I'm trying to get a handle on understanding burn times. I was under the impression that if a stove claims a burn time of 8-10 hours I could walk away from the stove for 8-10 hours and get approximately the same amount of heat from it over that time period. (or course temperatures are going to decrease, but slow and steady over time)
I'm working with a catalytic stove that I babysit every couple of hours. An analysis of my burn times are as follows.
After slowly warming up the stove to catalytic temperatures (300F stove top temp) I load the stove full of 16-18" seasoned oak hardwood.
Hour 1 - The stove top temperature reaches 600 degrees.
Hour 2 - The wood has pretty much burned up. It retains its original shape but I can break it apart into large chunks of burning coals. Stove top temperatures are around 500-550F
Hour 2.5 - Coals still glowing hot but temperature is falling and it is at this time I disengage the catalytic, open the draft and add more wood. I wait until the wood is burning well, partially close the draft and re-engage the catalytic.
So, if asked I'd say I'm getting 2.5 - 3 hours of burn time.
If a stove is rated at 8-10 hours, what is happening in the firebox at hour 4? Hour 5? Hour 8??
How will stove top temperatures change over the course of 8-10 hours?
Thanks, guys
I'm working with a catalytic stove that I babysit every couple of hours. An analysis of my burn times are as follows.
After slowly warming up the stove to catalytic temperatures (300F stove top temp) I load the stove full of 16-18" seasoned oak hardwood.
Hour 1 - The stove top temperature reaches 600 degrees.
Hour 2 - The wood has pretty much burned up. It retains its original shape but I can break it apart into large chunks of burning coals. Stove top temperatures are around 500-550F
Hour 2.5 - Coals still glowing hot but temperature is falling and it is at this time I disengage the catalytic, open the draft and add more wood. I wait until the wood is burning well, partially close the draft and re-engage the catalytic.
So, if asked I'd say I'm getting 2.5 - 3 hours of burn time.
If a stove is rated at 8-10 hours, what is happening in the firebox at hour 4? Hour 5? Hour 8??
How will stove top temperatures change over the course of 8-10 hours?
Thanks, guys