Hampton HI300 Users...How To Get Accurate Temps?

[jscs.moore]

Okay guys...still my first season, still a newbie and still so much to learn. During the last 3 to 4 day cold spell last week I tried burning 24/7 for about three days. I have a Condor magnetic thermometer in the middle/top of the door where the dealer said it should go. I understand that due to the cast iron door & surround the insert can take a while to warm up from a cold start. Been using top/down fire starting and N/S loading (based on feedback from this site) and it has helped a lot with getting hotter more robust fires! However, I noticed that the firebox (which I is steel, not cast iron) seems to get hotter than the magnetic thermostate is reading on the cast iron door? One night before bed, I reloaded the firebox to the top with Kiln dried hard wood and left the air intake open for about 20 minutes or so. After about 30 minutes the Condor thermometer was only reading about 400, but I had a robust, rolling fire with secondaries going like crazy...then I noticed the top part of the firebox glowing orange through the air exchange over the firebox? Once I saw this I quickly closed the air intake and put the blower on high, and the organge glow disipated within about 5 minutes. My question is...is it possible for the firebox to burn much hotter than the thermostate is reading on the cast iron? I guess my concern is I thought I could rely on the thermometer to basically tell me how hot I'm running the insert?

I should clarify that the next night after a full reload, I closed the air intake down much more quickly (thanks for the advice Velvetfoot), had great secondaries, the Condor eventually got to about 500...and no orange glow what so ever?? So I'm a little confused on the magnetic thermostate readings...does the cast iron give you a false reading of the actual firebox tempature? Definitely don't want to see orange glow again if I can help it Any feedback is greatly appreciated

 

[Supersurvey]

Okay guys...still my first season, still a newbie and still so much to learn. During the last 3 to 4 day cold spell last week I tried burning 24/7 for about three days. I have a Condor magnetic thermometer in the middle/top of the door where the dealer said it should go. I understand that due to the cast iron door & surround the insert can take a while to warm up from a cold start. Been using top/down fire starting and N/S loading (based on feedback from this site) and it has helped a lot with getting hotter more robust fires! However, I noticed that the firebox (which I is steel, not cast iron) seems to get hotter than the magnetic thermostate is reading on the cast iron door? One night before bed, I reloaded the firebox to the top with Kiln dried hard wood and left the air intake open for about 20 minutes or so. After about 30 minutes the Condor thermometer was only reading about 400, but I had a robust, rolling fire with secondaries going like crazy...then I noticed the top part of the firebox glowing orange through the air exchange over the firebox? Once I saw this I quickly closed the air intake and put the blower on high, and the organge glow disipated within about 5 minutes. My question is...is it possible for the firebox to burn much hotter than the thermostate is reading on the cast iron? I guess my concern is I thought I could rely on the thermometer to basically tell me how hot I'm running the insert?

I should clarify that the next night after a full reload, I closed the air intake down much more quickly (thanks for the advice Velvetfoot), had great secondaries, the Condor eventually got to about 500...and no orange glow what so ever?? So I'm a little confused on the magnetic thermostate readings...does the cast iron give you a false reading of the actual firebox tempature? Definitely don't want to see orange glow again if I can help it Any feedback is greatly appreciated

I have the Hi200, the little brother to the HI300. My thermometer is on the iron rod over the glass. It seems to give a higher reading it that spot. I posted a thread last year and was told to place the thermometer in the upper right corner of the door, but I think anywhere on the door frame will give a low reading.

 

[jscs.moore]

I have the Hi200, the little brother to the HI300. My thermometer is on the iron rod over the glass. It seems to give a higher reading it that spot. I posted a thread last year and was told to place the thermometer in the upper right corner of the door, but I think anywhere on the door frame will give a low reading.

Thanks...I might try that, I'm really beginning to think I'm not getting accurate readings where it is in the middle/top of the cast iron door frame? Even when getting a roaring top/down fire going on a start up...30 minutes later the thermometer is barely reading 200?? After a full reload and letting it run wide open for another 20 or 30 minutes it will barely read 375? It will literally take me over an hour to get cruising temp readings of over 400 to 500? And I know the firebox is cranking, heat is coming out strong so I really wonder if I'm getting accurate readings?