Lopi Green Start Technology

[jdonna]

Anyone tried this out yet or own a Lopi that has this green start feature?

(broken link removed to http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=34262040&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1)

Interesting, but not a sales point for me personally.

 

[mellow]

It has been out since 2011, I have seen it work in person and it is neat, but is not enough to win me over to buy a Travis stove. Is it neat that you can start your stove via your cell phone, yea, would I do it? No. Maybe someone who has a ski cabin that wants the place to be warm when they show up and can afford the insurance to cover it if the cabin burns down due to an overheated stove.

For me I will stick to my usual methods of starting a fire, it doesn't happen that often anyway.

 

[jdonna]

Yup, I have lit a match in my stove exactly 4 times this whole year, fire has never been out since Thanksgiving.

I think it is another flirtatious step in an automated stove.

 

[John Ackerly]

Do folks use it to get a flame going faster when reloading wood? When coals are a bit cool, my stove can just smoke like hell for 5 minutes before bursting into flames. If this helps folks avoid that, it seems like a great feature.

 

[begreen]

I'm not sure the Lopi device is made for reloads. FWIW, I take a simple bbq lighter and ignite the smoke instead of waiting for flame to appear.

 

[jdonna]

Shoulder season I use a propane torch if there is smoke in the box, amazing how fast it lights that smoke up. Probably not the picture of safety in the eyes of a fire department or a fire fighter.

 

[mellow]

Rake those coals to the front and get them good and hot before putting thin splits of wood on them.

 

[isipwater]

The Lopi "Green" Start looks like a fancy feature but it is NOT green (unless your electricity comes from solar, wind or geothermal).

This is classic "green washing" - a form of spin in which green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that a product is environmentally friendly.

The electric start must use a tremendous amount of electricity, which usually comes from coal or natural gas. Plus, I would not want to pay for the extra electricity usage on my monthly bill.

I would recommend Super Cedar Fire Starters before considering the "Non-Green Electric Start."

 

[Missouri Frontier]

I'm not sure the Lopi device is made for reloads. FWIW, I take a simple bbq lighter and ignite the smoke instead of waiting for flame to appear.

That is far too simple and sensible. It's probably illegal.

 

[jdonna]

Ha, good humor.