Stove operating temperature

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bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
31,978
central pa
Considering the stove manufacturer said 800 was fine yes
 

Itslay90

Member
Dec 16, 2022
211
Upstate,NY
Considering the stove manufacturer said 800 was fine yes but I only get it to 800 that’s the high I will do, and the dealer said the same thing. I asked how hot can I get it he said 800. But when’s it’s at 800 the temperature is on low.. it’s not wide open
 
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Mirco22

Feeling the Heat
Jan 7, 2022
300
italy
It is (at least *in* my stove) impossible to assess the temperature of metal using such a color table, because this table assumes black body emissions, and when something is that hot, it certainly is not a black body. Instead it also reflects a lot of the ambient light of the flames.

I used to be able to judge the temperature of silicon by its color from about 650 C up to 1300 C with a precision of at best 25 C simply by looking at it when it is inside an otherwise dark vacuum chamber. I have never been able to be confident in assessing the temperature (e.g. of the cat or the flame shield in front of my cat) by color in my stove.
You are right, was just a reminder, at the red glow that many manuals indicate, to determine, overheating, it seems that this happens above 1000 F, so at 600-800 we still have a lot of safety margin
 
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bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
31,978
central pa
Considering the stove manufacturer said 800 was fine yes but I only get it to 800 that’s the high I will do, and the dealer said the same thing. I asked how hot can I get it he said 800. But when’s it’s at 800 the temperature is on low.. it’s not wide open
If you run it wide open it will without question overfire. Wide open is only used for startup
 

stoveliker

Minister of Fire
Nov 17, 2019
7,261
Long Island NY
You are right, was just a reminder, at the red glow that many manuals indicate, to determine, overheating, it seems that this happens above 1000 F, so at 600-800 we still have a lot of safety margin
I would not reason like this. Red glowing is (by far) too hot for the metal and the welds.
It is an indicator that you went way too far.

Don't go above 800 F. That's the limit. The glowing is NOT the limit, the glowing is well over the limit.
 

stoveliker

Minister of Fire
Nov 17, 2019
7,261
Long Island NY
I'd not regulate the air based on stove top temps, but based on flue temps, as they are less delayed. Cutting back at stove top temp of 800 will result in the temp likely going over the 800 for a while.
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
99,743
South Puget Sound, WA
Yeah it’s never wide open. Only wide open doing start up. But when’s it’s at 800 the air is cut back
As expected. The high temp can be reduced by the way the stove is operated. This is covered in the other threads on the same topic. The stove will be ok running regularly at 800º but with greater stress on the internals and therefore shorter lifespan.
 

Beer Belly

Minister of Fire
Oct 26, 2011
2,219
Connecticut
We let it cruise between 450-550*F

Fireplace.jpg
 
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stovelark

Minister of Fire
Oct 10, 2009
1,598
SE CT
I'm thinking 800 is way too hot- ideal STT is 400-600, you're not stressing out the stove, your burn time is maximized and all is well.
 

bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
31,978
central pa
I'm thinking 800 is way too hot- ideal STT is 400-600, you're not stressing out the stove, your burn time is maximized and all is well.
What makes you think that?
 

Caw

Minister of Fire
May 26, 2020
1,622
Massachusetts
Every stove and chimney system is different but I don't see how a modern steel tube stove can cruise at 450. That's just not hot enough for complete combustion. My stove doesn't even begin good secondaries until 550-600 ish. It runs best between 650-725.
 

Wildflush

Feeling the Heat
Dec 27, 2022
339
MA
I find best performance for my Vista is STT between 550-600. 500 is the minimum. No need to run hotter since house heats up fast. I have a tall class A chimney about 23’ so drafts very well.