Flush insert surround and power cord options

[bobr1]

Hello all,

I am planning on getting a Lopi medium flush insert but had a couples questions about the power cord. I have an outlet outside of the fireplace that it is a few inches away from the back of the fireplace and it was what the previous owners used on their insert. However, the cord came out of the front of where the blower box was and this was in front of the surround.
So would the cord fit through the surround and is it okay to do this? Second, there is a high temperature power cord kit from Lopi that uses conduit to run in from inside the fireplace and cutting a hole through the fire place to get to an outlet? Is it okay to drill through the side of the fireplace to get to an outlet? I am okay with just running it through the front if that is doable, I am not super concerned about the aesthetics of the cord being visible. Just want to be safe and practical.

Thank you,

Bob

 

[Whitenuckler]

Hello all,

I am planning on getting a Lopi medium flush insert but had a couples questions about the power cord. I have an outlet outside of the fireplace that it is a few inches away from the back of the fireplace and it was what the previous owners used on their insert. However, the cord came out of the front of where the blower box was and this was in front of the surround.
So would the cord fit through the surround and is it okay to do this? Second, there is a high temperature power cord kit from Lopi that uses conduit to run in from inside the fireplace and cutting a hole through the fire place to get to an outlet? Is it okay to drill through the side of the fireplace to get to an outlet? I am okay with just running it through the front if that is doable, I am not super concerned about the aesthetics of the cord being visible. Just want to be safe and practical.

Thank you,

Bob

I put an electric fireplace in my masonry fireplace opening. There was a clean out that went to the basement. I ran power up there and into the back of the fireplace. Do you have any options coming up from below?

 

[bobr1]

I put an electric fireplace in my masonry fireplace opening. There was a clean out that went to the basement. I ran power up there and into the back of the fireplace. Do you have any options coming up from below?

I don't think it has a clean out. It part of a 2 story fireplace and chimney so directly below it is another fireplace in the basement.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I don't think it has a clean out. It part of a 2 story fireplace and chimney so directly below it is another fireplace in the basement.

View attachment 340687

What is directly behind the brick in back do you think?
Just to confirm, your plug cord is in the very back of your new insert?

 

[EbS-P]

Code says you can’t have a live receptacle behind the surround. One interpretation is that it’s ok if the receptacle has a switch nearby.

Just be informed. I ran a receptacle to the side of the fireplace and have the cord out front.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Code says you can’t have a live receptacle behind the surround. One interpretation is that it’s ok if the receptacle has a switch nearby.

Just be informed. I ran a receptacle to the side of the fireplace and have the cord out front.

I was thinking this insert is for a masonry fireplace. How do they expect people to have a plug where before there was a fire? I guess they must want to sell this approved kit to have the plug to come out the front. I hope it is routed nice and low and come out the back of the front steel. I'd like to see a picture.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Maybe add an outlet nearby outside of the fireplace.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Maybe add an outlet nearby outside of the fireplace.

"I have an outlet outside of the fireplace that it is a few inches away from the back of the fireplace"
He has one but the cord starts at the back of the insert. I guess the old insert was the type with the blower in front
and the cord came out the front.

 

[bobr1]

What is directly behind the brick in back do you think?
Just to confirm, your plug cord is in the very back of your new insert?

So there is a small wall, drywall, I assume they made it primarily for running electrical to it and the baseboards to the left of it. And I guess to make a a hallway barrier its only 4-5" wide. Directly behind it there is another outlet. But their is an outlet directly next to it as well, almost flush to the left. Also, I haven't purchased the insert yet. I am still trying to figure stuff out before making a decision.

 

[bobr1]

What is directly behind the brick in back do you think?
Just to confirm, your plug cord is in the very back of your new insert?

No the lopi model has the cord near the front and to the side.

 

[xshmoox]

There is a provided way to run the cord and the cat temp sensors through the surround.
And you can switch the power cord routing so it can come out the left or right side per the manual so you should be fine

 

[bobr1]

There is a provided way to run the cord and the cat temp sensors through the surround.
And you can switch the power cord routing so it can come out the left or right side per the manual so you should

Awesome! I was reading through the online manual must have overlooked this. I guess I assumed the surround would be solid all the way around without the small holes on the bottom for the cord. Thanks for finding this.

 

[Whitenuckler]

So there is a small wall, drywall, I assume they made it primarily for running electrical to it and the baseboards to the left of it. And I guess to make a a hallway barrier its only 4-5" wide. Directly behind it there is another outlet. But their is an outlet directly next to it as well, almost flush to the left. Also, I haven't purchased the insert yet. I am still trying to figure stuff out before making a decision.


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You would need to talk to an electrician, but I would be looking at getting power from one of those plugs, then to a switch next to the fireplace (blower switch) then add a metal outlet in the very back of the fire box. I don't see how the fireplace in the next level down could be directly below? Investigate also what is included with that optional plug kit and price, in case you have to run it out to the front.

Edit - Was this ever a wood burner with a damper ect? Was it built only for an insert? Does it have a steel liner already?

 

[bobr1]

You would need to talk to an electrician, but I would be looking at getting power from one of those plugs, then to a switch next to the fireplace (blower switch) then add a metal outlet in the very back of the fire box. I don't see how the fireplace in the next level down could be directly below? Investigate also what is included with that optional plug kit and price, in case you have to run it out to the front.

I'll check it out more, but the chimney was built from the basement through the main floor then to the roof. The flues are offset, but the second on is under and I measured from the walls of both floors and they are they are the same distance away from the wall.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I'll check it out more, but the chimney was built from the basement through the main floor then to the roof. The flues are offset, but the second on is under and I measured from the walls of both floors and they are they are the same distance away from the wall.

Ya, I just can't picture how it's done. I added a question:
Edit - Was this ever a wood burner with a damper ect? Was it built only for an insert? Does it have a steel liner already?
Looks like you are all set regardless. Good luck, and give us an update later. Hopefully you will be burning this year with some DRY wood.

 

[xshmoox]

Awesome! I was reading through the online manual must have overlooked this. I guess I assumed the surround would be solid all the way around without the small holes on the bottom for the cord. Thanks for finding this.

No problem.

 

[bobr1]

Ya, I just can't picture how it's done. I added a question:
Edit - Was this ever a wood burner with a damper ect? Was it built only for an insert? Does it have a steel liner already?
Looks like you are all set regardless. Good luck, and give us an update later. Hopefully you will be burning this year with some DRY wood.

So I have actually been reading this forum for a few years and preparing for a insert for a while. I haven't had the change yet due to COVID and finances. To answer your questions it did have an insert in before, but they had slammed/jimmy rigged it with sheet metal to a half aluminum corrugated metal pipe that was at the bottom and then regular steel stove pipe up the rest of the flue to the top. It was also a terracotta lined flue but their are cracks in it.
Anyways, I had posted it about it on here before and told it was not safe to use with how it was setup. I just got the insert out this week and saw all of the big chunks of creosote build up I would not have been able to get to without removing it. Anyways, I plan on getting a stainless liner. Doing all the research on here again, probably going to go with a pre-insulated liner.

Thanks for the help

These were what I pulled out

 

[Whitenuckler]

So I have actually been reading this forum for a few years and preparing for a insert for a while. I haven't had the change yet due to COVID and finances. To answer your questions it did have an insert in before, but they had slammed/jimmy rigged it with sheet metal to a half aluminum corrugated metal pipe that was at the bottom and then regular steel stove pipe up the rest of the flue to the top. It was also a terracotta lined flue but their are cracks in it.
Anyways, I had posted it about it on here before and told it was not safe to use with how it was setup. I just got the insert out this week and saw all of the big chunks of creosote build up I would not have been able to get to without removing it. Anyways, I plan on getting a stainless liner. Doing all the research on here again, probably going to go with a pre-insulated liner.

Thanks for the help


View attachment 340706 View attachment 340709

These were what I pulled out

Ok, I can see what you are dealing with. You are like me, and like to try and do things yourself. When it comes to wood/pellet stoves where I live and my insurance, it all needs to be certified so I have a contractor I used that is also a WETT guy. One thing to watch out for is your flue. It would need to be clean for a liner, and if it's bad they can break it out.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

"I have an outlet outside of the fireplace that it is a few inches away from the back of the fireplace"
He has one but the cord starts at the back of the insert. I guess the old insert was the type with the blower in front
and the cord came out the front.

Got it. I was having trouble visualizing what the OP was describing.

 

[bobr1]

Ok, I can see what you are dealing with. You are like me, and like to try and do things yourself. When it comes to wood/pellet stoves where I live and my insurance, it all needs to be certified so I have a contractor I used that is also a WETT guy. One thing to watch out for is your flue. It would need to be clean for a liner, and if it's bad they can break it out.

Yeah lol. I try to do things the right/safe way. This property has honestly been a headache dealing with, a lot of sketchy stuff the previous owners did. For good or probably mostly bad but I live in Montana and are outside the city limits, so we are under county jurisdiction and there are no building codes for the county. I also did start cleaning the liner but part of my cleaning brush fell from my off into the insert and I couldn’t get to it because of how the insert was setup. I actually posted about it on here and that’s how I found out how unsafe the insert setup we had was.

 

[Slimdusty]

To the OP, my set up is real similar to what your planning to do. I have the Lopi medium flush. If you install it, I would route the power cord down low neatly tucked/clamped out the front and around the stone column to the outlet.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Yeah lol. I try to do things the right/safe way. This property has honestly been a headache dealing with, a lot of sketchy stuff the previous owners did. For good or probably mostly bad but I live in Montana and are outside the city limits, so we are under county jurisdiction and there are no building codes for the county. I also did start cleaning the liner but part of my cleaning brush fell from my off into the insert and I couldn’t get to it because of how the insert was setup. I actually posted about it on here and that’s how I found out how unsafe the insert setup we had was.

Double edged sword not having code enforcement. (as you found out)

 

[bobr1]

To the OP, my set up is real similar to what your planning to do. I have the Lopi medium flush. If you install it, I would route the power cord down low neatly tucked/clamped out the front and around the stone column to the outlet.

Great, that’s what I was planning on now. How do you like the lopi? It’s going to be in our main living room and hoping it doesn’t get to hot.

 

[Slimdusty]

It’s a well built unit, I have the non cat version, i think now they are hybrid. Its just barely undersized for my heat needs but thats not the stove’s fault.