Would like to hear what people with the Oslo F500V3 combustor have been experiencing. good or bad reviews. Have not been happy with the combustor falling apart after one season. we do not overheat, use only seasoned wood, use a brush and shop vac to clean the combustor when stove is cool during the heating season, which I do not think is effective in getting any ash accumulation in the rear of combustor, use firestarters if need to restart the fire, and still combustor has collapsed. your comments and experiences?
F500V3 Catalytic Combustor problems
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I don't have experience with the Jotul, but from the drawing (fig. 11) on page 18, it appears to me there is no flame shield in front of the cat?
Do you often have flame impinging on the cat? That can contribute to cat deterioration.
How tall is your flue? (High draft can suck flames up to the cat more easily.)
Do you often have flame impinging on the cat? That can contribute to cat deterioration.
How tall is your flue? (High draft can suck flames up to the cat more easily.)
there is no flame shield on this model. I think there is a major problem with the engineering with collapsing combustors.
How tall is your chimney? I can imagine problems with this design if there setup on a high drafting chimney. Some people have reported blocking the unregulated air holes in the ash pan housing or filling it up with ash has helped as well as installing a pipe damper.
our chimney and flue design is fine. we do not overheat the stove. We did not cover the ash pan holes assuming there was a purpose for the holes.
nunyabinis
Member
I suggest blocking the ash pan holes. With the holes open, this stove runs at what I consider Wide Open all the time. (probably to pass the EPA efficiency Regulations) When I got mine the fire burned so vigorously that the Cat ran white-hot....even with the draft control set at minimum. Once I blocked those holes the stove became completely controllable. I usually set the draft control so that the Cat stays around 1000 degrees. This is our fourth winter with this stove and the Cat shows no signs of warpage. I use a pancake compressor to blow the fly ash through the Cat whenever it needs it. Works like a charm.
I screwed up last month thinking that I could get one more fire out of the stove before blowing the fly ash through the cat. I chose poorly. The cat was completely clogged and smoke started wafting from every crevice in the stove. I quickly opened the front doors and used my compressor to blow a small opening in the middle of the Cat just big enough to get the stove drafting again as smoke poured out the front with the doors open. I had to open a couple doors and turn the ceiling fan on to evacuate the smoke from the house. I won't make that mistake again.
Read this thread:
Jotul 500 v3 First Use
I screwed up last month thinking that I could get one more fire out of the stove before blowing the fly ash through the cat. I chose poorly. The cat was completely clogged and smoke started wafting from every crevice in the stove. I quickly opened the front doors and used my compressor to blow a small opening in the middle of the Cat just big enough to get the stove drafting again as smoke poured out the front with the doors open. I had to open a couple doors and turn the ceiling fan on to evacuate the smoke from the house. I won't make that mistake again.
Read this thread:
Jotul 500 v3 First Use
I am hesitant to block the ash pan holes because I am concerned this will create more build up in the combustor. My concern isnt the longer burns, its to prevent the combustor from falling apart and prevent from getting too clogged. . we have a good draft and flue set up on our system. I have not used an air compressor, but an expert told me at 30psi that is ok. since using firestarters and not newspaper this year the ash build up has been ok, just been brushing and using shop vac. a tech person also said one can soak the combustor in 4part water/ 1 part vinegar solution overnight, then rinse gently over tap water and let dry. this will loosen any debris.
It is concerning that you need to use your compressor all the time. this info isnt even in the manual.
I am still on fence to close up ash pan holes.
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