When should I engage the Cat on a BK Princess

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Sep 14, 2008
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northshore ma
So when do you engage the cat. Is it at the point where the probe is at the inactive/active point or more up the active scale on the probe....or .....

Thanks in advance!
 
I do it when all the wood is charred and it's in the active zone, sometimes that's when it's at the beginning of the active zone and sometimes its a ways past active. Usually on a reload it'll be further into the active zone than when you start a fire from a cold start.
 
Thanks weatherguy! That answers my question and then some. I thought a cat stove would be a little more complicated but this has been an easy transition from non-cat to cat.
 
Yep, super easy. I've found that if I engage the cat early (barely in the active zone) I get at least a few more hours out of a load. If you let it get roaring you quickly burn a lot of volatile material.
 
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If you notice, there are little white tick marks on the outer edge of the meter. Those appear to correspond to 500 degree increments. Just about 1/4" above the active line there is a tick mark, I wait until it gets there sometimes a little higher and on the rare occasion I only let it get past the active line.
According to the manual, it just needs to be past the line. A little higher won't hurt but too low and you risk a stall.
 
Yep, super easy. I've found that if I engage the cat early (barely in the active zone) I get at least a few more hours out of a load. If you let it get roaring you quickly burn a lot of volatile material.
Are there any risks engaging too soon? I like the idea of a few more hours but does that harm the cat in any way?
 
If you notice, there are little white tick marks on the outer edge of the meter. Those appear to correspond to 500 degree increments. Just about 1/4" above the active line there is a tick mark, I wait until it gets there sometimes a little higher and on the rare occasion I only let it get past the active line.
According to the manual, it just needs to be past the line. A little higher won't hurt but too low and you risk a stall.
I was wondering what those lines meant. Trying to read the user manual is no easy task. Info on that thing is everywhere...Thanks for the heads up!
 
My understanding is that if the cat thermometer is in the active zone and climbing it's safe to engage.
 
There is a delay in the probe reading, when mine crosses the active mark I flip the handle. If I'm reloading with the cat in the active zone I let the load get involved for 5-10 minutes and flip the handle. No hard fast rule for me, every load can act a little different so I go off feel, look, gauge and experience. Before long it'll all be second nature.
 
Thanks weatherguy! That answers my question and then some. I thought a cat stove would be a little more complicated but this has been an easy transition from non-cat to cat.
Yeah its easy, just need dry wood and you're good to go.
 
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