Help identifying Lopi Insert

[kmcclaff]

Hi. I bought this insert used ($500) 25 years ago to put in the basement of a house I was building. The fireplace hearth was built to fit this unit, and it has been working fine all these years. I recently repainted the unit, so it was partially disassembled but not completely removed to see the back panel where I suspect the ID tag is. The rheostat works to adjust the fan speed but does not allow the fan to be turned on/off so I just plug/unplug to use it. I've been researching the Lopi discontinued manuals site and think it might be a 1984 LX model but the manual indicates a couple discrepancies:
1. The refractory baffle has an L shaped angle iron instead of T shaped and there are only 5 bricks
2. There are no air tubes along the refractory baffle
3. There is no "Start-up Air Override" and the rheostat control is on the right side of the blower assembly

My goal is to order a new rheostat to get this working as new. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for looking

 

[begreen]

That definitely looks like an LX. There were a lot of variations within just a few years around 1983-83. I see this baffle layout in one manual. Unfortunately there is no clue of date in the manual. However, all the manuals appear to show the baffle canted up in front at an angle. It looks like it should rest on the side angled brackets and not flat on top of the side brick rail.



The rheostat is not mentioned in the manual, but that should be relatively easy to replace with one that clicks off.

Fan Speed Controller Rheostat for Travis, Lopi, Avalon (250-00302)

Travis, Lopi and Avalon fan speed controller rheostat #250-00302. KB Electronics KBNH-13BV variable speed controller for wood inserts and stoves.

fireplaceblowersonline.com

 

[kmcclaff]

Thank you for your quick and thorough response. I really appreciate this website you have put together and will continue to check back. I also have a Tulikivi in my family room that I use every day during the colder months.