How high is too high ? (video and poll inside)

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Do you think the "high flame" video is something to worry about ?

  • I am a pellet stove novice and that flame height would frighten me.

    Votes: 22 30.6%

  • I am a pellet stove novice and that flame height does not concern me.

    Votes: 4 5.6%

  • I am a seasoned pellet stove user and that flame height would frighten me.

    Votes: 30 41.7%

  • I am a seasoned pellet stove user and that flame height does not concern me.

    Votes: 16 22.2%

  • I am a pyromaniac... Can't you get it a little higher than that ?

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    72
Status
Not open for further replies.
cncpro

cncpro

New Member
Jun 29, 2008
341
NE Connecticut, USA
Hello everybody,

I just got a private message from Nervous Nelly (names have been changed to protect the innocent) regarding a post I made a year ago about flame height in Quadrafire CB1200 pellet stoves. I have a free-standing and "Nelly" has an insert.

I am running my CB1200 pretty much wide open trying to generate as much heat as possible in this drafty old house. Most often It runs at what I consider a normal height but occasionally it flares up big time either from a "hot restart" or even for no apparent reason while in the middle of an extended burn. This used to worry me but not anymore... What do y'all think ?

Normal flame - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrnZcGIqkPs

High flame - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_qVIZAMvmI

P.S. Sorry about the dirty glass. I am too lazy to buff it more than once a week and today's not Sunday :coolgrin:
 
The video of the normal hight flame to me is still a little high. I would adjust the feed rate down just a smidge to lower it some. I do sometimes get the same high flame on hot restarts but it quickly drops down to about on inch or two over the burn pot on the medium setting.
 
The flame high will depend on the feed rate and the air supply.
Lots of pellets and good air will increase the flame height.
It all depends on how hot you want the stove to get. :cheese:
 
The high flame is too high, it shouldn't touch the heat exchanger cover.
 
I knew there'd be a few pyros in this forum. ROFLOL

To anybody who thinks it's too high could you elaborate a bit ? Too high for what reason ? Safety ? Maximum efficiency ? Quadrafire documentation ?
 
cncpro said:
I knew there'd be a few pyros in this forum. ROFLOL
Click to expand...

Well then why did you allow that option you knew there be pyros here and you lost out on reasonable answers ;-) .
 
DannMarr said:
The high flame is too high, it shouldn't touch the heat exchanger cover.
Click to expand...

How the he!! is one supposed to weld and cut metal without a flame that can reach out and touch?
 
I would say the heat would be absorbed more in the metal cover rather than the heated air flow. And it would dirty the metal as well :ahhh: I suppose?
 
When my flame is that high in my Quad Santa Fe I get funny sounds, the best I can describe is whooping sound. I also tend to notice that the heat is not as great out of the heat tubes. I try to keep it like the first video but yes on hot restarts I get a higher then normal flame. I do not think this would be bad on the stove however because if it got too hot it would shut off by tripping the snap disc. my 2 cents.
 
You call that high? :)
Our flame will reach the heat exchanger and sometimes roll over towards the glass.
When the flames start getting closer to the glass is when I am a bit concerned.
Not sure if that is the highest it would go but sure lights up the room!!!
Once it is at temp will stay quite calm.
Love the heat!!!

Feed rate on 4 in room temp mode. Set it 5 deg above current temp and it will crank!!
 
Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting you guys mostly have space heaters. I thought the video of the high flame was about like the pilot setting on the Revolution. But, after all, it IS only MY opinion, and I have to get to the official airing of grievances, so I'll watch it again when I get time. Happy Festivus to all!!!!!!!!!
 
hossthehermit said:
Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting you guys mostly have space heaters. I thought the video of the high flame was about like the pilot setting on the Revolution. But, after all, it IS only MY opinion, and I have to get to the official airing of grievances, so I'll watch it again when I get time. Happy Festivus to all!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

You all ready for the feats of strength?

Have a good one hoss.
 
Max BTU output for our "space heaters" would require a good flame, right??
 
cncpro said:
I am running my CB1200 pretty much wide open trying to generate as much heat as possible.... :coolgrin:
Click to expand...

Taking the above statement into consideration I'd say that flame
is normal.

Whenever I crank mine up to the highest setting (#5), it puts out
a huge flame as well. No worries imo but I'm sure some of the
"eks-pert" nervous nellys will have a different opinion.
Keep warm cnc!
 
My flame goes from low to high all the time. Looks ok to me.
 
The stove has a hi limit snap disc. You will know when you reach the max operating temp of the stove. I had to over fire my old quad in the extreme cold. Thats when I knew I needed a larger stove or more insulation. I did both!
 
I would check the vent temp ,other than that I don't think you can hurt the stove . They don't get near as hot as wood stoves .
 
my us stove company king 5510 heats best with a fairly tall flame. my house is old and very drafty, so the only way to effectively heat it is with a tall flame. i need to insulate better, because i have to burn more pellets than i should have to to heat this old house. it even still has original windows. the 5510 stove throws out allot of heat(45,000 BTU's), but you have to crank it up when its really cold out. anyways, i really wouldnt be worried about having a tall flame like that.
 
When my start up flame was rolling off the angle plates, black smoke was pouring out the vent, way too rich. I cut the feed back so on start up the flame would just touch the plates. What was strange is the medium flame never really changed much.
 
I have a englander 25-ep and I am trying to get my flame shorter but can't seem to any suggestions.
 
SmokeyTheBear said:
hossthehermit said:
Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting you guys mostly have space heaters. I thought the video of the high flame was about like the pilot setting on the Revolution. But, after all, it IS only MY opinion, and I have to get to the official airing of grievances, so I'll watch it again when I get time. Happy Festivus to all!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

You all ready for the feats of strength?

Have a good one hoss.
Click to expand...

Last night my wife made me put away my Festivus Pole....
 
My start up flame goes high, but that's cuz by the time anything ignites the burn pot is getting about half full. After that no raging flame.
 
That stove has aluminam heat exchanger don't over fire it and warp it. The tip of that flame is 1200 deg. lookup melting point granted you have cool air running through the tubes but over time they will warp.
 
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