plenum on drolet tundra

[centennial60]

I have a drolet tundra sitting in my garage waiting to be installed in the basement. I've been thinking about how and where I want to install it and wishing I could use a plenum instead of the two 8" pipes out the top. So I was wondering if I could cut the top out of the tundra and install a plenum setup on it similar to the caddy. I guess I don't see any reason this couldn't be done since its basicly the same firebox as the caddy. Thinking a plenum would give me better air flow and better gravity flow too when the blower isn't running or during a power outage. What are your thoughts?

 

[flotek]

I don't see why you couldn't it's just sheet metal . It was originally designed that way so you could swap out an old us stove hotblast or Johnson energy and not have to alter your old ducting

 

[laynes69]

I know it's not recommended, but before I would cut the top, I would keep the 4 outlet's open. Our old furnace had 2 originally and I cut the top for a 3rd, and ran a blower from the central furnace close to the size of the Tundras blower, and it would push quite a volume of air. It had no problems pushing the heat.

 

[Whitespider]

I don't see any problem with it either... but why "cut" the top?
You're gonna' haf'ta build the plenum anyway... why not unbolt the top and build the plenum to bolt up in it's place??
*

 

[centennial60]

That's true didn't think of that. Would have to find some 16ga. Or so steel. Then I could always go back to original if I ever wanted to..

 

[brenndatomu]

Couple points here.
1. I think a plenum is a good idea. I'd just go get a generic plenum kit at your local big box store, bend a flange around the bottom and then you could screw or rivet it right to the existing top.
2 IIRC, the Drolet rep that used to be a member here said that using only two of the supply duct holes in the top was important ( I think it is in the "introducing the tundra" thread) something about static pressure/ heat exchanger temps or something. I think it is mentioned in the manual too.

 

[flotek]

I would personally run the 2 ) 8" outlets before I started cutting it up and voiding the warranty ..Being an owner of the furnace I can assure you it moves plenty of air through two 8" ducts especially on the high speed setting

 

[centennial60]

Yeah I should probably just use it as the owners manual states. It just seems odd to me that the tundra and caddy basicly share the same firebox but the caddy had a large plenum opening and the tundra is supposed to use 2 and only 2 of the 8" ducts. I guess I still have some time to think about it as it looks like it will be Christmas shutdown before I will get a chance to get it installed.