Catalyst temperature probe/draft control issue

[wood4free]

I am in the first couple months using a new catalyst stove and going through the learning curve. My main problem is balancing the draft with the catalyst probe temperature. Here is a typical scenario.

Before going to bed I load up the stove and once the probe reads around 900 degrees I engage the catalyst. With a full load of wood and the draft control just slightly open the probe can be approaching 1800 degrees by the time I finally call it a night. A couple hours later I wake up and come downstairs to find the cat probe is only at 700 degrees but the stove is still about ¾ still full of wood and I have to open up the draft. My house does not hold the heat well so a cat probe at 700 just doesn’t do anything to heat the house when it is in the 20’s. I am concerned if I open the draft more when the probe has reached 1800 degrees I will fry the cat but if I don’t the probe temperature seems to drop way down along with heat output a couple hours later.

How can I strike the appropriate balance of probe temperature and draft while maintaining decent heat output without destroying the catalyst?

 

[dmmoss51]

Some more information about your stove and setup would be helpful.

Your temperatures seem a little high. Should be able to engage cat around 500-600 degrees and have it take off from there. later in the burn cycle it is normal for it to come back down.

I wonder if the stove is undersized for your application.

 

[wood4free]

I burned with a 1.8 cf Drolet insert for 3 years before upgrading to the 2.8 cf Appalachian 52 Bay so I was hoping the larger size stove would heat the house better. However, my 1950’s house large single pane windows (plastic covered in winter) and is hard to heat. The stove sits in the living room but most of the downstairs could be considered the stove room as it is very open.

I found engaging the cat at 500 – 700 degrees doesn’t work most of the time. Hearth member Mellow is the expert on the 52 Bay as he has been burning with it for 2 years and I saw he recommended engaging the catalyst at 900 degrees and it seems to be working.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

I burn in a Dutchwest 2652 or something like that, it's the XL cat model. I never use the cat probe as a guide how hot my stove runs. Majestic suggests activating the catalyst when the prob reads 300 degrees. Now, the firebox is a different situation. I have a thermometer on the door as it is the only single walled thickness on my stove. Theres a range of heat in the firebox as well you're supposed to reach before activating the catalyst. I think mines 400 degrees in the box. You need a thermometer on your box. Your probe tells you nothing about your box temp and you could easily over fire your stove.

Also, before you load your stove with the cat live, you need to close the air too it. The shock can ruin your cat. Then open air supply after closing door and damper.

 

[dmmoss51]

There have been a couple threads on here related to inserts not putting out enough heat, you could do a quick search. Seems like part of the solution for them was an insulated block off plate do you have this? It keeps too much of your heat from going up the chimney and filling the airspace around your liner.