Pacific energy Super insert

[jetmech]

Hello all, Jetmech is back.... been a long time .. couple questions for Super insert operators. I just installed a 1 year old super insert... only 2 issues so far 1 at initial start up the blower makes clicking sound but stops once its up to speed... 2.. what are you measuring for temps just above front door... hard to get a handle on stove temp as i have been used to reading stovetop temps on a freestanding stove... thanks for any replies in advance.. I am finally retired after 40 years in Aviation industry and loving life.....

 

[jetmech]

Update on my post...actually found blower on r/h side was not spinning... it was rubbing the side of the housing... sort of pulled bent the shaft on squirrel fan and now its running with no noise.... learning by burning

 

[jatoxico]

Congrats on retirement. No PE here but I fans are fans I would guess and that clicking had to be something like you found or debris.

I have my thermometer in the vent to get a stove top temp. Can't tell from pics of the Super if you could do the same. Someday someone is going to manufacture a thermo that can be read from its flat edge. I painted marks on my Condar as an assist.

 

[begreen]

Paging Dix for a temp check on the insert.

 

[Dix]

Dang, BG, you're keeping me busy here

My thermo is set over the top right corner over the door. Best I can do. Insert cruises @ 700 - 800 F when it f gets going (I've also seen it higher, still alive & didn't burn the joint down )

Start up -

Door cracked & loaded with what ever you're starting it with. Front air open. Takes forever if you forget to open it. Learned that the hard way

Leave door ajar until secondaries kick on.

Close door.

When the fan kicks on (could take some time, the snap disc <sends signal to fan to turn on> is in back right bottom corner, so it takes time to get heat to reach it), I give it 5 - 10 minutes after, then shut air down 1/2 way. Temps are usually around 500F at this point. Slowly turn air down as temps go up. It's a feel kinda thing, you'll get it.

With in 1/2 an hour of the above, air is almost fully shut down (I always leave it cracked a hair, you'll get the hang of it, if you opt for this).

Let it cycle through the burn, 6 - 8 hours of burn, 8 - 12 throwing heat on a fuller load, then rake coals forward, and reload as needed. When I am home, and it's not an over night, I usually just throw 2 - 3 splits in, and take it from there.

The most important thing I have found with this insert is to keep your front baffle clean for best performance. Front baffle is located inside the stove body, on the bottom. It's metal, and has air holes that face towards the back of the stove. When your coal bed gets deep enough, and ash builds, it starts to clog the air holes. When stove is in a cooler mode, I lift the baffle out with the hook on the poker, and then sweep area clean, scoop out that ash, and replace baffle. I suggest wearing your gloves, unless the stove is ice cold, ask me how I know this

Congrats on your retirement

 

[jetmech]

Thanks Dix.... so far insert is running good.... highest temps i have had were 530 above the door.... i only have 14 feet of chimney but its a stainless insulated liner and stove draws fine.... my glass has stayed crystal clear from day one... i had r/h blower stop running but fixed it... it was rubbing the housing it sits in....

 

[jetmech]

Thanks for the bump BeGreen

 

[begreen]

Dang, BG, you're keeping me busy here

The price of being popular!

so far insert is running good.... highest temps i have had were 530 above the door.... i only have 14 feet of chimney but its a stainless insulated liner and stove draws fine..

PE stoves breathe pretty easily. My friend's Summit has only 12' and it works fine. You can take it up 100º to 650º at that location if it gets very cold and you need more heat.

 

[Sbrown28]

What thermometer are you using to measure?

 

[begreen]

I have an old Sandhill thermometer on the stovetop. They are no longer made. Too bad, it was a very good one, simple with a glass dial and after 40 yrs of service still reads close to an IR reading of the same location. This is a 2" dial thermometer which will fit almost anywhere. Condar and Drolet sell 2" stovetop thermometers today, but without the glass dial cover. You have to get an expensive TelTru for that now.

 

[Woody Stover]

This is a 2" dial thermometer which will fit almost anywhere. Condar and Drolet sell 2" stovetop thermometers today, but without the glass dial cover

Same guts though, a bi-metallic spring?

 

[begreen]

Same guts though, a bi-metallic spring?

All original, bi-metalic spring and magnetic back. The dealer included it with our 1979 VC Resolute. It's been with me ever since. Wish they still made them.

 

[mar13]

Hey, I have a Sandhill stove top thermometer too! Came with the old VC stove that came with this 1982 house. One of my young kids, however, broke the glass when fumbling with the thermometer last summer. I think it reads cooler than my other two surface thermometers, but I haven't carefully verified that yet with identical stove locations. Back in the days, did they not color code, or was that to make it stove pipe and top usable without confusing the user?

 

[jmdavis984]

I have a PE Summit LE insert that I'm still learning. Mine has a larger fire box, but is basically the same stove as the Super. I have a 15' insulated liner, and I have a HELL of a time keeping the thing from getting what I would classify as too hot. I burn mostly ash, with some maple and black locust thrown in. I get a little scared when the temp above the door get above 700. Some people say it's OK, but I'm new to this insert and DO NOT want another run-away. That's why my last stove got replaced. The fire didn't stay in the fire box.

My startup procedure is to put 2 logs in NS, then paper, kindling, and one more split on top. Door open for 5 minutes or until I get a good flame, then air control wide open until the fan kicks on. Then I can back it down. I run the blowers almost all the time on low, unless I'm trying to bring the temps down. It heats my whole house.

My issue is with overnight burns. I put in 5 large splits on top of a hot coal bed, then run wide open until I get good flame. I slowly turn it down to fully closed, usually when the temp above the door is around 400. My issue is that the temp continues to climb well past 700, even with the control fully closed. How do I control the temp of the fire if I can't control the air flow? Am i being too cautious? should I keep the air low even after putting in the nighttime load?

 

[jetmech]

Jim im new to the super insert but have had a couple of PE freestanding stoves... whats the temp at reload?? i found that hot coals with stove top over 300 dg can make for a very hot initial reload.... might let them burn down some...

 

[jmdavis984]

Jim im new to the super insert but have had a couple of PE freestanding stoves... whats the temp at reload?? i found that hot coals with stove top over 300 dg can make for a very hot initial reload.... might let them burn down some...

I'll give that a try. I typically reload based on time for the overnight and not based on stove temps. I try to reload before it gets below 300, but there is still a LOT of healthy heat in there at that temp. I think I will try letting it accelerate more slowly as well, not letting it get so hot before shutting down. I've been trying to burn as cleanly as I can, but that may be my downfall.

 

[jetmech]

I am slowly learning to use my super....my only issue right now is lots of coals.... i have been opening primary and using small splits to try and burn them up.... i love the ease of use and performance from PE stoves....

 

[jmdavis984]

I got an extra 4 hrs of heat out of a "dead" firebox by stirring up the coal bed and running the air intake wide open. There's a lot of heat hidden under that first layer of ash. I like it.

I agree on the ease of use of the PE. I looked at Quadrafire, and they had 2 air controls. I feel like that would be 2x as hard to learn.

 

[jetmech]

Yupp, Quads might be good stoves but too many controls....

 

[begreen]

I get a little scared when the temp above the door get above 700. Some people say it's OK,

That is too hot. You are not closing down the air soon enough. And on reloads, burn down the coals a bit more. Reread your other thread. Hogwildz has bee burning in a Summit insert for years.

I think I will try letting it accelerate more slowly as well, not letting it get so hot before shutting down. I've been trying to burn as cleanly as I can, but that may be my downfall.

Clean burning is good, but focus on control and timing first. Get comfortable with full loads of fuel so that the burn is predictable.

 

[Sbrown28]

I have a PE Summit LE insert that I'm still learning. Mine has a larger fire box, but is basically the same stove as the Super. I have a 15' insulated liner, and I have a HELL of a time keeping the thing from getting what I would classify as too hot. I burn mostly ash, with some maple and black locust thrown in. I get a little scared when the temp above the door get above 700. Some people say it's OK, but I'm new to this insert and DO NOT want another run-away. That's why my last stove got replaced. The fire didn't stay in the fire box.

My startup procedure is to put 2 logs in NS, then paper, kindling, and one more split on top. Door open for 5 minutes or until I get a good flame, then air control wide open until the fan kicks on. Then I can back it down. I run the blowers almost all the time on low, unless I'm trying to bring the temps down. It heats my whole house.

My issue is with overnight burns. I put in 5 large splits on top of a hot coal bed, then run wide open until I get good flame. I slowly turn it down to fully closed, usually when the temp above the door is around 400. My issue is that the temp continues to climb well past 700, even with the control fully closed. How do I control the temp of the fire if I can't control the air flow? Am i being too cautious? should I keep the air low even after putting in the nighttime load?

Will you show a picture of where you’re placing the thermometer on your insert?

 

[jmdavis984]

Will you show a picture of where you’re placing the thermometer on your insert?

This is where I take my temps (see laser dot in photo). Usually the hottest spot is as high as I can get on the front face, right at the center of the front of the stove above the door.

 

[Woody Stover]

That is too hot.

Have you shot the front of your stove above the door? How does that temp relate to the stove top, in front of the flue? I was thinking that the front might be hotter, since the secondary flame is roasting that area pretty good..

 

[begreen]

If I think about it tomorrow I'll check. There's an airwash deflector across the top of the door opening. I don't run a Summit, but hogwildz does. I am going by his normal reported temps which admittedly are to the side of and a bit lower than TDC.

 

[Sbrown28]

This is where I take my temps (see laser dot in photo). Usually the hottest spot is as high as I can get on the front face, right at the center of the front of the stove above the door.

That makes more sense, I thought you were using an actual thermometer, not IR