New Wood Stove insert advice and firebox size on Jotul 550?

[bonedoc]

From reading this forum and from my extraordinarily frustrating experience with a "just a bit too-small" 1.8 cu ft Avalon insert I've learned bigger is better in regard to stove size.

My house is around 3700 sf with a completely open floorplan so I am not concerned about over-heating. The stove will serve as complementary heat only. I really like the feel of a radiant heat-source but hate my inefficient fireplace.

Unfortunately I've been stone-walled by the wife for some time on getting a wood-stove.(Still working on her...)

I've narrowed it down to the Jotul 550, the Hampton HI300 and the Lopi Declaration.(I'd love a hearth stove but the wood around my fireplace opening is only 46" high)

In an effort to compare apples-to-apples was wondering if anyone know the firebox size on the Jotul 550. For some reason it is not listed on their website.

Thoughts on the above would also be a big help. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

If I remember right it's just under 3 cu ft.

 

[woodheat]

The vertical clearance for the 550 is 51 3/4 inches to wood sticking out up to 3.5 inches. The clearance increase the more the wood sticks out. Looks like you would need a heat shield if you go with the Jotul 550. If you use a heat shield above the stove, your wood could be 42 inches up depending on how far it sticks out. Check out the info in the user book, the link is below. Page 9 has the top clearance info.

(broken link removed to http://www.jotul.com/FileArchive/Technical) Documentation/Wood inserts (USA)/Jøtul C 550 Rockland/Manual_C_550_Rockland_010907.pdf

 

[gibson]

Firebox is 3 cu/ft and yes you will need the heat shield. I did. It actually isnt that bad, you really don't notice it that much. Good luck.