Backwoods Savage said:
brogsie said:
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I see no reason for a cat probe on this stove. If I were to use any probe it would be in the flue, but I can see no reason for that either. However, we've only burned wood for a little over 50 years so I have much to learn yet! But it seems to me with one thermometer on the stove top and one on the flue, should give you enough information about what is happening. You also can simply look at the actual fire. How much more information does one need? About the only other thing I can think of is to actually look inside the flue occasionally (monthly for new burners) to see if there is any creosote buildup.
Hey Dennis,
I have a VC Ecore Defiant, the cat is up in the back where I can not see it. I can get a nice fire going, close the bypass and close down the air. Seems to be cruising along fine. Then I'll go outside to check the chimney and black smoke is coming out. Other times it's clean with no smoke. I like to know if the cat is firing when I go to bed so that the stove is not smoldering all night creasoting up the chimney. I thoght if I had a cat probe thermometer I would know for sure that the cat is working. Maybe the VC is a little more finicky? I replaced the cat last year. Woodstock said to cean the cat once a month or so. The cat on the VC is difficult to get to because of the heat sheild. I would feel more comfortable knowing for sure that the cat is firing.
Brogsie, on the Woodstock it is easy to tell when the cat is lit. All you have to do is watch the stove top temperature. A good example is when you are starting with a cold stove. It takes a bit of time to warm up all the stone (but not as much as most would have you believe) but once the stove top gets to 250 degrees and you flip the cat on, that temperature then rises really fast.
You get the same thing with reloads. Let's say you reload the stove with the stove top at 350 degrees. Put the wood in with the cat off and the draft open full. It takes a few minutes to get the new wood charred and the moisture evaporated, but within 10-15 minutes you are ready to turn the draft down. That is the same time you engage the cat. Then watch that temperature and it will rise pretty fast.
Also, when you see that beautiful flame which you get after engaging the cat, you'll know it is working just fine. I still laugh the first time we saw the flame do that. When you engage the cat the flame seems to change color (which I still do not understand) and then it will just raise to the top of the glass and sort of roll. The first time this happened I thought it was the Pits of Hell itself! Actually scared us too because the temperature kept climbing.
On the Woodstock stoves they don't want you to burn over 700 degree stove top and this thing got over 600 quite fast and was still climbing. It certainly concentrated our attention and I couldn't seem to hold it down. However, the temperature on stove top got to about 670 and then just stayed there. It about roasted us out too. lol So there was a bit of a learning curve for us with this stove (even though we've burned wood for a bit) but it was a very short learning curve. It did not take long for us to know we have bought the right stove. And I am still amazed with the company and how good they are to deal with. I only wish more businesses would do the same.
Some day, I do hope to be able to visit that factory and also meet some of the good folks up there. I know they keep badgering me about coming to their open house or bbq but it is a long drive for us.
Thought I was the only one going out on a limb and buying one of these on the sale!?! Are you shipping it or picking it up?
