Thermometer placement

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Dmitry

Minister of Fire
Oct 4, 2014
1,146
CT
I just installed a new flush hybrid large fireplace insert. The pamphlet that came with insert says to burn first fire at 450f degree for certain amount of time.( Dont have it in front of me now). I understand I need to get some special thermometer , But where do I place it if it's insert. Should I remove faceplate and put it on top?
 
I have a flush insert and I am using an IR thermometer. The only thermometer that I can think of other than IR would be a probe with a thermocouple. I am thinking about getting it from auber instrument. I heard from a tv commercial that President of Travis industry is going to be at deans and spa sometime this month, I want to go there and ask him few question. The thermometer dilemma would one of them.
 
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I just installed a new flush hybrid large fireplace insert. The pamphlet that came with insert says to burn first fire at 450f degree for certain amount of time.( Dont have it in front of me now). I understand I need to get some special thermometer , But where do I place it if it's insert. Should I remove faceplate and put it on top?
I just got the very same insert and love it! I've been burning for a month or so with very few issues. I gave it two small starter fires before a real raging fire with no issues. I saw nothing regarding a thermometer in my manual however. I plan on getting an IR thermometer soon.
 
This insert has the option of installing catalytic combuster temperature probe, it's mentioned in a last pages of manual. You got to drill hole in designed place , not sure if I like the idea of drilling holes in it.
 

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I just installed a new flush hybrid large fireplace insert. The pamphlet that came with insert says to burn first fire at 450f degree for certain amount of time.( Dont have it in front of me now). I understand I need to get some special thermometer , But where do I place it if it's insert. Should I remove faceplate and put it on top?
Seriously, don't get carried away with the temperature. The manufacturer does NOT want you to open that thing up before the paint cures, so build 2 or 3 small fires and be done with it. What I mean by a small fire is maybe 2-3 splits (on the smaller side), let them run their course. You will smell some manufacturing oil, paint, etc... but should be gone by the second small burn. If weather permits, then open that thing up for the 3rd burn
 
Seriously, don't get carried away with the temperature. The manufacturer does NOT want you to open that thing up before the paint cures, so build 2 or 3 small fires and be done with it. What I mean by a small fire is maybe 2-3 splits (on the smaller side), let them run their course. You will smell some manufacturing oil, paint, etc... but should be gone by the second small burn. If weather permits, then open that thing up for the 3rd burn
Agreed. I'm new to this too, but exact temp readings mean very little. Have couple small fires and then let it rip! I'm ten feet away right now and my feet are burning!
 
Do you feel some radiating heat from it? I was worry about getting insert vs freestanding .Went for looks. This thing is gorgeous
 
Agreed. I'm new to this too, but exact temp readings mean very little. Have couple small fires and then let it rip! I'm ten feet away right now and my feet are burning!
Amen, Stoves were built for heat. While the manufacture does not want you to boil all of the paint off on the first fire or two, you do need to be careful and just build a couple 2-3 split fires, but heck 450 degrees? WTH, I am not baking a pie! What happens if that half split I threw in there takes it to 600 degrees? Then what, water? Hell no, just go simple with this. As you can see, you can over think it and you will then under enjoy the great investment you just made. Have fun, be safe and enjoy the burn. Oh, and please, never put water in your stove to cool down a fire (unless your house is on fire). Wood stoves manage heat well (especially with stainless steel liners).
 
Do you feel some radiating heat from it? I was worry about getting insert vs freestanding .Went for looks. This thing is gorgeous
It does give off heat with the fan off (had a party of forty last nite, human heat enough to keep the fan off). It is gorgeous for sure! I love mine. I had buddies over last nite with freestanding stoves ( including my firewood supplier). They were all impressed/amazed. Let it rip and enjoy.
 
I also just put this unit in. Been playing around with it with a few weekend fires. Very impressed with its heating capability so far, though it hasn't been truly cold yet. I haven't tried putting a thermometer on it, I've just been adjusting the air to keep flames going without being too active. I can get the air almost completely shut down and keep the flames going. Seems very controllable. I managed to get an overnight burn last night. Put a load on a big bed of coals at 10:00 pm, 6:00 this morning blower was still on with coals in fire box and was able to relight without a match. Looks good installed, wish the blower was a little quieter. This thing can hold a LOT of wood if you have the right length pieces, but packing the fire box can be a challenge. Wood has to be really short to load NS. EW my wood is just a little too long to get two stacks next to each other, so I seem to end up with dead spaces on either end. Will continue to work to refine that.
 
That's the problem with a flush insert. Shallow and tapered fire box.
 
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flush insert. Shallow and tapered fire box.
Hmmm, that's something to keep in mind when I check out my friends' new place and offer them some stove input...
 
I wouldn't say its a problem, it's just different. I've only had about 6 or 7 fires in mine so I haven't optimized my loading technique and I'm already getting 8 hour burn times without a full load. More to learn.
 
Yep, I have the same issue. I have to seek out shorties for loading NS. But EW, my logs fit fine. Minor adjustment, but overnight burns work well.
 
CT Burner and Dmitry, as the three of us have the same stoves installed at roughly the same time, we ought continue to share notes and advice, eh?
 
Absolutely. Happy to learn anything I can from you guys. This board is a wealth of information.
Absolutely , will love this .Mine is still got to be connected to the chimney liner which might be a bit of a challenge. It's not lined up perfectly , I had to remove some bricks and metal to avoid offset box . My chimney is only 15 feet long. I'm worry a bit about draft issues. How long is your chimneys , guys . The stove has cat combuster, it's gonn add resistance to the flow . Any problems with it?
 
My chimney is close to 30'. No problems with draft. I did break in fires when it was warm out, like 65, and draft was still strong.
Same here exactly, CT.

Dmitry, I had mine installed professionally, so I can offer little to help to your issues. However, my FPX drafts great. I could be wrong, but I'd bet someone can attest, that the cat won't hinder the draft appreciably, if at all.
 
So, into some colder weather how is everyone doing? My system continues to impress. I've noticed that even with the blower on low/medium I'm still getting about the same room temp. My theory is that the lower velocity air a coming out warmer so the net flow of BTUs into the room is about the same. Anyone else observe this? Also, I've been loading EW and staggering my gaps, so I put a split at the back far left, next split far right, then far left all the way to the front. Second layer starts far right, then far left etc. Seems to maximize the load and the air pockets help light it faster. Unit still seems very controllable. I've filled the box and never felt in danger of a runaway. When I reload around 10 pm the blower will usually stay on until 3-4 am, with enough coals to relight in the morning. I'm pleased with that performance from an insert. No data yet, but anecdotally I'm burning a lot less oil. Essentially no oil during the day, and a little bit at night.
 
We've been thrilled! 1st floor stays balmy all the way to the other end of the house. (See thread "cat vs. non-cat" for my particulars) Walk out basement, however, considerably colder. Fireplace down there needs a liner and stove next year! Medium fan mostly, and I agree about fan speed vs BTUs. Next time I split logs, I will make roughly half of them short for easy NS loading. I usually start with two loaded EW in the front and back, kindling and fire starter in center. Once ablaze, I use shorts and longs to tic tac toe till full. 20s on Thanksgiving Day. Ate dinner with the windows open! Our hibiscus has never bloomed so frequently in the house.

If your so inclined, you might search FPX large flush on this forum. Seems most all were pleased, minus one guy for sure. Lots of good info out there.

Maintenance day today, as it's 40f out. Gotta clean it out and reload this evening.

We've used propane twice this season, only because no one was home! A few more years, and it will pay for itself!
 
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