The Bixby UBB Corn And Pellet Stove

The Bixby UBB, or Ugly Black Box, is designed as a home furnace to burn either corn or pellets. More functional than decorative, it has the capacity to stack up to three extra hopper extensions on top which will increase the potential burn time to a massive 320 hours.

Giving 70,000 btu. and rated to heat 3,000 square feet, this stove has an impressive output. By using an adapter, it's possible to connect this unit to an existing hot air ducting system.

This stove doesn't have a conventional auger to deliver the fuel, instead it uses a wheel with slots in that collects fuel into a slot when the slot is at the bottom and delivers it to the burnpot when the slot is at the top. If an obstruction occurs, the wheel will automatically reverse to clear itself.

Bixby use their own combined air intake and exhaust venting system. The inner three inch tube carries the exhaust and the space between that and the outer five inch tube is used to introduce combustion air to the stove. See comments below.

The Bixby UBB has a double igniter system to enable it to light corn quickly. This is also a failsafe because if one igniter fails, the other will take over with an automatically modified fuel feed rate.

The control board carries extensive diagnostics for problems, as well as a socket where a Bixby service agent can plug in a computer. The frequency at which the UBB dumps its ash can be adjusted according to the quality of fuel being burned.

It is possible to empty the ashpan on this stove while it's running, as long as you don't take more than twenty minutes.

If you are unsure of the meanings of the terms in the pellet stove review below,or their implications, please go to the Pellet Stove Reviews page for an explanation.

bixby ubb

Heating Area 3,000 sq. ft.

Max. Heat Output 70,000 btu.

Min. Heat Output 12,000 btu.

Automatic Ignition Yes

Manual Ignition Yes, using propane torch

Hopper Capacity 300 lbs. it is possible to add up to three hopper extensions of 100 lbs. each, giving a total capacity of 600 lbs.

Burn time From 160 hrs. to 320 hrs.

Fuel Type Any biomass pellet, corn

Glass Air Wash No

Built in Blower Yes

Convection Blower Capacity 275 cfm.

Thermostat Compatible Yes, see comments below

E.P.A. Approved Yes

Emissions 2.25 gr./hr.

Efficiency 78%

Dimensions

Height 40 in.
Width 26.5 in
Depth 30 in.

Weight 400 lbs.

Window Size 9 in. by 4.75 in.

Flue Vent Size 5 in. Includes inlet air, see comments below

Top Vent No

Rear Vent Yes

Rear Vent Height 9.5 in.

Battery Backup No, See Stove Sentry

Surge Protector Recommended

Colours Black

Exhaust Temperature Sensor Yes

Low Draft Shutdown No

Construction Type Fabricated steel

Automatic Shutdown and Re-ignition No, see comments below

Warranty

Five years:
Steel frame and panels

Four years:
Heat exchanger tubes

Two years:
Electrical and mechanical parts

Original owner only

Options

Hopper extensions
Exhaust manifold vacuum cleaner attachments
Ducting adapter
Thermostat

Comments

While adding the optional hopper extensions could be useful in terms of burn time, they will make what is already an imposing stove even taller

The Bixby UBB will not shut down and re-ignite from a thermostat. If no heat is called for, it will run on the low setting.

There is no low vacuum switch. There are switches on the ashpan, hopper lid and the door to tell the stove when one of these is open.

While the combined inlet and exhaust venting system is a good idea, The cost will be more than a conventional pellet stove venting system

Maintenance

Every few days:

Empty the ash drawer and clean the glass.

Weekly:

Clean the heat exchanger

Monthly:

Clean the burnpot, exhaust manifold, fuel hopper, fuel feeder tube, the lower ash dump paddle and the convection blower filter. Vacuum under top burner plate

Annually:

Inspect and clean the venting, exhaust fan and the ignition air filter.