2016/2017 VC owners thread
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RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
I replaced my cat last year. It's a ceramic cat. I feel like I'm getting way to much smoke/steam out of my cap. Even when running 1300-1400 on cat and 450-550 on gt. Flue is usually 200-250. I have 8" pipe and 13' from stove top to cat. I guess it's going to be hard to pin point the issue until I do a rebuild and replace all the gaskets.
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Suppose to be 37 tomorrow so I think I will skip the morning reload and give the beast a rest so I can run a brush through the pipe. I will finally get a chance to tweak my secondary a little. Going to try 2:30 on the coil. Maybe even do some gasket work on the doors and ash pan. Things I should have done before it got cold.
Only had that experience in the very first month I was running my stove with less than desirable wood . . . I'm pretty sure the rice crispies falling down the flue pipe was the sound of creosote falling off the pipe.
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Yes I'm sure it is. I have thrown some really slow burns at the stove since the beginning of the season. I'm sure there has been a few questionable pieces of firewood as well that found its way into the firebox.
Reckless
Feeling the Heat
90% of the time that's all I get.... A smokey load is a rare occurrence for me. This year I'm burning 15% oak.
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Tracks74
Member
Does anyone on this thread own a montepelier? I want to discuss best options for maintaining the fans to reduce noise.
I was able to remove the unit easily. The unit is riveted together and difficult to get at the bearings. I am also interested in other sound reducing ideas for the fan.
Thanks
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I was able to remove the unit easily. The unit is riveted together and difficult to get at the bearings. I am also interested in other sound reducing ideas for the fan.
Thanks
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Probably worth starting a new thread with Montpelier fan in the title. Here is a thread with some Montpelier owners that may chime in.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/fan-unit-removal-for-vc-montpelier.147493/
Tracks74
Member
i'm glad i went up there. Since it was nice out, I cleaned the chimney.... The cap was pretty disgusting, so I cleaned it out with a brush, shook it around and got it nice and clean. This is what came out of it.
I took a look down the chimney, and this is what I found.
I swept it out, and got it to look like this
I ended up with this much stuff that came down.
I also cleaned out everything in the stove, took out the catalyst. it turns out I get to make a call to VC today, since my 1 year old catalyst has some broken parts....
It turns out I didn't get down far enough (i missed about a foot from the bottom of the stack).
I will be burning hotter for sure, I think I have been cutting off the air a little too soon. I also got a cheapo magnetic thermometer for the stove pipe, and after fidgeting with it for an hour or so, i was able to get it to be pretty comparable to the infared thermometer
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RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Had to run the stove "blind" last night sorta speak. We lost power due to high winds. It was a little strange with out the AT100. Ice had the secondary cover off for awhile now so I would use a mirror and flashlight to see where the shutter was running and sorta guessing from there.
I did my annual pipe cleaning last Friday. I always do it around mid Dec. as the shoulder season ends and the hot burns begin. I was pleasantly surprised to see about two coffee cups of brown stuff. The cap had some black creo but it brushed easily with a wire brush.
No pics, sorry.
No pics, sorry.
Dobish,
Your second pic is a bit alarming to me. Either your wood is subpar or your burning too low.
Your second pic is a bit alarming to me. Either your wood is subpar or your burning too low.
everything i've measured has been under 18%, so my guess is I am burning too low. I have been burning a lot of elm with the bark on, so that may be adding to it. I plan on burning hotter for sure though. last couple of nights I have actually been able to see the flames above the catalyst.
Reckless
Feeling the Heat
This is the only reason I keep the condor unit around as a back up. I would have to be without electric and generator to break that thing out though.
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RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Smart thinking. I had a condar until I let the magic smoke out of it trying to hook a 12 volt adapter to it. I must have hooked up the wires backwards little an idiot. It still worked but not right and I could never believe the numbers on the screen anymore.
The AT100 takes 12v DC input. All you need to find is some old power adapter with the same size plug and rig it up to any convenient 12v source - if you have any computer UPSs in the house, a battery backup sump pump, emergency lights, even your car you can find 12vdc.
In my case I cannibalized an old cordless phone power adapter for the plug and used a small 7Ah AGM battery I had lying around from my RC plane flight box (this is a very common size, used in emergency backup lighting). Cutoff the power adapter plug and crimp some clips on it to attach the battery and It will run the AT100 for weeks most likely.
The Condar takes 9v input. Thats probably why 12v burned it up....
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RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Haha. You are correct. Now that I think about it, it makes total sense. Well you win some you loose some I guess.
The secondary mod is still working fantastic about keeping the temps down.... But I am concerned like others about emissions. Cruising at 1070 cat tonight and there is a lot of smoke outside (not steam).
I think it needs some minimum amount of air to burn it all. Might go back to 3oclock timing but leave the stop (or rather have to figure out how to make a new one since I removed it)
I think it needs some minimum amount of air to burn it all. Might go back to 3oclock timing but leave the stop (or rather have to figure out how to make a new one since I removed it)
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