Unsure about pipe temps

[LAndrim]

Hi Everyone, just got brand new Lopi Liberty hybrid wood stove. It came with an internal thermometer (catalyst monitoring probe). On my old stove, i drilled a hole in to the pipe and used a con air probe.
Question: should I rely on the accuracy of this Lopi probe or drill and use the ConAirprobe? thanks all!

 

[moresnow]

That factory Cat probe will dictate when you engage the Cat and help you keep your air adjustments at a level that keeps the Catalyst active for the longest duration.
Installing a temp probe in your venting hurts nothing. I wouldn't rely on it to operate a Cat equipped stove.
It's possible you may see much different exhaust temps with this stove than you are accustomed to. Generally, cat equipped stoves will have a very low exhaust temp when running lower and slower than a non-cat stove.

 

[LAndrim]

Thanks much moresnow. Good to know about the cat probe; I now understand. Thanks!
But I still am unsure how to judge the burning temp; I don't want to overfire. Any suggestions?

 

[Todd]

I don’t have a Lopi but with my Fireview I rely on flue temps on when to engage the cat. There is less lag time reading flue gasses than waiting on stove or cat temps. When I had a cat probe in the past it was a good indicator if I had a stall or if the cat needs some cleaning. Probably good to have both of you really want to fine tune your burn.

 

[begreen]

The probe thermometer will provide more data. By Con probe, does this mean Condar? That's a good thermometer and will help with knowing when to turn down the air. However, it takes a bit of time to react so don't be afraid to turn down the air a little early if the temp is rising quickly.

 

[LAndrim]

Sorry, yes, i meant Con Dar, not air! No need to respond. Thanks

 

[Woody Stover]

I have stoves that rear-vent into a masonry fireplace. I was using a surface meter lying on the tee snout, but I recently put in a flue probe. I had to drill a hole through the vertical section of the tee/liner, about 3" above where the tee snout enters the vertical section. The probe isn't the recommended 12" or so above the stove top as you would do on a stove with an exposed vertical section of stove connector pipe, so it will probably read higher than that type of setup. I will mainly use that probe like I used the surface meter on the tee snout; To make sure I don't get the tee and bottom of the liner too hot when I have the air open more as I ramp the stove up to temp.
I have cat stoves and use an Auber digital thermometer to monitor cat temps. I use it to tell me when to close the bypass. At that point, cat temp is still under 500 (temp at which the cat starts to burn the exhaust) but I still have some flame going so it doesn't take long for the cat temp to get over 500. Cat temp will rise rapidly as it begins to burn, and eventually glow.
I also use the cat probe to make sure the temp doesn't exceed 1500 for any length of time, which is where they say damage can occur. I really don't like to exceed 1400 on the cat.