Ashford combustor replacement

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
You get OEM performance. Owners of stoves with V3 combustors can speak to their own, personal experiences. There are increased amounts of platinum on V3.

How long did an OEM combustor perform versus a replacement from an online seller..let's see if anyone can share their observations. I'm not permitted to "sell" here, that is clear.
I'm not asking you to sell here. Simply would like to know what compelled BK to switch to the V3 coating versus continuing use of the earlier version? If there's more cost, then there must have been a benefit identified during testing.

My other question pertained to the flow of steel vs. ceramic. Do you have flow ratings for each?
 
The V3 has higher concentrations of precious metal(s).

Neither has been put on a flow bench. Once placed into a stove, how much flow or residence time is influenced by other parameters.

It wasn't your comment that I was addressing.
 
I think the meaning of the word "sell" here is to expound on advantages of one's own product (and, per the absence of praise of ones competitors' products, in this case especially if they don't have this new coating, in comparison to others elevate one's own products).

I.e. if only BK has this v.3 coating, then saying why it's better as compared to the older coating that is also used by all competitors, amounts to selling/advertising.

Vendors have to be very careful on this forum; the rules are strictly enforced to avoid gliding into a sales pitch in every thread.

Hence "there's more precious metals" (fact) and no remark on what it does.

That's my understanding of the unwillingness to say more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Highbeam
Hence "there's more precious metals" (fact) and no remark on what it does.
It's kind of like buying my wife a new ring with higher precious metals content without knowing what benefits it will provide as compared to the old one. Quicker warm-up? Better performance? Extended replacement time?

Seems a stretch that a manufacturer cannot explain why design changes are made, for the benefit of us who own older products.
 
They can. Contact them outside of the forum.
 
Your reply had several other posts above it. Just to clarify, the part number S.CAT203032 is for a ceramic cat with the V3 coating?

That is the part number I got quotes for, so want to be sure it is what I think it is.

Dealer #2 contacted me yesterday with a better price, so I may go ahead and order.
 
I think the meaning of the word "sell" here is to expound on advantages of one's own product (and, per the absence of praise of ones competitors' products, in this case especially if they don't have this new coating, in comparison to others elevate one's own products).

I.e. if only BK has this v.3 coating, then saying why it's better as compared to the older coating that is also used by all competitors, amounts to selling/advertising.

Vendors have to be very careful on this forum; the rules are strictly enforced to avoid gliding into a sales pitch in every thread.

Hence "there's more precious metals" (fact) and no remark on what it does.

That's my understanding of the unwillingness to say more.
You are correct! I can but won't sell here because I like being on this site!
 
It's kind of like buying my wife a new ring with higher precious metals content without knowing what benefits it will provide as compared to the old one. Quicker warm-up? Better performance? Extended replacement time?

Seems a stretch that a manufacturer cannot explain why design changes are made, for the benefit of us who own older products.
You get me permission from owner of this site and I'll tell you why. Otherwise read how others are sharing their experiences, which is, as my understanding, what we are here for....
 
Your reply had several other posts above it. Just to clarify, the part number S.CAT203032 is for a ceramic cat with the V3 coating?

That is the part number I got quotes for, so want to be sure it is what I think it is.

Dealer #2 contacted me yesterday with a better price, so I may go ahead and order.
Give me 24 hours. When I land and get into the office I can confirm the part number.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MTASH
You are correct! I can but won't sell here because I like being on this site!
Sorry to ask the question that put you in that position. I am happy that advancements are being made. I wish you could share what they are because only you have this information and the information drives decisions that forum members must make with each new cat. People are not often able to scientifically test cats so user reports are usually not conclusive.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see. Would be great if life expectancy doubled!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BKVP
It's kind of like buying my wife a new ring with higher precious metals content without knowing what benefits it will provide as compared to the old one. Quicker warm-up? Better performance? Extended replacement time?
I can understand your wife's warm-up speed and performance being related to the content of precious metals in a new ring, but could you explain the extended replacement time theory?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TheElementalCashew
S.CAT203032 This is a metal combustor treated with V3 coating. It will fit all 20.2, 30.2 and PE32 models. This is a metal substrate combustor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stoveliker
I can understand your wife's warm-up speed and performance being related to the content of precious metals in a new ring, but could you explain the extended replacement time theory?
The extended time before I get replaced. ;)
 
S.CAT203032 This is a metal combustor treated with V3 coating. It will fit all 20.2, 30.2 and PE32 models. This is a metal substrate combustor.
Okay thanks. Earlier in the thread you mentioned it was used across all product lines - I thought you were referring to the ceramic version that @Ashful beta tested but apparently I misunderstood. So there hasn't been a switch to ceramic for those models?
 
Okay thanks. Earlier in the thread you mentioned it was used across all product lines - I thought you were referring to the ceramic version that @Ashful beta tested but apparently I misunderstood. So there hasn't been a switch to ceramic for those models?
Two independent issues:

1. Ceramic vs. steelcat substrate
2. Legacy vs. new V3 metal deposition

So, there's really four possible combinations of these two variables. What I tried was the V3 on ceramic.

BK is now shipping V3 coating on both ceramic and Steelcat. Other cat vendors seem to be still shipping the Legacy coating, also on either steel or ceramic.
 
... What I tried was the V3 on ceramic.
That's the one I'm trying to put my finger on. The online manuals for Princess/Ashford/Sirocco list the part number I posted above, which I thought was ceramic (based on the "across all product lines" comment earlier in the thread) but turns out it is actually steel.
 
Last edited:
That's the one I'm trying to put my finger on. The online manuals for Princess/Ashford/Sirocco list the part number I posted above, which I thought was ceramic (based on the "across all product lines" comment earlier in the thread) but turns out it is actually steel.
BKVP can confirm, but I'll be real surprised if it's not "C.CAT203032".
 
  • Like
Reactions: MTASH
We can under Federal ONLY tell owners to use the type of combustor in certification. Period. If a stove was tested with a metallic substrate, that is what we are going to tell you.
If a person wants to purchase a combustor other than that which was used in the certification process, I will not suggest or endorse that. This is a public forum.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ashful
Okay, I misunderstood some things that were said earlier. Sorry about that.