PE Super 27 vs. TN 19

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RiverLogger

Member
Sep 2, 2009
61
Western Oregon
Hello all,

Getting ready to buy a new stove. Have it down to these two stoves and want to know if the Super 27 is worth the extra $600? I know the baffle system is better but wondering what owners of both stoves like about their particular model. Stove is going in a 1600sf home that is currently heated with an Englander 13. Obviously wanting overnight burns without being blown out of the house from high stovetemps. Weather is typically in the low 40s and upper 30s most if the winter with occasional 20s. NC13 heats perfectly now so hoping these compare similarly.

Thanks.
 
The Super has a secondary air control linked with the primary. This makes the stove very controllable, and really stretches out the burn cycle.

My Spectrum is older and very similar in looks to the 27, with the same firebox and air controls. It is in a 1350ish sq ft house in northern Michigan. I don't have a lot of time with it, but I have burned it in temps similar to yours, and much colder. In more moderate temps, it peaks around 650-700, and will drop off pretty quickly and hold a bed of coals for a really long time at a low setting. I have reloaded after 16+ hours on a good bed of coals. In subzero temps, the furnace will kick on after 7-8 hours, but it is usually set in the low 70s :)

I have no clue about the TN. I looked one over once, and it looks like a nice stove. I'm sure it would be an improvement over the 13, but I'd say for everyday use the 27 would be worth the extra coin, especially if you consider the years of service a quality stove will give you.
 
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x2 on the 27, its a very well made stove. Not taking anything away from the tn, but if you can afford to, get the 27. The tn appears to be well made, is a good value for money spent but down the road will get tired before the super does.
 
Hello all,

Getting ready to buy a new stove. Have it down to these two stoves and want to know if the Super 27 is worth the extra $600? I know the baffle system is better but wondering what owners of both stoves like about their particular model. Stove is going in a 1600sf home that is currently heated with an Englander 13. Obviously wanting overnight burns without being blown out of the house from high stovetemps. Weather is typically in the low 40s and upper 30s most if the winter with occasional 20s. NC13 heats perfectly now so hoping these compare similarly.

Thanks.

I love my 13. I hate my 13 because it gets 6 hours at best (Sorry, Mike !!)

I love my PE , with pretty much the same firebox & baffle system you are looking at. It heats 1200 Sf of this place, no problemo.
 
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Hello all,

Getting ready to buy a new stove. Have it down to these two stoves and want to know if the Super 27 is worth the extra $600? I know the baffle system is better but wondering what owners of both stoves like about their particular model. Stove is going in a 1600sf home that is currently heated with an Englander 13. Obviously wanting overnight burns without being blown out of the house from high stovetemps. Weather is typically in the low 40s and upper 30s most if the winter with occasional 20s. NC13 heats perfectly now so hoping these compare similarly.

Thanks.

We have both a PE Spectrum (Upstairs) and a PE True North TN19 Downstairs. The Spectrum is the same system as the Super 27, after buying the TN19 I'm not upset with the stove but I would have paid the extra for the Super 27 in a heartbeat. The Spectrum keeps the glass much cleaner and burns a bit longer. I would say a slightly more even heat too, but I might be imagining things! Same operator and woodpile.
 
I'm pretty sure the 27 is what I want, just want to make sure that it's worth it. I did look at a TN once about a year ago but have never put eyes on a 27. Thanks for all the comments so far.
 
I would look at the 27 if possible, you'll like the construction of it. The floating baffle design in the top of the stove is really well thought out, I don't think the tn19 has that design, its a straight ceramic (not that that is a bad design, most stoves have that) board if memory serves. The fit and finish of PE is very nice too.
 
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We have both a PE Spectrum (Upstairs) and a PE True North TN19 Downstairs. The Spectrum is the same system as the Super 27, after buying the TN19 I'm not upset with the stove but I would have paid the extra for the Super 27 in a heartbeat. The Spectrum keeps the glass much cleaner and burns a bit longer. I would say a slightly more even heat too, but I might be imagining things! Same operator and woodpile.

Hi Busybee,

I think you're the first member we've had who has both stoves - it's great to have someone who has burned in both and can give a real-life comparison!

Doubly-glad I got the Super now ;). Excited to get burning this year and work on my burn times with better-seasoned wood.
 
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Well. I did it. Just went and ordered the Super 27. It'll be here tomorrow for me to pick up. Cant wait to get it installed and drool over it waiting for cool weather. $1550.00 out the door. That sound reasonable?
 
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Well. I did it. Just went and ordered the Super 27. It'll be here tomorrow for me to pick up. Cant wait to get it installed and drool over it waiting for cool weather. $1550.00 out the door. That sound reasonable?
Glad to hear you bit the bullet. It depends on your region but I paid $1600 Canadian for mine a few years ago. Im going into my third year with the stove and use it quite a bit. Its very easy to use and the light show is fun to watch! I burn soft woods and have no problem with over night burns.
 
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Glad to hear you bit the bullet. It depends on your region but I paid $1600 Canadian for mine a few years ago. Im going into my third year with the stove and use it quite a bit. Its very easy to use and the light show is fun to watch! I burn soft woods and have no problem with over night burns.

This is just what I want to hear. I burn softwood too, mostly Doug Fir, Hemlock, Alder and Big Leaf Maple, so overnight burns should now be the morm rather than the exception. Don't get me wrong the Englander 13 has been a GREAT stove, it just doesn't suit my situation as well as the Super will.
 
Good deal. This stove burns softwood beautifully. You will be burning the exact same combo that my neighbor burns in his Spectrum.
 
This is just what I want to hear. I burn softwood too, mostly Doug Fir, Hemlock, Alder and Big Leaf Maple, so overnight burns should now be the morm rather than the exception. Don't get me wrong the Englander 13 has been a GREAT stove, it just doesn't suit my situation as well as the Super will.
Larch is what I use for overnight burns and I fill the fire box pretty full but not touching the baffle. The spaces between splits I fill with smaller pieces. Once its filled around 11 at night I can leave it until around 9 am when I throw some Lodgepole Pine on the bed of coals that's left. Btus for the Larch are higher than the Fir but I would think it would still work for overnights. Not the greatest picture but I thought I would throw it in. Enjoy your new stove!
 

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Larch is what I use for overnight burns and I fill the fire box pretty full but not touching the baffle. The spaces between splits I fill with smaller pieces. Once its filled around 11 at night I can leave it until around 9 am when I throw some Lodgepole Pine on the bed of coals that's left. Btus for the Larch are higher than the Fir but I would think it would still work for overnights. Not the greatest picture but I thought I would throw it in. Enjoy your new stove!

I use my Maple for the overnight burns. In my 13, I could load it to the top at 10pm or so and still have enough coals to get some Fir going at 6am. I'm hoping the Super will out-perform that!!!!
 
Congrats on the new stove- that sounds like a nice price, more like 2000 here on the east coast. Burn in good health..
 
I use my Maple for the overnight burns. In my 13, I could load it to the top at 10pm or so and still have enough coals to get some Fir going at 6am. I'm hoping the Super will out-perform that!!!!

I can scrape coals together and get a fire going after 12+ hours. Pretty much every day. You will not be disappointed.
 
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We sell both models, and invite customer feedback, making it a point to discuss performance each time we return to sweep the chimney. The consensus is overwhelming: the Super series models burn longer, produce more heat, and have a more effective "airwash" to keep the viewing window cleaner. They're made with heavier gage metal components, and carry a lifetime warranty on the firebox and baffle (compared to the 5-year warranty on the True North T19). At sweeping time, the Super baffle, which is held in place with one push-pin, is much easier to remove than the T19's air tubes, which must be worked out individually to allow removal of the baffle board. If you're looking for a shop stove, we feel the T19 compares favorably to the Englander 13 and other budget-priced models, but if you're in the market for a whole-house heater, we consider PE's Super Series models "Best in Class."
 
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Well from all the replies here, it appears I made the correct decision in getting the Super 27. I am so excited to use this new stove. Headed out to pick it up in a few minutes.
 
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Well from all the replies here, it appears I made the correct decision in getting the Super 27. I am so excited to use this new stove. Headed out to pick it up in a few minutes.
I think you'll be happy. Lit mine for the first time on New Year's Eve with a celebratory packing crate burn. Love at first burn. With the exception of the random ash, burned mostly pine and aspen (nearly endless supply) all last season. Kept 2500+ sq ft very toasty even during a few very cold below zero spells. Getting ready to do a chimney clean and am curious to see how well my late season less than stellar wood burned.
 
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I think you'll be happy. Lit mine for the first time on New Year's Eve with a celebratory packing crate burn. Love at first burn. With the exception of the random ash, burned mostly pine and aspen (nearly endless supply) all last season. Kept 2500+ sq ft very toasty even during a few very cold below zero spells. Getting ready to do a chimney clean and am curious to see how well my late season less than stellar wood burned.
Following up:
Did the first PE Super 27 chimney cleaning today following my half season of burning, part of which as mentioned above was not so seasoned pine. Basically just soot dust on the flue walls. Maybe a quarter cup of fine stuff when all was said and done. The Sweep said it really didn't even need to be cleaned we but did it anyway since we were there. I also liked the second set eyes on the installation just for piece of mind. The only thing bad about the install was the fact that the guy used joint sealant when he put the vacustack cap on. We couldn't get it apart easily on the roof so we just uncoupled the top section of pipe and cleaned it separately. I'll have to figure out how to knock it apart at the next cleaning.
Another nice feature of the PE27...I liked how easy it was to remove the afterburner. Literally about three minutes worth of work with no tools needed. Took it outside and gave it a quick brush off. When you do eventually do yours, you might want to make sure you have an extra afterburner to air supply tube gasket handy. Mine was slightly shredded upon removal of the afterburner. Part stuck to the stove, part to the afterburner. Super easy to replace.
Enjoy!
 
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I keep a supply of several baffle gaskets on hand. Some folks have made their own out of 3/8" gasket material. One thing to note, when cleaning the flue, stuff a rag in the secondary pipe that fits up into the baffle. That will stop crud from dropping into the secondary air supply tube.
 
Got the stove installed and doing a break in burn today. Thanks all for the help and tips. I do want to say that just doing the break in burn I can tell already that this stove is 10X the stove that my 13 was in all categories. Also I LOVE THIS STOVE ALREADY!!!!!

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Congratulations! Looking good.
 
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Looks great. It will pile the heat out and glow inside beautiful.
 
Very nice. I see you opted not to get the ash drawer...good choice! Used mine about twice. Then I built a metal scoop, custom sized to fit the firebox. One scoop and the box is empty.
 
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