Condar Watchman?

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Sconnie Burner

Feeling the Heat
Aug 23, 2014
488
Western Wi
Has anybody tried or have one? Curious to see if they are worth the investment as I don't fully trust my metallic dial. Yes it gives me a confirmation of engagement and take off, but I would like a more immediate response to air adjustments.
 
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The Condar looks like a nice unit, I like that it has 3 alarm points, engage cat, over heat cat, and cat melt down.
I don't like the the alarm set points are not user adjustable.

Here is a pic of the monitor/controller I made, it reads flue temp, cat temp and stove top temp. Each controller has it's own
separate alarm. The stove top controller also will turn the blower fan above 675::F, and alarm at 800::F.


The flue temp controller is set to alarm at 875::F, and the cat controller is set to alarm at 360::F, that's when I close the bypass and engage the
cat. I really like how I can easily see just how the stove is preforming at any given time. The cat is much faster than the supplied probe, you can see
the cat take off almost immediately after you close the bypass.

That 4 channel gauge looks nice, but it is a bit on the spendy side, you can buy individual controllers for around 20$-30$ each,
plus a few dollars for the alarms.
IMG_20171217_140055516 (Medium).jpg

IMG_20171203_202905899 (Medium).jpg
 
I was wondering this same thing as I am about to install a new regency cat insert. I have looked at the Condar watchman but wish I could find something that was wireless or less industrial looking.
 
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I have just bought one of the Watchman probe thermometers and installed into my Vermont Castings Intrepid II 1990. The probe is about 4-6 inches long.

I was wondering if anyone has installed one?

Not sure if I should push the probe all the way in or part of the way. I get a overheating reading if I push it all the in to where the wire connects to the probe, but if I back it out a few inches the readings stay in the desired cat firing range (1100 - 1300).

Anyone else have this?
 
I have just bought one of the Watchman probe thermometers and installed into my Vermont Castings Intrepid II 1990. The probe is about 4-6 inches long.

I was wondering if anyone has installed one?

Not sure if I should push the probe all the way in or part of the way. I get a overheating reading if I push it all the in to where the wire connects to the probe, but if I back it out a few inches the readings stay in the desired cat firing range (1100 - 1300).

Anyone else have this?

Yes. I'm noticing the same phenomenon with my VC 2550. Temperatures seem to register really high when Stove temp was only 350 degrees.


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I see the same thing when I insert it all the way into my VC Intrepid II 1990 . By pulling it out an inch or two, the temps seem to be more reasonable. Looking at where it comes in through the back on top of the catalyst, the probe is a half an inch above the catalyst block. Here is a picture of how far I installed the probe. I have a heat shield on the back of the stove which leaves about 3/4 inch air gap between the shield and the stove back.

20180204_093315.jpg
 
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The Condar looks like a nice unit, I like that it has 3 alarm points, engage cat, over heat cat, and cat melt down.
I don't like the the alarm set points are not user adjustable.

Here is a pic of the monitor/controller I made, it reads flue temp, cat temp and stove top temp. Each controller has it's own
separate alarm. The stove top controller also will turn the blower fan above 675::F, and alarm at 800::F.


The flue temp controller is set to alarm at 875::F, and the cat controller is set to alarm at 360::F, that's when I close the bypass and engage the
cat. I really like how I can easily see just how the stove is preforming at any given time. The cat is much faster than the supplied probe, you can see
the cat take off almost immediately after you close the bypass.

That 4 channel gauge looks nice, but it is a bit on the spendy side, you can buy individual controllers for around 20$-30$ each,
plus a few dollars for the alarms.
View attachment 218081
View attachment 218082
I know that this is an old thread, but would anyone know something similar to this that would monitor the temps at a few different locations AND be able to tailor the fan speed control based on adjustable parameters AND be able to report back the information via WiFi?

Thanks,
Bruce
 
I see the same thing when I insert it all the way into my VC Intrepid II 1990 . By pulling it out an inch or two, the temps seem to be more reasonable. Looking at where it comes in through the back on top of the catalyst, the probe is a half an inch above the catalyst block. Here is a picture of how far I installed the probe. I have a heat shield on the back of the stove which leaves about 3/4 inch air gap between the shield and the stove back.

View attachment 222381
I also have a VM entrepid 2 1990 I would like to buy a watchman and be able to use my heat shield. Did you have to cut you heatshied to install the watchman probe?