Ravelli RV100 noise and performance

What are your experiences? Please include your pellet feed rates and fan voltage found in the menu.

I bought a Ravelli RV100c as my first stove, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I decided on that stove because it advertised the slowest pellet feed rate and the longest burn time (40 hours).

Pellet Consumption

My findings are that I go through about 3/4-1 bag in 18 hours on the lowest setting (1.3 feed rate). Far from the 40 hours advertised. I modified the settings to 0.8 feed rate and achieved 1/2 bag today. Flame is 1/3 the height of the fire box to just embers. The pellet feed rate isn't very consistent.

Noise

It came out of the box set to 80V for power 1. That was very loud to me, especially for the lowest setting. I had buyers remorse for days. Until I found the dealer code and undervolted the fans. I called and asked the dealer about that and he said it shouldn't damage the stove because there are safety mechanisms in place. So now I typically run it at 65 on speed 1 with a feed rate of 1.2 during modulation/low. That's quiet enough during the day. Then have it set to power 3, 90 volts, 2.6 feed rate for working/high. It's louder than I'd like. But again, I have nothing else to compare this stove to.

Usage and Environment

It runs 5am-11pm. Average 7 bags per week, give or take a bag. It runs on low (1.2 feed rate, 65V) 80% of the time and modulates to 2.6 feed rate 90V. I live in CT ( sigh... high cost of living with nothing to show for it... ). Temps around 32, plus or minus 10 degrees. House is a 1600sqft 1970s bi level ranch with R19 insulation and an air leak in the attic stair pulldown I need to do something about.

It's a nice looking stove but I feel like I was duped on the efficiency and noise, but I have nothing to compare it to. I'm considering moving to a wood stove plus ductless minis split. What is everyone else's experience?

Dataman said:

Using about 1/2 bag if temps in 30's. Last night was -3f and I bet we used 1 Bag keeping house at 74f. 2600sq ft house with 600 downstairs in basement. Use couple of box fans on low to push the air. Back laundry room is chilly (55-60f). No biggie.

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When you say you use 1/2 bag, roughly how many hours does that last you? 1 bag kept 2000sqft at 74f for about how long?

jerrieric said:

I have had several different pellet stoves over the years, Englander 55sshp, vistaflame 70000 BTU, Enviro mini and now the ravelli rv100C. The ravelli is by far the best stove I have had. I still have the vistaflame in the basement but never turn it on. I also had several wood stoves and one wood furnace. They work great but I got tired of the dirty wood cutting it up.

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That's nice to hear.

Can you remember much about how the RV100c compares in terms of noise and pellet consumption?

jerrieric said:

Mine is quiet unless on setting 5. It's not real loud but I have to turn the TV up. they're sll about the same as far as noise with the other units. The fan does have to run hard to pump out that air and pellet consumption is about the same as the other units I had. Except the Vistaflame. That's a real pellet water on high, 70,000 btu. I use about a bag a day maybe. I started burning in October and I've almost done three tons to date.

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Hm. I wonder if the tech or you tweaked fan voltage. Yeah, the noise is about what I'd expect a blower to be. I can't imagine you can move any more air with less noise... just the way it is I guess.

When you're using about a bag a day, is that 24 hours? 18 hours?

Dataman said:

7pm till 5 or 6am

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Nice. You must have a tight, well-insulated house. My 700sqft would stay around 70f I think. I have attic stairs, an in-wall A/C, and an open entryway/stairwell to the front door and ground level that sucks out the heat.