RenovationGeorge said:I wonder why the likely explanation--stoves being run too cool due to aftermarket Condor probes that read too high--keeps being mentioned and dropped?
I'll try again.
Both folks who say they can't get their stove-top temps high enough without their cat probes reading too high are using aftermarket Condor probes, correct?
Threads here have exhaustively documented and discussed that Current aftermarket Condor probes read too high:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/51149/
and:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/51880/
In particular, Condor's response to Pen's extensive test showing Condor flue probes read higher than a thermocouple probe confirms it:
I guess it best that it [Condor's aftermarket flue probe] read a little high because I think most folks tend to burn too hot rather than too cool, so the indication is protecting the "high heat burners."
and Pen concludes:
After running this again this season, and after all the testing last season I’ll say this: For the right or for the wrong, it’s a consistent thermometer.
That means, it may read consistently high, but I do trust that it’s always giving me the same “value†for a equivalent burn. What I think is junk is the numbers and indicator recommendations. I really wish they just sold a blank one and i’d mark it myself w/ high burn / low burn.
For me, I couldn’t get these burn sections (too cool, normal, too hot) to be even close to being correct until I moved the thermometer almost 30 inches above the stove.
I think that part of the problem is that the thermometer is taking on a ton of radiant heat from the single walled pipe. It still reads consistently, just not accurately.
I think that w/ the protection of a double wall stove pipe, It has a better chance at being accurate and precise (consistent) at the recommended 18 inches above the stove.
However, on single wall pipe, I simply believe them recommending it to be only 18 inches up the pipe is giving readings that are still consistent, but not accurate, and I worry that people are burning their stove too cool as a result.
The upshot of exhaustive (pun intended) testing is that Condor flue probes always read too high, and even more so when their external portion gets radiant energy--as from a single-wall pipe or stove top. This is confirmed in this thread, by reports of the probe quickly reading lower when a breeze is applied to the external portion.
The conclusion seems simple--the problem is with the Condor probes, not the stoves. People are running their stoves below maximum output because the aftermarket Condor probes they installed read too high.
Am I missing something?
Nope, your right on as far as I can see.