 Lbs Ø6 inches

10,2 kW 1,20 Liter/h 1,56 Liter/h 12,5 Pa 15 Pa 26 kg 152,4 mm

Oil Consumption Chimney draught

min max min Max

Weight Flue diameter

1. Safe Operation

Proper installation, operation and maintenance procedures laid out in this manual, as well
as local government requirements, must be followed to insure the safe operation of your
Prospector. CSA standard B139, Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment, UL896, or
NFPA#31 are standards that apply to this equipment.

Make sure you read, and understand these instructions and save them for future
reference. If you have any questions or don’t understand anything in this manual, contact
your authorized ITR dealer.

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2. DOs and DO NOTs

All heaters must be installed according to the installation rules mandated by local,
state/provincial and federal government authorities. These regulations deal with
various matters including heater and flue set backs and fuel storage. DO determine
what regulations apply in your local area. DO NOT install the heater or flue unless
installation conforms with the regulations governing your location.

All heaters and stoves, whether they burn solid or liquid fuel, exist for one reason – to
produce heat. Therefore common sense says that all heater parts will be hot when the
unit is operating. DO NOT touch heater parts if the heater is running. You’ll get
burned.

Your heater is designed to burn clean #1 and #2 diesel fuel. If you burn any other fuel
or burn contaminated diesel, you will void your warranty, cause damage to the fuel
control valve (Toby) and may cause a fire or even an explosion. DO use only the right
fuel. DO NOT use any other fuel, under any circumstances.

Fuel delivery from the tank to the heater is important. Any fuel leaks can result in a
dangerous fire. DO inspect the entire fuel line for leaks before firing the heater. DO
NOT start the heater until any leaks are properly fixed.

Because of the unique vaporizing design of the heater, correct draft conditions are
essential for the heater to operate in a satisfactory manner. DO check the draft on the
setup of the heater by using a draft meter and ensure the heater is operating under the
recommended setting. If a draft meter is not present, the draft conditions MUST be
estimated. See the details in the manual for estimating the draft conditions.

All fuel burning heaters require oxygen to operate and they get that oxygen from the
air. DO inspect the space below the burner to make sure there are no blockages and, if
there is any dust or dirt remove it. DO inspect the exhaust flue (stove pipe) to make
sure it is not blocked. DO NOT start the heater until any blockages have been
removed.

Oxygen for combustion comes from the air in the same space as the heater and as that
air is used in the combustion process it goes up the exhaust flue. Since you are also in
the same space as the heater, if the air in the room is not replaced, all the oxygen
needed to keep the heater burning, and you alive, will run out. DO make sure that you
have a window or door opened a bit to allow fresh air to enter. DO NOT operate the
heater in an air tight room. To do so will lead to oxygen deprivation and, if the
condition continues, will result in death.

During shipping, the S-tube may become dislodged from the center fuel up tube. If the
S-tube has become dislodged, which can be seen through the glass on the lid, the top
of the heater must be removed to position the S-tube over the fuel up-tube. DO NOT
operate the heater without initially checking the position of the S-tube.

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DO NOT operate the heater without both a complete exhaust stack in place and correct

draft conditions. Excessive carbon will form in the fuel up-tube and will have to be
cleaned out for the heater to function correctly.

DO mount the heater securely to a non-combustible floor. If a heater is not solidly
secured, and it gets knocked over, it will spill the burning fuel all over the floor. This
will create a serious fire hazard that could burn down the building housing the heater.
DO NOT start the heater until it is properly secured.

All liquid fuel heaters run best when they are level. DO make sure your heater is level
before you start it.

If, after the heater has been fired, you smell smoke or exhaust fumes, shut the heater
down immediately and examine the stove pipe for leaks or loose fittings. DO NOT
continue to operate the heater until any leaks are repaired. The fumes are poisonous.

DO vent all exhaust gases outside.

DO NOT ever attempt to relight the heater when it is hot. If the unit is shut down for

any reason DO wait until it cools down to room temperature before re-firing.

All heaters, regardless of the type or make, can malfunction and all manufacturers
recommend that heaters are not left running unattended. DO NOT leave the heater
running unattended. The Prospector is mechanically capable of operating unattended,
but if there is a malfunction ITR accepts no responsibility or liability for any damage
caused, regardless of the type or extent of the damage. THIS PARAGRAPH

CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT LIMITS THE MANUFACTURER’S LIABILITY.

DO install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in the same room as the heater;

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has some additional consumer tips for
space heaters.

Some of those tips are:

DO NOT hang wet clothing above the heater to dry it. The clothing can catch fire
as it dries

DO supervise young children when in the same room as the heater

DO NOT keep gasoline, solvents or other flammable or vapourizing liquids in the

same room as the heater.

More tips can be found on http://www.csa.ca/consumers/consumer_tips/.

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3. Components

A.) Prospector major external components

Heater Shell (1) – The

heater shell assembly is the
area of the heater
containing the perforated
burner shell.

Top Lid (2) – Contains a
sight glass to observe the
flame.

Guard (3) – Perforated
shield surrounding the
Prospector

Valve Heat Shield (4) –
Shield between control valve
and burner shell.

Toby Oil Control Valve (5) – Located on the side of the heater and controls the
amount of gravity fed fuel supplied to the burner. Turning the control knob will
allow more or less fuel to enter the burner. See sections 5 & 6.

Drain Valve (6) – To fill up the primer cup or to drain fuel from the control valve.

Fuel Connection (7) – ¼” NPT female threaded fitting

Fuel shut off valve (8) – Opens or closes the flow from the fuel tank to the Oil

Control Valve .

Flue Collar (9) – To attach a Ø6” Flue stack.

Reamer Tool (10) – To clean the Up-Tube from soot and carbon build up.

Primer Cup (11) – Attached with a chain and used to start-up the heater.

Removable Handle (12) – Used to open the lighting port or top lid. Do not leave

the handle on the unit when heater is running. Handle gets too hot to touch.

Draft regulator (13) – To maintain a stable draft

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