Vermont castings Vigilant vs Englander 30NC

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Skywalker

Skywalker

Member
Oct 6, 2013
28
Upstate NY
Hi everyone New to site. I have just purchased the Englander 30 NC. I just replaced the Vermont Castings Vigilant. I used it twice. I felt that it wasn't efficient enough. I am hoping hat I did the right thing. Have not yet used the Englander. But I have read numerous reviews on the Englander and decided it would be better than the Vigilant. It was the Vigilant and not the Vigilant II. Can anyone give me any advice. Thx
 
  • Like
Reactions: n3pro
Welcome the forums.

I don't have personal experience with either, but based on many threads here discussing them both, I think it's pretty safe to say that you did the right thing. Lots of negative reviews of the VC, and many, many satisfied users of the 30NC. Yeah, you did good.

Let us know how you get along with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oldhippie
The vigilant is from the glory days of VC when they where one of the best stoves money could buy. It was a great heater in its day. But that day is passed.

The 30 is a beast and a lot bigger than The old vig... Get ready for big heat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oldhippie
Skywalker said:
Hi everyone New to site. I have just purchased the Englander 30 NC. I just replaced the Vermont Castings Vigilant. I used it twice. I felt that it wasn't efficient enough. I am hoping hat I did the right thing. Have not yet used the Englander. But I have read numerous reviews on the Englander and decided it would be better than the Vigilant. It was the Vigilant and not the Vigilant II. Can anyone give me any advice. Thx
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new stove! I take it you had an older used VC Vigilant and decided to go to something new? The Englander gets great reviews around here and there are a lot of experts very familiar with them (I'm not one of them), so ask away as you have questions.

PS we love looking at install pics if you have some. (hint, hint)
 
  • Like
Reactions: PapaDave
Sprinter said:
Welcome the forums.

I don't have personal experience with either, but based on many threads here discussing them both, I think it's pretty safe to say that you did the right thing. Lots of negative reviews of the VC, and many, many satisfied users of the 30NC. Yeah, you did good.

Let us know how you get along with it.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply. I feel I did the right thing. Looking forward to starting this baby up. I will post pics for everyone as soon as I find out how. Not sure. If anyone has advice I would love to know.
 
Oldhippie said:
Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new stove! I take it you had an older used VC Vigilant and decided to go to something new? The Englander gets great reviews around here and there are a lot of experts very familiar with them (I'm not one of them), so ask away as you have questions.

PS we love looking at install pics if you have some. (hint, hint)
Click to expand...
Thx I am trying to find out how to load pics, so everyone can see. Don't know how.
 
jharkin said:
The vigilant is from the glory days of VC when they where one of the best stoves money could buy. It was a great heater in its day. But that day is passed.

The 30 is a beast and a lot bigger than The old vig... Get ready for big heat.
Click to expand...
Yeah she is a beast
 
I guess it was a little easier than I thought to post pics. So here are a couple of pics of the Englander 30 NC. Hope you can see them!
image.jpg image.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Skywalker said:
I will post pics for everyone as soon as I find out how. Not sure.
Click to expand...
Put a proper size pic in a folder on your computer (like 600 x 480 or so) The click "Upload a File" in the lower right and put your pic in there. Either as a thumbnail or full size.
 
Yes, they're there. It would be helpful if you could make them upright, though:)

That's an appropriate size stove for that house. Not oversized at all.
 
I am sorry about all the questions but there seems to be so much that I do not know. The stove came with a blower that is attached to the back of the stove but I was also considering purchasing one of those Eco fans that you put on top of the stove that runs off the heat of the stove. Has anyone had luck with these and if so, is there a particular website to find a good one?
 
I just put my 30 in, had a test fire in it, I think its going to be an awesome heater! Can't wait to see what it can do this winter. I have 2800 sq ft but I have a pellet stove as well as the wood stove.
 
Skywalker said:
The stove thermometer is approximately 8" up from stove. Is that appropriate? Or should I move it else where?
Click to expand...
You may want to look up the directions for that particular thermometer on the web. My Condar probe says about 19" but yours may be calibrated for a different height.
 
Skywalker said:
I am sorry about all the questions but there seems to be so much that I do not know. The stove came with a blower that is attached to the back of the stove but I was also considering purchasing one of those Eco fans that you put on top of the stove that runs off the heat of the stove. Has anyone had luck with these and if so, is there a particular website to find a good one?
Click to expand...

What you want to do is purchase some small fans that can move floor level cold air from other rooms into the stove room, which will in turn push warm ceiling air out of the stove room into adjacent rooms.

Setting up a circular flow is even better if you can swing it in your home, depending on layout, number of floors, etc.
 
Oldhippie said:
What you want to do is purchase some small fans that can move floor level cold air from other rooms into the stove room, which will in turn push warm ceiling air out of the stove room into adjacent rooms.

Setting up a circular flow is even better if you can swing it in your home, depending on layout, number of floors, etc.
Click to expand...
Will research the circular flow idea. Sounds interesting. Thank you.
 
Skywalker said:
Will research the circular flow idea. Sounds interesting. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Some homes lend themselves to a natural circular flow of air, where with the use of some judiciously placed floor fans cool air can be pushed out which then draws warm air in. This is where you need to use toilet paper for something other than what it is normally used for, taped to the top of hallway or room entrances, and exits.. and then moving some small floor fans around.

I found this one on Amazon and it works well to push cold air from my hallway, into my main living area which in turn draws warmer high level air back into the rooms.

http://www.amazon.com/Vornado-Compa...2561&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=vornado+floor+fans
 
Oldhippie said:
Some homes lend themselves to a natural circular flow of air, where with the use of some judiciously placed floor fans cool air can be pushed out which then draws warm air in. This is where you need to use toilet paper for something other than what it is normally used for, taped to the top of hallway or room entrances, and exits.. and then moving some small floor fans around.

I found this one on Amazon and it works well to push cold air from my hallway, into my main living area which in turn draws warmer high level air back into the rooms.

http://www.amazon.com/Vornado-Compact-Flat-Panel-Circulator/dp/B0031R4OB0/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1381192561&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=vornado floor fans
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the advice. I'm already looking throughout the house and finding areas that could use the fans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oldhippie
I had an old Vigilant and I replaced it with a 30 last summer.

The heat output is very different. The Vigilant puts out scorching that can warm even the most drafty rooms, but that heat doesn't seem to travel very far. The Heat from the 30 isn't as harsh (it does crank out heat, though), but the heat seems to circulate far better than the Vigilant was able to do.

Burn times are far better, especially during the shoulder season. Packed tight with dry wood, you can maintain stove temps of 250 degrees or more for twelve hours.

Air controls are far better. No more spikes and crashes associated with the Vigilant. Get the 30 burning well and begin to cut off the air slowly and you should be able to have the 30 running at 600-750 for several hours.

Full consumption. That depends upon your burning methods and needs. You should see a drop. How much will vary on a lot of factors. Even if your fuel consumption doesn't drop, it is still a far easier stove to live with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oldhippie
BrowningBAR said:
Get the 30 burning well and begin to cut off the air slowly and you should be able to have the 30 running at 600-750 for several hours.
Click to expand...

Is that 600-750 measured on the stove top? Only having mine to ~400ish so far, I apparently have some more headroom to go !!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

V
Question re Vermont Castings Vigilant Coal II stove
Replies
3
Views
1K
Vermont Castings & CDW Dutchwest older Models
begreen
begreen
T
Advice Needed Vermont Casting Vigilant 1980 - Replace or Adapt
Replies
8
Views
2K
Vermont Castings & CDW Dutchwest older Models
Dbredell
D
N
Hearth guidance appreciated
Replies
1
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
N
Wood Stove Insert decision- Englander or Drolet?
Replies
51
Views
4K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
turbo-power
T
L
Need advice on which wood stove to buy
Replies
4
Views
701
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
marty319
marty319
Top Bottom
Back