Are some magnetic stove (not stovepipe) thermometers better (i.e. more accurate, durable, etc.) than others, or are they all about the same?
magnetic stove thermometers
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Grisu
Minister of Fire
For most members the Condar Inferno seems to work better/be more accurate than others. An IR thermometer is usually also a good choice and can be helpful at other places around the house.
phatdonkey
Member
+1 on the Condar Inferno. Mine is accurate within about 35 degrees. I dont have an IR to test it, but I used my Fluke 179 DVM with the temp probe. I tested it a few times on our gas cooking range before I even had my wood stove. I will, however, be getting an IR before next season.
I've got an Englander 17-VL. It has an air circulation gap under the top, so the owner's manual says to put the thermometer on the front above the door. Problem is that there is only about 1-1/4 of space there for the thermometer, and the Inferno's diameter is 2.5 inches. Also, the Inferno indicates an optimum range between 400 and 650 degrees, but my owner's manual says 350 to 600 is better, and defines 650 as a damaging over-fire.
So what quality thermometer do you recommend that is compatible with my stove?
So what quality thermometer do you recommend that is compatible with my stove?
KindredSpiritzz
Minister of Fire
Don't buy a Meeco's Red Devil or anything painted. Get it to hot that paint peels and flakes right off. A lesson i just learned this year.
Almost all of them are painted and most do not peel i have no idea about that particular one but mine is atleast 5 years old painted and doing just fine
KindredSpiritzz
Minister of Fire
good point. I have a Rutland that seems to have a hardened enamel paint that still looks like new after 2 years. The Meeco got up to like 800 once and the paint just powderized on it.
Are you sure when they say 650 that don't mean stovetop? 650 is low for a steel stoves max. 900 is typically more common for a steel stove, given the convection top 650 would be about right for a stovetop reading.
They say to take the temperature on the front above the door, not on the stovetop.
He is right that is what the manual says with a magnetic thermometer on the corner above the door
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
I have the Englander 17, and I don't believe that 650 F stove top is attainable without some seriously wrong burning techniques. I don't claim to be an expert on stoves, but I've run one of these since October, fussing and really paying attention to the temperatures. I would expect between 350-390 F on the stove top during a good burn, where at the same time, the steel just above the door would be reading 600-650 F.
That's weird. I've had several steel stoves with a convection top and could get 650 without pushing it. It is a super tiny stove though.
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
When I first got my IR temp gun, I was somewhat disappointed that it didn't hit higher temps. I guess it's part of the design, with the baffles and air space above. Don't let the cool stove top temp fool you though, it's like a blast furnace in front of it, and the sides throw a lot of heat. The back is relatively cool as well, making it great for small clearances.
So I guess there are no owners of the 17-VL who use magnetic thermometers, at least not as the mfr recommends.
I am sure many do many also use ir guns and i am sure many also use pipe thermometers and allot don't use any.
The same ones that you are calling stove top thermometers. We just know what they call"overfire" or "creosote" are not accurate.
Depends on the pipe a probe if it is double wall or magnetic if it is single wall just get a thermometer If you want better accuracy get an ir gun or a digital thermometer the magnetic ones are not terribly accurate but they give you a decent reference point. It is not rocket science 50 degrees one way or another usually doesn't make that much difference
Grisu
Minister of Fire
Oh, I get it - you mean stovepipe thermometers. Englander doesn't mention them in the manual, so I guess they wouldn't be useful for me.
You could run it just fine with a pipe thermometer as well that is how i prefer to run a stove but many like stove temps both work just fine
Which is worse, overfiring a stove or a stovepipe? I don't recall the mfr of my double wall stating a maximum allowable temperature.
You pretty much cant over fire one without the other they are kind of hooked together that is generally why taking temps either place works. Cat stoves are different they need a cat probe to run them properly
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