Thermometer for Napoleon 1100

[puknutz]

Does anyone have any documentation on the proper temp range for a Napoloen 1100 wood stove?
Also, any idea on the proper placement of the thermometer?
I have seen photos with them on the stove pipe itself, but I am not sure how accurate the readings would be.

 

[n3pro]

Well, manufacturer instruction say 500 to 600 under trivet (stove top) for maximum heat output and efficiency. I have two magnetic thermometers and an IR. stove top I peak 700 - 750, trivet typically runs anywhere between 100 - 200 degree difference depending upon the cycle. Trivet usually get between 350-500. I keep one magnetic on the stove pipe 18 inches from the pipe - stove joint, and one on the trivet center back near the pipe.

Accuracy is a not a huge deal with the stoves, just a guide. I had fun moving the thermometers around and shooting with the IR as you can see. Typically once I get the swirls of flames from the top down I got no smoke and the pipe is around 300 outside, trivet is 200 and stove top is about 400. I start to close the air intake to 4 then let that go for a while by then the pipe is up to 400 and the stove top is 550 and the trivet is about 350, then I go down to about 3 and wait a while then the pipe is about 325 again, stove top 600 - 700 and the trivet is 400 - 500.

To make a simple question even longer, with the IR I can tell temperature varies quite a bit from spot to spot whether stove top, trivet, or pipe. Again accuracy is not a huge concern. If it is that start of the cycle and most of the flame is near the front I can have 40 - 60 degree difference from the front to the back corner.

Three things I look for other then the thermometers is

1) flame swirling from the top to the side and down (cool effect).
2) Chimney output. What I like about the small fire box is it does not take long to get it hot enough to have zero smoke/steam
3) Firebrick color / glass clean. Normally once a week I get a light haze and darker haze on the bottom left and right corners about an inch but it all comes off with no effort with a wet paper towel.

Long answer to a simple question but as the first year wood burner I was quite curious and anal about getting everything right. Hope this helps and didn't put you to sleep.