Placement of thermometer

[The Dali Lima]

Hello everyone... I was wondering if the placement (location) of a stovetop thermometer can give very different readings? I had mine in the back of the stove and it generally read 300 - 400 degrees. I moved it today to the front and it got to 400 pretty quickly. I
m burning the same amount (generally). Has anyone had different reading based on where they put it?

 

[edthedawg]

Much different stove, but yes - I see as much as 150*F difference around different spots on the top of the Heritage (rear venting).

 

[firefighterjake]

Hello everyone... I was wondering if the placement (location) of a stovetop thermometer can give very different readings? I had mine in the back of the stove and it generally read 300 - 400 degrees. I moved it today to the front and it got to 400 pretty quickly. I
m burning the same amount (generally). Has anyone had different reading based on where they put it?

Oh Dali Lima . . . it's scary sometimes how we think alike sometimes in our little experiments we do. Fortunately I have some answers for you . . . and a theory.

Yes . . . you can be off 50-100 degrees or more believe it or not from corner to corner (which is where Jotul recommends placing a thermometer for the Oslo as you no doubt know.) I confirmed this with an IR thermometer (which incidentally provided a pretty darn close match to my existing magnetic thermometer) -- as I moved from corner to corner there would be a drop or increase in temp.

I suspect the reason for this may be due to the ash/coal build-up underneath (more tends to build up on the "East" side of my stove -- probably since I sometimes don't spend a lot of time spreading all of the coals/ashes down -- which means wood that I place in the stove is typically higher on that end and therefore the flames are closer to the stovetop. Since I tend to take the stove's temp (open up and say ah) typically right after refilling the woodbox and allowing the wood to really get going I think having the flames closer to the stovetop might be a factor.

To date my highest heat seems to be in the rear corners . . . with the most consistently highest setting being the rear, right-corner. I think the reason the rear corners may be hotter may be due perhaps to the airflow coming from the front and/or the fact that I tend to stack my wood with more in the back than the front so as the load burns down it will be less apt to fall against the front door.

 

[The Dali Lima]

I agree!

Thanks for the information... I hadn't thought about the different temperatures being due to the wood/firing placement inside the stove, and that makes sense. I guess I could also pick up a second one to see if the two match in different locations.

 

[Valhalla]

Yes, two thermometers are an advantage. I use one on the middle of the stove firebox, the Encore griddle, and one about 10 inches up the flue. I first verify each individually for correct reading, then periodically compare them together for accuracy on the same surface.

See the photo.

 

[The Dali Lima]

Do you use the griddle much?

 

[Valhalla]

Do you use the griddle much?

Yes, the machined surface is great for fast heat transfer to a dutch oven, kettle, etc. Since it is the top loading access, it's quick and easy to replenish the firebox. No mess, no doors to open. Just putting any hot pot on the hearth temporarily.

I compared against almost all Jotuls before I bought this new Encore. We still want to put a small Jotul on a fireplace hearth in the middle of our house. That is a spring '09 project.

Thanks and enjoy your Jotul!