Vermont casting defiant encore

[brogsie]

I have a defiant encore made in 1986, new cat converter this year. Stove is in like new condition. I get the stove up to 600 then close the bypass. I think the converter is going off but not sure. I still get whitish-brown smoke out the chimney (doesn't look like steam). Being made before epa standards went into effect, is this smoke normal w/cat? Would there be smoke if the by-pass damper gasket needed replacing? Anyway to tell if converter is working other than no-smoke? I have read about using a thermometer to check the converter, not sure where to place the thermometer for this. Thanks for any help.

 

[webbie]

Any catalytic encore would be clean burning.

In general, the converter will simply work - especially a new one. If you want to make sure, install a probe of some sort - if the temp in the converter is over 800-1000 at some points in the burn, then you can guess it is working.

 

[brogsie]

Thanks Craig,

Should I drill a hole into the chimney pipe just above the stove for the probe?

 

[webbie]

There may already be a small hole somewhere for a probe (Goose?) - if not, I would look for a digital probe so you can just put a wire in there and run it out to a digital readout.

 

[downeast]

Neither the offical EPA cat Encores or the pre-EPA cat Encores had holes for probe temperatures. The Vermont VC designers and engineers found no need for them.
We've had 3 cat Encores since around 1987. Here's our routine with our 2001 2550 Encore ( Bordeaux porcelain ):
1. Get the top griddle temp up to 500 + F with a fresh load of firewood.
2. Pull (or push) the damper into the closed position.
3. Wait until the temperature rises --10-15 minutes( with the damper initially shut, the fire will go down).
4. Then adjust the air control to the desired setting after the rise in temp.

That's all it takes. It's the rationale for the so-called "simplicity" of non-cat stoves. No "extra" steps involved.

The darker smoke you see after shuting the damper is simply the residual particulates flowing up the flue before they get the chance to be re-burned by the glowing cat. Give it time, maybe 10-15 minutes for the cat to do its magic. No need to be compulsive about that cat temperature unles you're an engineer; you'll know when it really dies by the stove performance, and real dark creosote smoke coming out the chimney when the air control is shut. Look over the combustor maintenance information, including the serious vinegar bath cleaning. :sick:

Heating 24/7 , active gaskets --doors, ash pan, damper --are changed yearly in both our stoves. Just a fussy, no big deal.

 

[Corie]

Neither the offical EPA cat Encores or the pre-EPA cat Encores had holes for probe temperatures. The Vermont VC designers and engineers found no need for them.

I can't understand how this is possible. Although the regulations I have are current, catalytic stoves are required to have a probe mounting location for catalytic temperature monitoring. That baffles me?

 

[downeast]

Neither the offical EPA cat Encores or the pre-EPA cat Encores had holes for probe temperatures. The Vermont VC designers and engineers found no need for them.

I can't understand how this is possible. Although the regulations I have are current, catalytic stoves are required to have a probe mounting location for catalytic temperature monitoring. That baffles me?

Didn't know that the EPA rules specified that.
No baffles in non-cats.......Baffles me too. You did know that was funny ?

 

[Corie]

Hehe, I did that on purpose.

 

[webbie]

As corie said, it was required.......at the same time, those who say you should not need it are correct. Just a few basics and a cat stove like the encore should take care of itself to some degree.