I run pure locust in very cold weather. It brings the stove top up to the 650-700F range. When it's below 20F outside that's just about right.
Hotter than expected burns happen to me every time I load up on top of an already hot burning fire. I blame the misnamed EBT for this, it opens when it gets hot and adds more primary combustion air when I want less air instead of more. Pay attention to what begreen said in Post #13 about blocking off the EBT port. although getting to it can be lots of fun with a floor mounted insert.
Time to tone it down a bit. What I said in that post does not apply to the newer EBT system. It's an entirely different design that doesn't boost primary air at all. I like what they have done. Also note that the changes I made were for my stove and flue. One needs to make a judgement call here. There are lots of systems that work just fine without any modification. I have also found now that I have run the stove for several seasons that the way I load a stove has much more to do with burn temps than the EBT ever did. One of the mistakes folks make with these big fireboxes is aiming for a big, secondary light show. I now shoot for a good long steady burn, often loading E/W and throttling back the air much sooner.
Yes, I can blame the EBT for allowing an excess of air into a supposedly controlled environment regardless of fuel supply causing elevated temperatures and short burn times. Quoted from "Operating Tips", page 18 of my Summit Series A operating manual:
"3. If a slow burn is desired, set the air control to low. Active secondary burning should be present above the wood load. If it is not present or goes out shortly after, proper operating temperature has not been reached and the stove needs additional warm up time."
What PE does not go on to explain is that if the stove gets hot enough the EBT is going to automatically open and add more air that you cannot shut off. Others have speculated that the EBT is actually a device that allows PE to meet EPA standards with a large firebox. What PE does say is quoted below from their online brochure:
"Face the challenge of heating your bigger space head on with the Pacific Energy Summit Insert. The Summit is the only insert with patented Extended Burn Technology, giving you up to ten hours of burn for a full night of heat. The Summit's extremely efficient Heat Extraction System transfers the maximum amount of heat to your room, over the longest time. And unlike an open fire, you control the heat output with a one-touch control."
Many new owners, including James02 and self, got an unpleasant surpise after stoking fully then finding that the fire was burnng much hotter and faster than desired. The Summit is promoted as high capacity in terms of both heat output capability and burn time but this is not necessarily true. Needing to wait until a fire cools to reload is not an acceptable requirement for a stove intended as a primary heat source and prior knowledge of this would probably disuade many from purchasing the device. I live life on my schedule,not my fireplace's schedule. When it is time to go to bed on a cold night I want to load the firebox, turn the air down and retire and have moderate steady heat for a long time. This frequently does not happen and it is necessary for a perplexed owner to search forums like this one to find out why he cannot control his new fireplace.
The statement "you control the heat output with a one-touch control" is patently false and I believe the EBT is to blame.
Love that stonework, loon!!James.. Burning Locust right now and man its a hot burning wood
I had to cut the draft down a touch for sure.
loon
I hope you didn't fill the stove up with just locust. I have mostly locust and oak and try to mix an equal amount in each load. If I filled my liberty with all locust, chances are it would be glowing red and starting to melt.