how hot can a hopper be and still be safe?

[save$]

Have been running my Napoleon at 4.5 While filling the hopper tonight, I touched the left inside surface of the hopper. It was hot enough for me to want to pull my hand away. The back side and the right side were cool to touch. The left side is over the exhaust system. Made me nervous. I turned the stove down to 3.5
We burn 24/7, so far without a hitch. Just want to make sure that all the burning is in the burn pot! I have an electronic thermometer I can use to ck. Would like to know what a safe range is.
thanks.

 

[briansol]

mine is hot too... can't touch for more than 2-3 seconds. i think it's pretty normal.

heat doesn't casue fires... sparks do

i don't think the pellet stove is capable of getting hot enough to melt the steel.

 

[Ladderlieu]

mine is hot too... can't touch for more than 2-3 seconds. i think it's pretty normal.

heat doesn't casue fires... sparks do

i don't think the pellet stove is capable of getting hot enough to melt the steel.

Actually you need a few things to cause a fire. Heat is one element, fuel another, and oxygen a third. With a chemical chain reaction you have fire. Take one element away and you do not have fire. While you may feel the inside of the hopper getting "hot", I doubt it is anywhere near hot enough to cause a fire. The front inside of my hopper on the XXV gets pretty warm too, but no where near the combustion temperature needed to ignite.

 

[vgrund]

Check this out.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fuels-ignition-temperatures-d_171.html

 

[save$]

thank you. the link http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fuels-ignition-temperatures-d_171.html was very helpful. the lowest temp for wood was 500 and most was 800-900. while the side of my hopper is hot, it won't burn skin unless you were to leave your hand there. I have always had a healthy respect for fire. Like it when and where it belongs. I have the smoke alerts, co 2 detector, and fire extinguishers in many areas of our home.