Cat probe?

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mattjm1017

Feeling the Heat
Oct 23, 2012
408
Corapeake NC
I have a stove top thermometer that came with the stove but it seems to me that it was recomended I get a cat probe or something like that to measure/monitor flue temps? Is this right if so what am I looking for I have a woodstock fireview with a liner run up my existing chimney.
 
The hole for the cat probe in the Fireview is in the back of the stove which is hard to read. You can get away with only a stove top thermometer for the Fireview but an additional pipe thermometer is a valuable tool that helps when burning in the bypass mode and is also a quicker indication of when to engage the cat since the soapstone has a lag time.
 
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Can't comment on the cat probe. +1 on the pipe thermo. With the bypass open, pipe temps can peg out while you brush your teeth, with a cool stove top.
 
You can buy remote temp probes for the catalyst from Condar. I got one for my Firelight 12 that also had the whole in the rear, and it had a 6 ft cord so I could hang the display on the wall. I had a stove top thermometer, and one for the stove pipe, but found the cat probe to be the best and fastest way to monitor what was happening.
 
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I started laughing about the title and my cat walked out of the room. Don't do this at home.

cat_butt.jpg
 
For my non catalytic insert I don't measure exhaust or surface temps. I have an IR gun that I point at it occasionally, but otherwise let it run.
 
So maybe I should just get the cat probe from condor and use that along with my stt and then maybe invest in a thermo gun to check the pipe?
 
You can buy remote temp probes for the catalyst from Condar. I got one for my Firelight 12 that also had the whole in the rear, and it had a 6 ft cord so I could hang the display on the wall. I had a stove top thermometer, and one for the stove pipe, but found the cat probe to be the best and fastest way to monitor what was happening.

I have the same setup on my VC, and I know Joful does this on his Firelight as well, but with a custom thermocouple/monitor. On downdraft stoves like these its a big benefit because the cat exhaust temp doesnt directly influence the stovetop temp as much.

A woodstock OTOH has the combustor up top, and I think there is a more reliable relationship between the cat temp and stovetop temp.
 
I have a stove top thermometer that came with the stove but it seems to me that it was recomended I get a cat probe or something like that to measure/monitor flue temps? Is this right if so what am I looking for I have a woodstock fireview with a liner run up my existing chimney.
Like I told you on the other site, Flue gas probe and surface temp is all you need on your Fireview. I had a Fireview and it was all I needed.. Believe me, if you really needed at cat probe for Woodstocks stoves, knowing Woodstock it would come with your stove.. That's the last thing they want is for you to have an issue burning their stove.. Sounds like you should just call Woodstock so you will be satisfied with a correct answer to your concerns...
 
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Like I told you on the other site, Flue gas probe and surface temp is all you need on your Fireview. I had a Fireview and it was all I needed.. Believe me, if you really needed at cat probe for Woodstocks stoves, knowing Woodstock it would come with your stove.. That's the last thing they want is for you to have an issue burning their stove.. Sounds like you should just call Woodstock so you will be satisfied with a correct answer to your concerns...

I didnt mean to double post this in so many places something went screwy in the one place and then it posted anyway. but thanks for your answers I am getting ready to call woodstock but about another issue I will talk to them about this since Im in the phone with them but I have been satisfied with the the answers given especially yours charly I really appreciate the help and advice and what you said here and there it made perfect sense to me I just hadnt read that yet this morning when I replied to this one.
 
I didnt mean to double post this in so many places something went screwy in the one place and then it posted anyway. but thanks for your answers I am getting ready to call woodstock but about another issue I will talk to them about this since Im in the phone with them but I have been satisfied with the the answers given especially yours charly I really appreciate the help and advice and what you said here and there it made perfect sense to me I just hadnt read that yet this morning when I replied to this one.
Just trying to help you out having already ran a Fireview.. I also looked into a probe for the cat but you'll see that the stove works so well, save your money..If the cat's not working you'll know.. Stove top temps will be very low..plus you'll see a lot of smoke out your chimney top when it's engaged in the cat mode.. again a sign the cat is not working.. Once you burn your stove you'll see.. I'm assuming you haven't ran your stove yet... Your in for a big treat,,, You'll see that burning wood has never been easier now that you have a Fireview.. Set it and forget.. you'll love that you don't have to monkey with the stove.. Wood in, stove top up to 250, then close the by pass, set the draft to .75 or 1 and your done.. You'll just have to watch what happens according to your draft as far as lowering your setting on the draft.. Your gonna love that stove!
 
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Just trying to help you out having already ran a Fireview.. I also looked into a probe for the cat but you'll see that the stove works so well, save your money..If the cat's not working you'll know.. Stove top temps will be very low..plus you'll see a lot of smoke out your chimney top when it's engaged in the cat mode.. again a sign the cat is not working.. Once you burn your stove you'll see.. I'm assuming you haven't ran your stove yet... Your in for a big treat,,, You'll see that burning wood has never been easier now that you have a Fireview.. Set it and forget.. you'll love that you don't have to monkey with the stove.. Wood in, stove top up to 250, then close the by pass, set the draft to .75 or 1 and your done.. You'll just have to watch what happens according to your draft as far as lowering your setting on the draft.. Your gonna love that stove!
I got the stove last year and was able to run it for a couple months its a sweet stove. The whole cat probe thing is something I heard about read about somewhere on here and thought I needed to get but turns out I dont what I need is a flu gas probe. There is a spot that I can put one just above the tee connector and still be able to read it so Im going to look into that. Thanks for all your help.
 
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I got the stove last year and was able to run it for a couple months its a sweet stove. The whole cat probe thing is something I heard about read about somewhere on here and thought I needed to get but turns out I dont what I need is a flu gas probe. There is a spot that I can put one just above the tee connector and still be able to read it so Im going to look into that. Thanks for all your help.
Fireview is a sweet stove for sure! Nice simple design, that's why it's a nice stove to run... Cats engaged or not, simple... Like was mentioned, just watch you flue gas temp when in the by pass mode, waiting for the stove to heat,, those flue gas temps can sky rocket in less then a minute when conditions are right.. Plus side you get a nice warm draft in a short period of time.. I know my Fireview never once smoked out the door, even a few times when I accidentally left the cat engaged while adding some more wood.... :oops:
 
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