Sorry - dumb question about Mt Vernon wall controller wiring

  • 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.

J Bone

New Member
Jan 21, 2018
17
Washington
Hi all,

I apologize, because I realize that this is definitely not a big deal and anyone with any electrical knowledge probably already knows this. But not me.

Short story - I need to pre-wire our new house for the wall controller for my Quad Mt Vernon AE, and will then have the stove installed later on, after the house is complete (basically the contractor doesn't want the liability of installing it).

I know that I need to run a low-voltage 3-strand in-wall wire to the wall controller location.

The question: What kind of outlet and wall-plate should I use behind the stove to run the wire into the wall? Does it matter? I am assuming that I need a low-voltage gang box, right? What kind of wall plate - maybe one of those ones for TV wiring with the brushes, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032FO27M/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Or will it get too hot back there fore those little bristles?

Again sorry. I can't seem to find any instructions anywhere for the installation of the wall controller, and realized that I had no idea about this particular piece of the puzzle.

Thanks a lot!
 
Depends on your local electrical code in your area, but most in most cases a data ring is fine. Data rings aren't technically boxes though. I would also run a 5 wire thermostat wire instead of a 3 wire. Probably overkill but you never know what technology might come along on your next generation stove and it might need it.

As far as the faceplate, I would just get a blank cover and drill a hole the size of the cable and run it through. That eliminates the question of if the bristles would melt, which I highly doubt would happen. Those were out when some of the original plasma TVs were out and those things could almost heat your house.