Big maxx intake?

[FunkyfullWidth]

I could have sworn I saw a thread or a site at one point where a guy built an intake piped outside for a big max. Anyone ever modify the rear panel to pipe an intake outside? I see that the rear panel has louvers. Could you just screw a box to the rear panel over the louvers to adapt an intake to it? I just received a big maxx 80k and would have liked separated combustion but couldn't justify the extra money.

 

[Steevo]

I have considered doing this for mine, just to avoid sucking the heated air out the room for combustion and sending it out the exhaust, thereby wasting some efficiency.
I have wanted to see one of the separated combustion models to verify just what is changed relative to the intake tract.

 

[SuperD]

I have a new Big Maxx 50,000 yet to install and thought the exact same idea. I will post a photo of the combustion chamber inlet as it really looks like it would be easy to build a sheet metal box with a 3-4 inch inlet pipe adapted for the dedicated fresh air. Anyone have a photo of the unit that was purchased with the sealed or seperate combustion chamber inlet?

 

[SuperD]

Here is a photo of a Mr Heater, 50,000btu furnace showing the air inlet to the burner section. I think the larger units ( 80,000 btu ) are similar, it has 4 or 5 burners instead of the 3 tubes as on mine. It looks straight forward to build a small boxed duct out of sheet metal, then adapt a 3.5 or 4 inch fresh air tube into the burner direct. Local code calls for 1 square inch per each 5000 btu so a 3.5 inch tube would work for the 50,000btu. It probably would be a good idea to insulate the incoming fresh air to avoid condensation. I know making modifications to the furnace is probably not allowed per gas code, but I would be interested to see one if someone has made this modification.

 

[Pruittx2]

I know this is an older thread, and of coarse I was wondering about this also.

I mounted mine inverted, and have to also invert the inspection panel. BUT,,, with this in mind, I was thinking about doing a small air intake box, that would cover the inspection panel and draw air from my attic area. So pulling in cooler air into the side panel for combustion air.

There are 4 different louvered area's on the 80lk unit. 1 row on top, 1 one bottom and the 2 on the inspection panel.


So perhaps a small 3 in wide box hanging down and sealed only over the inspection door,, but leave the upper and lowers' alone?

Just kicken ideas around, perhaps to help bring in fresh air to the unit, and reduce the either positive or negative pressure in the garage, regarding heat lose

Thoughts?

 

[ahicksy11]

Hey so I did add cold air intake on my 50k. Very very easy. Here’s a video how I did it.