Catalyst temperature probe/draft control issue

I am in the first couple months using a new catalyst stove and going through the learning curve. My main problem is balancing the draft with the catalyst probe temperature. Here is a typical scenario.

Before going to bed I load up the stove and once the probe reads around 900 degrees I engage the catalyst. With a full load of wood and the draft control just slightly open the probe can be approaching 1800 degrees by the time I finally call it a night. A couple hours later I wake up and come downstairs to find the cat probe is only at 700 degrees but the stove is still about ¾ still full of wood and I have to open up the draft. My house does not hold the heat well so a cat probe at 700 just doesn’t do anything to heat the house when it is in the 20’s. I am concerned if I open the draft more when the probe has reached 1800 degrees I will fry the cat but if I don’t the probe temperature seems to drop way down along with heat output a couple hours later.

How can I strike the appropriate balance of probe temperature and draft while maintaining decent heat output without destroying the catalyst?

I burned with a 1.8 cf Drolet insert for 3 years before upgrading to the 2.8 cf Appalachian 52 Bay so I was hoping the larger size stove would heat the house better. However, my 1950’s house large single pane windows (plastic covered in winter) and is hard to heat. The stove sits in the living room but most of the downstairs could be considered the stove room as it is very open.

I found engaging the cat at 500 – 700 degrees doesn’t work most of the time. Hearth member Mellow is the expert on the 52 Bay as he has been burning with it for 2 years and I saw he recommended engaging the catalyst at 900 degrees and it seems to be working.