Need advice on my Quadrafire with ACC / burn rate controls

[evn4]

Hi all. I have a QF 4300 wood burning stove, and I am a bit perplexed on how to most efficiently use the controls.

I'm familiar with how the ACC has a timed damper that closes over time. But I'm mostly in the dark over how the burn rate control truly affects how my wood burns.

The burn rate knob is on the top right. It allows air into vents in the very top. This is supposed to supply O2 to the burning vapors to further help them burn. In the manual, it says that the setting of this knob adjusts the heat of the fire, so long as you always use the same ACC / rear air setting.

My question is: does the burn rate setting simply help the vapors burn, or does it also affect how quickly my wood burns? If I set it low, am I allowing some of the wood vapors to escape unburnt?

This mostly concerns me because it gets darn cold out here (Flagstaff, AZ at 8300 feet. It was 9 degrees F this morning), and I want to have the stove burn slow and long overnight and when I'm away at school. I want to know if I should have that burn rate knob tamped down to slow the rate my wood burns, or if it is only for burning the vapors that are already released and passing by the top vents.

Additionally, I'd like to know if any of the controls affect the air provided to the reburner tubes (I don't know their official name).

Any help is appreciated!

 

[cjsplitter]

I have the 3100 step top ACC and the top right lever is your primary burn rate and if you lower it it will save on wood. When you start off on new wood open the primary fully up and take the lower lever and push it back and then forward. That starts the timer and gives it more air. Watch the fire and when you see it really rolling lower the primary a little at a time to where you want it. At night it is almost al the way down. I get it to run for about 6 hours that way. If you leave the lever up it will burn down in two hours and is very hot. the tubes on top don't have any control and is fed off of the draft. I like to lower the primary til I get a blue flame on the wood and a bright orange flame in the top. It looks like the northern lights in Canada. Just beautiful..

 

[richg]

CJ, thanks for the info. I just installed a 2100 ACC and was having trouble getting it to burn correctly. it does not help that my wood is as wet as a swimming pool. Got ripped off by a guy, "Oh yeah, this wood has been seasoned for two years". More like marinated for two years.

 

[savageactor7]

does the burn rate setting simply help the vapors burn, or does it also affect how quickly my wood burns? If I set it low, am I allowing some of the wood vapors to escape unburnt?

Hi and welcome. If you have really well seasoned wood load the stove up for a long burn and let it catch fire. OK 5 min or so later pull out (close) your primary air half way and observe fire. Fires now diminished but continues to burn continue to pull out (close) the primary air a little bit at the time till your fire is in simmer mode. You won't have much heat but it'll last longer. We don't have a need to do this often but use smaller splits packed tighter in the box for a simmering type fire.

FYI you can use larger splits for an even longer smoldering type fire will but imo those creosote type vapors will load up your chimney. As long as you see flames in a simmering type fire you're good to go.

 

[evn4]

THanks all for the good info. If anyone has more to share, please do. I'm trying to better understand my wood stove and make my wood go as far as possible. You take more interest in your wood when you've harvested it all yourself.

 

[savageactor7]

Additionally, I’d like to know if any of the controls affect the air provided to the reburner tubes

Those perforated EW running tunes on the top of the stove re burn the smoke before it exits the stove. Except for when you immediately reload and for about 5 minutes thereafter the chimney should never smoke ...that eyeball check will validate the smoke reburner tubes are operating correctly.

While I'm not an expert I would say they do require a certain amount of primary air to work efficiently that's why there's no way you can fully close down the primary air lever.

As far as the start up air goes I dunno...we hardly use it and never use it with an established fire going on. After you have you stove for awhile you'll probably hardly use it either because remaining hot coals will quickly provide you with a working fire.

Some helpful advice some one here told me I'll pass on to you...

...when you open the door there's a small dog house looking thing ^in the front. Rake any accumulated hot coals from the back of the stove toward that and they will burn down quicker. In the morning or when you return from school when the stove is cool remove a couple shovels of ash from the front of the stove esp the dog house so you rake the hot stuff forward. You need a certain amount of ash for the stove to work efficiency but not too much...hard to say. If you have to slow burn you'll have to deal with many remaining hot coals...just rake forward toward that dog house and burn down with 1 split burning hot.