PE introduces the LE2 line

[begreen]

PE now lists the new LE2 line of woodstoves on their website. The new models are all based on the smaller 1.4 (Vista) and 1.6 cu ft (Neo) fireboxes. The LE2 models qualify for the 30% tax credit and are still non-catalytic stoves. They use a unique flue gas agitation system to acheive the 75% HHV requirement.

LE2 Approved - Pacific Energy

LE2 Wood Stoves Now Available Order one of our newly certified LE2 wood stoves by the EPA. Order the new and even better LE2 with 30% US Tax Credit. Visit a Pacific Energy dealer Visit a Pacific Energy showroom near your and order a LE2 wood stove now. Find a Showroom Longer Burn Times Higher […]

www.pacificenergy.net

 

[Itslay90]

PE now lists the new LE2 line of woodstoves on their website. The new models are all based on the smaller 1.4 (Vista) and 1.6 cu ft (Neo) fireboxes. The LE2 models qualify for the 30% tax credit and are still non-catalytic stoves. They use a unique flue gas agitation system to acheive the 75% HHV requirement.

LE2 Approved - Pacific Energy

LE2 Wood Stoves Now Available Order one of our newly certified LE2 wood stoves by the EPA. Order the new and even better LE2 with 30% US Tax Credit. Visit a Pacific Energy dealer Visit a Pacific Energy showroom near your and order a LE2 wood stove now. Find a Showroom Longer Burn Times Higher […]

www.pacificenergy.net

They need to make a le2 to the summit Le, and the t5

 

[stoveliker]

Is this a similar idea as the turbulator of Joyful? --> autocorrect.... Jotul

Seems simple enough in construction to be robust.

Good that further development is done.

 

[Todd]

Is this a similar idea as the turbulator of Joyful? --> autocorrect.... Jotul

Seems simple enough in construction to be robust.

Good that further development is done.

Looks different than Jotul’s turbulator. Some kind of combustion management system that runs off a battery or ac? Maybe a better EBT? It’s nice the hit the 75% mark without a cat.

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, I saw the battery box but wasn't sure (without reading more) what that is for.

I don't like a stove that depends on electricity.
I presume it doesn't have moving parts in the exhaust pathway....? Then what is the power for ..?

 

[begreen]

The flue gas agitator is passive and at the flue exit. The secondary air supply is actively regulated. I've been waiting for the new documentation on this so that the information is correct. It does have battery backup that's good for 5-7 days I believe. The stove should still function without power, but I don't know what the static state of this regulator is when unpowered. Hopefully, PE will update documentation on this soon.

 

[stoveliker]

Ah,.okay. That's good; a passive mechanism for good combustion.

The secondary air regulated makes some sense. But based on what? Is there an O2 sensor..? We all know that those are prone to give trouble in dirty combustion (as a wood stove is).
Apparently the draft itself is not good enough a driver for secondary air to reach as complete a combustion as is possible with active regulation..

 

[begreen]

Here is an update from PE on how the LE2 system works:

The LE2 technology self-adjusts a portion of the primary and secondary air based on inputs from two thermal probes. The primary benefit is better start-ups and re-loads.

Two small servo motors do the work based on a bit of logic. The system can be powered by house power or batteries, and we are working on a thermal generator. If no power is available, you revert back to a Vista or a Neo 1.6. controllable as before.

 

[stoveliker]

Nice having a thermoelectric element to power the logic. Though the unpowered position would need to be such that that is the state beneficial for start-up.

 

[Fasttrack]

Thanks Begreen - I was just reading up on PE stoves today and noticed the AC power adapter / battery box in the manual for the LE2 stoves and was wondering what the heck that was all about.

So it sounds like, without power, the stove still works but requires manual adjustment the same as the old Vista or Neo fireboxes. That's not really a problem, IMO. And I like the idea of being able to snag the tax credit without needing a cat.

 

[begreen]

Yes, however it is only for emergency situations. Running it this way the stove would no longer be compliant.

 

[vrojkov]

I am looking for advise on LE vs LE2. simple is always more reliable and lower overtime cost.

My 17 years old Scan 60 finally quit. The glass cracked , when my wife decided to run the stove last time for the season.
So I am on a market for a new stove.

Same dealer who sold me the Scan has PE Neo 1.6 LE in stock. Newer LE2 will be around the same price after rebate.
My question is if ACMS really good and reliable and if it really add 1-2 hours of heating time?
Any known issues with ACMS? What is the price to replace it’s components?

Extra time definitely desirable for me for overnight runs. Also if it is really 9-10 hours then this will cover heating my house during my work day from office.

P.s. my wife likes our Scan stove so much , that she is leaning towards buying used Scan A10 as the replacement. Go figure. And they are all pretty old.

 

[begreen]

We don't have established track numbers for them yet, however a small firebox can only deliver for so long. For longer burntimes, go for the larger Neo 2.5 firebox.

 

[vrojkov]

For longer burntimes, go for the larger Neo 2.5 firebox.

I hear you. But I believe that 1.6 is right size for my 1250 sqft ranch with my heating patterns. I was able to squeeze 6 and even up to 8 hrs of burn time from my Scan 60. And run it up to a week non stop without restarting from scratch. I bet , this is as good as it can be with the stove which likes no more then 2-3 logs loaded at a time. It is not just about box size but also if the stove design allows to build up a nice fat layer of live coals. And put at least one un split big log on top of the coals prior to the bed time, to make it last over night. I also run a wood stove as a primary heater only during the coldest two month. I.e from mid December to mid February. I have a Mini split heat pump as a primary heater, which is cold climate rated. I.e I tested it all the way to -11 F two years ago. I also have an original oil heater with baseboards as a secondary backup. The rest of a cooler season we use our wood stove as a fireplace - we just love coziness of wood fire, but we don’t really care about using it as a heater during shoulder season.

 

[begreen]

. I bet , this is as good as it can be with the stove which likes no more then 2-3 logs loaded at a time. It is not just about box size but also if the stove design allows to build up a nice fat layer of live coals. A

This is why I have a strong preference to N/S loaders like the Alderlea T4, or Super. There is no worry about logs rolling up against the glass so the firebox can be fully loaded. That really helps burn time.

 

[willowdoc]

I can't speak for the older LE model, but I installed the neo 1.6 LE2 insert in March of this year. I can say it has been outstanding, and exceeds all of my expectations.

I work in the office 4 days a week, and for the first few weeks of March I burned on nights and weekends and sometimes on my off day. After that it warmed up slightly, and I burned less frequently. I live in a house that is 2100 sqf ft with decent insulation, not the best windows. On a 40 degree day, I could get the house from 67 to 72 degree in a few hours and keep it there for the good part of the day without the furnace coming on at all. My fireplace is located in the center part of the house, chimney is straight up with no bends, and the heat rises up the stairs to the second floor nicely. I do not have an insulated liner as it would not fit through my flu. Fans blowing cold air towards where the insert is worked great to distribute heat. I did a lot of cold starts which required feeding the fire for the first hour or two, then I would turn down the air intake and just let it cruise. I used dry kindling only for start ups, didn't need any supercedars or firestarters. I burned mostly oak, which was dried to around 15- 20% moisture content on a moisture meter.

For the first break in fire, I got the top outside firebox temperature up to about 600 degrees as it recommended. (I used an IR thremometer and pointed it through the fan opening at the top of the unit.). After that first fire, I would keep it at around 400 - 500 degrees. I load it East to West and feel like it works great. I am not trying to get super long burn times, so didn't really feel the need to load north to south. Never tried an overnight burn.

The fan is awesome and really kicks out the heat. I always kept it on high and I didn't find it super loud and there was no issue watching TV in the living room.

As for the flu gas agitator system, I'm not really sure if this helped with start ups or increasing efficiency, but there is an occasional sound of metal sliding against metal which I guess is the system working and adjusting the air intake automatically.

I attached a video that I hope you guys can see.

If anyone has any questions about this unit, feel free to reach out.

Thank you Begreen, Bholler, and everyone on this site for all of your expertise, I have learned so much from all of you over the past 5 years or so.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

That’s a great looking fire! Thank you for the detailed review!

 

[begreen]

Yes, thanks for the update. My guess is that the noise you are hearing is the servo regulating the secondary feed, based on draft strength and flue temp. I think the flue gas agitator is passive. Keep us posted with the operation of this good looker in the next season. I am watching to see if they will be expanding this ACMS to be installed in the larger versions.

 

[John Ackerly]

Here is an update from PE on how the LE2 system works:

The LE2 technology self-adjusts a portion of the primary and secondary air based on inputs from two thermal probes. The primary benefit is better start-ups and re-loads.

Two small servo motors do the work based on a bit of logic. The system can be powered by house power or batteries, and we are working on a thermal generator. If no power is available, you revert back to a Vista or a Neo 1.6. controllable as before.

BeGreen - where did you get this detail? Seems odd that there is no way for the average consumer to know these details about the stove actually runs, and what it needs electricity for? I read the owner's manual and even went through the whole EPA certification paperwork, where there was no info about any of this.

I guess PE is betting that the less info the better about electronics in wood stoves.

John