I have a FPX apex42. I live in northern Illinois. My question is what are some expected times from the time the cat is activated (500°) to the time it is no longer active. Average outside temp 30° full load of hardwood at average moisture of 18-27 on a fresh split.
Apex 42 Cat times
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I don't know your stove, so can't tell you. But I can tell you it'd be significantly longer if you get your wood drier to below 20%.
27% is too wet to burn.
27% is too wet to burn.
Only my second year with the stove so my wood will be much better next year.
With wood that wet be sure to keep an eye on your chimney as creosote will most likely be an issue.
While I can't answer your question, it'll be useful (for those who may be able to asnwer) to have the following data:
- chimney height
- firebox size
- wood species (hardwood is a rather wide variety of BTU/lbs)
- air setting (burning wide open will give you a shorter time than smoldering at low output)
- chimney height
- firebox size
- wood species (hardwood is a rather wide variety of BTU/lbs)
- air setting (burning wide open will give you a shorter time than smoldering at low output)
Chimney height is around 24ft
Box size 3cuft
Walnut and cherry
Usually set it around the mid-mid low for overnight and about half during the daytime
Others will be able to correct me (likely needed), but a 3 cu ft box should at least give 10 hrs for that wood (if properly dry) and mid settings. The wet wood will make you run higher to get the BTUs out (because many BTUs are needed to boil off the water up the flue.)
Your chimney is rather tall though, and that can reduce the times because of higher draft, sucking up more heat into the flue.
Your chimney is rather tall though, and that can reduce the times because of higher draft, sucking up more heat into the flue.
Ok I'm getting around 5 hours of catalytic active 500° or hotter on a full load
I think its low also. I've tried with just loads of dry wood and this stove has a bypass damper and an air control. So I would think I could slow the draft?
The Apex 42 is primarily an E/W loader with a wide firebox. Although the tall firebrick makes the firebox capacity on paper read 3.0 cu ft, the actual, practical load of wood will be significantly less due to concern about logs rolling into the glass. For this reason, I think, the maximum burn time is listed at 12 hrs.
What length of firewood is the fireplace burning? Can you take a picture of the next full loading?
What length of firewood is the fireplace burning? Can you take a picture of the next full loading?
The wood I have now is about 18" then I fill in the gaps with smaller pieces n/s. Yes I agree box is narrow and tall
![[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303042-b61d5fd9c9092bafe4c6c6af817cb4bf.jpg?hash=AoE3u_q9yf "[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times")
![[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303043-777749aa83acb7f17185d20e40cb6717.jpg?hash=WGIaGaQsV8 "[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times")
Top picture is after 9hours cat probe temp 256° then bottom pic is a full load of cherry wood
You're doing a pretty good job. Try a load of all N/S loaded wood to compare burn times. For comparison, this is our stove loaded with 18" splits. It looks like I might be fitting in 3 more splits.
![[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303052-ae9426023a243c2d3487d99116a74a3a.jpg?hash=KLhPc49F6B "[Hearth.com] Apex 42 Cat times")
My point was that you can surely fit more in the stove.
See e.g. the tight packing here (and this is not the best I did, it's the first example I could find)
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See e.g. the tight packing here (and this is not the best I did, it's the first example I could find)
2021-2022 BK everything thread
It's the same issue with a masonry stove. Once the flywheel is turning, the heat will keep on coming. One needs to watch the upcoming weather in these spring conditions. Once the sun came out yesterday things warmed up nicely. With the predicted temps I didn't light a fire. By noon there was no...
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Looks like there's more room on topMy point was that you can surely fit more in the stove.
See e.g. the tight packing here (and this is not the best I did, it's the first example I could find)
2021-2022 BK everything thread
It's the same issue with a masonry stove. Once the flywheel is turning, the heat will keep on coming. One needs to watch the upcoming weather in these spring conditions. Once the sun came out yesterday things warmed up nicely. With the predicted temps I didn't light a fire. By noon there was no...
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