New (2013) Jotul Castine - Questions To Begin - Temp Gauge Placement

[Gabby12]

Now starting to burn new stove and starting to have questions:

#1
Stove manual and stove installer recommends that the temperature gauge should go in rear corner on top of stove.
By feel as well as confirming with hand held temp gauge the top center of the stove is warmest spot consistantly (at least in the first hour or so - haven't had a long burn time yet - but plan to this weekend).

If monitoring temps. to keep below a safe number so to not hurt casting wouldn't it make sence to put thermometer where the hottest spot is?

 

[topoftheriver]

Now starting to burn new stove and starting to have questions:

#1
Stove manual and stove installer recommends that the temperature gauge should go in rear corner on top of stove.
By feel as well as confirming with hand held temp gauge the top center of the stove is warmest spot consistantly (at least in the first hour or so - haven't had a long burn time yet - but plan to this weekend).

If monitoring temps. to keep below a safe number so to not hurt casting wouldn't it make sence to put thermometer where the hottest spot is?

The manual shows the thermometers in the corners, yes. I don't necessarily agree after burning Jotul's for more than 12 years. Some on this forum burn their stoves above 600 degrees. I burn my Jotul between 350 on warmer days and 500+ but rarely over 600. Once in a while I do a hot half hour burn to blow out the chimney. Never had much creosote problem to get into a twist over. I would conclude that you should use the stove. Burn it. Test it out. Play with it until you feel confortable with the range that is good for you. You'll get it. After a while, everyone does. Good Luck. Castine is a nice 55,000 BTU stove. Careful not to jamb logs in when you get to the top and break the top rear of the baffle.

 

[topoftheriver]

The manual shows the thermometers in the corners, yes. I don't necessarily agree after burning Jotul's for more than 12 years. Some on this forum burn their stoves above 600 degrees. I burn my Jotul between 350 on warmer days and 500+ but rarely over 600. Once in a while I do a hot half hour burn to blow out the chimney. Never had much creosote problem to get into a twist over. I would conclude that you should use the stove. Burn it. Test it out. Play with it until you feel confortable with the range that is good for you. You'll get it. After a while, everyone does. Good Luck. Castine is a nice 55,000 BTU stove. Careful not to jamb logs in when you get to the top and break the top rear of the baffle.

Follow up: Be sure to follow break in procedure before going full blast. After break in I believe Jotul usually recommends building your fires up on a gradual basis. You can usually achieve 400 safetly and leave it there for a while and after that it is up to the way you like it. I broke mine in in one day lighting several small fires and letting them burn out. I was in business in only a few days.

 

[rijim]

I have my temp gage off to the side as shown in the manual and have run break in fires per the description in the manual. I typically run between 500 & 600 deg. occasionally hit 650-700.

 

[DianeB]

See page 16 of the manual - figure 12. Thermometer not exactly the rear of the top, but rather to the side/center of the decorative top. I use 2 just like the picture to make sure burning the same on either side. Days like today - mid 20's I can burn at 500 and am comfortable. In the teens and lower I need to get it up to at least 600 at least for a bit until get the air intake down to 1/4 open

 

[Gabby12]

I did my break in fires the first day as well - plus had a couple more since then gradually getting it hotter and hotter.

We are having temps in the low 20's/teen's the next couple days so was able to get it fired up a little today - keep in mind I still don't have insulation in walls of the addition and have an open ridge vent so not attempting to really heat room just want to temper and play/learn the stove.

My handheld temp. gauge goes blank when over 600 degs.
I had blank (over 600) degs. in center of top and around 450 where the manual has the gauge to be.
I moved my magnetic gauge to top center where I was seeing over 600 with handheld and the magnetic gauge was showing just slightly over 600 so I feel comfortable that I didn't get it to hot - keep in mind the "proper" spot was showing around 450.

I am interested in hearing what others think about putting the magnetic gauge on the top center to really monitor the highest temp area of the stove.
Yes I tend to over analize but it doesn't make sence to me to monitor an area that consistantly stays cooler then the "hot spot" on the stove.

 

[DianeB]

I did my break in fires the first day as well - plus had a couple more since then gradually getting it hotter and hotter.

We are having temps in the low 20's/teen's the next couple days so was able to get it fired up a little today - keep in mind I still don't have insulation in walls of the addition and have an open ridge vent so not attempting to really heat room just want to temper and play/learn the stove.

My handheld temp. gauge goes blank when over 600 degs.
I had blank (over 600) degs. in center of top and around 450 where the manual has the gauge to be.
I moved my magnetic gauge to top center where I was seeing over 600 with handheld and the magnetic gauge was showing just slightly over 600 so I feel comfortable that I didn't get it to hot - keep in mind the "proper" spot was showing around 450.

I am interested in hearing what others think about putting the magnetic gauge on the top center to really monitor the highest temp area of the stove.
Yes I tend to over analize but it doesn't make sence to me to monitor an area that consistantly stays cooler then the "hot spot" on the stove.

I

I would say follow Jotul's instructions - they have been making stoves for 200 years or so. They have engineered and created the tolerances based on lots of experience with their stoves.

 

[begreen]

I have my temp gage off to the side as shown in the manual and have run break in fires per the description in the manual. I typically run between 500 & 600 deg. occasionally hit 650-700.

That's where we had the thermometer and the temps we ran the F400 at.

 

[Gabby12]

With the few fires I have had if seeing 500-600 and occasionally htting 6-700 on your stat at the side then you are hitting 800+ in center top.
Installer said he thinks the stove can handle 800 but it's best to stay under 700.

 

[begreen]

I have an IR thermometer and didn't see that great a variance. Maybe this is a difference in measuring instruments? Or for some reason is your stove burning hotter in the middle?

 

[topoftheriver]

I did my break in fires the first day as well - plus had a couple more since then gradually getting it hotter and hotter.

We are having temps in the low 20's/teen's the next couple days so was able to get it fired up a little today - keep in mind I still don't have insulation in walls of the addition and have an open ridge vent so not attempting to really heat room just want to temper and play/learn the stove.

My handheld temp. gauge goes blank when over 600 degs.
I had blank (over 600) degs. in center of top and around 450 where the manual has the gauge to be.
I moved my magnetic gauge to top center where I was seeing over 600 with handheld and the magnetic gauge was showing just slightly over 600 so I feel comfortable that I didn't get it to hot - keep in mind the "proper" spot was showing around 450.

I am interested in hearing what others think about putting the magnetic gauge on the top center to really monitor the highest temp area of the stove.
Yes I tend to over analize but it doesn't make sence to me to monitor an area that consistantly stays cooler then the "hot spot" on the stove.

After break in, properly, run the stove in the fashion that can accomodate your needs. You will know if you are doing anything wrong. Monitor it until you feel confortable with your routine. It take a while and everyone here can give you advice but you have to ultimately do it for yourself. You will be fine, don't worry about it.

 

[rijim]

When I get home from work tonight I will get the stove up to temp and check out the center. I always have a stem pot on the opposite side so I will pull that also and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Kevin Dolan]

When I get home from work tonight I will get the stove up to temp and check out the center. I always have a stem pot on the opposite side so I will pull that also and see if that makes a difference.

I have my thermometer at the side of the decorative top and it does temp slightly differently from the centre but I tend to only observe the readings. I am more concerned with how my fire is running and the stage of the loading, coaling and ultimately the heat it is giving out. I regularly run stovetop temps of 450-550 and have only once gone over 700. I have an echofan sitting in the centre of my castine so could not use that for my thermometer, but follow jotuls instructions for placement.
To me it is a tool and I do look at it but not as much as I used too. Hope you are enjoying your stove.