Elite 44 Catalytic Burn Off

The cat does not need to be red to be working, not sure why they say that in the manual, you will however want to buy a probe to monitor the cat temps to help run the fireplace better.

You will want your bypass rod pushed in after the fireplace is up to a high enough temp for the cat to light off (cat probe needed to know exactly when to push rod in).

You always want that cat eating smoke for a clean burn which means the bypass is closed.

This fireplace is very easy to figure out. There is no real need for a cat probe, often this just complicates things on a unit like this. It will only take a few fires for you to figure out how long to leave the bypass open. If it's too soon to close it, believe me, it will let you know. Like most, this one isn't designed for a cat probe to be used. I've never felt the need for one on this unit.

If you engage a cat too soon the unit will cool off. Typically with my stove the cat will glow about 10 minutes after I engage it and will continue to glow for a while and slowly darken during the first few hours. Then it doesn't glow for the rest of the burn much at all (if at all) but will continue to work for hours. I don't sit and watch the cat all the time though so I could be a little off.

Just get the unit good and warmed up, engage the cat, slowly turn down the air, and go to work. Don't worry!

You'll notice the fire dying out, smoke rolling around the firebox and the glass getting dirty. Just wait 30 minutes or so before shutting the bypass.

The cat on this unit very rarely glows. But it's still working, almost never any smoke.

There is a electronic probe from Condar. Should show it towards the back of your owners manual. Page 20 in the owners manual I looked at. I agree I wouldn't worry about it, but if you are into gadgets there you go.

Flamethrower said:

Yes, I really don't like the idea of altering the unit.

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No altering the unit, as sticks mentioned, in your manual it shows how to hook up a probe so you can know exactly when to push in the damper, I had saw that in the manual before I suggested it.

Unfortunately like most cat stoves, the cat probe is an ackward option. Many of them aren't very practical or easy to place. With this unit you won't need it. You'll have it down in no time!