Vermont Castings Thermostat vs. Jotul No Thermostat

[MikeinMadison]

I'm interested to hear opinions on stoves with and without thermostats that adjust the air flow automatically. We love the styling of our ivory Jotul 3, but our other stove, a blue enameled VC Resolute, rarely strays from the desired temperature range, whereas the Jotul is more variable.

No wood stove can be ignored of course, and there is no substitute for knowing what you're doing. But for those of you who have experience with VC stoves and other stoves without temperature-based air controls, what do you think of the VC thermostat?

My two cents: The temp-based air function is GREAT! I load the firebox, set the air control someplace in the middle, and forget it (almost).

 

[elkimmeg]

Thermatically controled secondary air is not discussed too much here Most want to argue the virturs of cast iron VS soap stone
It has not been e given enough exposure how even a heat flow develops and the lenghtened burn times all due to the thermotic controls. A lot of it is, my stove is better than yours but this is one feature that is worth every penny spent. When cat vs non cat discussion occure no one brings out this control enhances the cat opperation as well. There are 2 outstanding features of many VC stoves smokeless top loading Cat or everburn technology coupled with thermatically controled secondary burning/ This thermatically control, also has allowed VC to record the cleanest Burning wood stove ever recorded by the EPA

 

[begreen]

Even on the non-cat, early Resolute I liked this feature. I'd love to see it on more stoves. It really works.

 

[MikeinMadison]

Using similar sized stoves at the same time, with and without, you really notice it. It couldn't be simpler technology. Is there a patent involved?

 

[elkimmeg]

Mike it must be patten protected or other manufactures would employ it.
This could touch off another debate
IS soap stone stoves without thermatically controlled secondary air equal or inferior to producing a more even consistant heat range? Could it be that this probe and thermatically controled connected into the everburn technology or Cat combustion out performs soapstove for consistant heat output? Does this added control afford cleaner and longer burning?. It sure works in my cat opperation mode. Maybe the debate should not have been cat vs non cat but Thermatically controled stoves out preform ones that are not?

Are there any other manufactures using simmilar technology?

 

[BrotherBart]

It sounds pretty much like the EBT setup on Pacific Energy stoves. And the setups that have been on indoor wood furnaces for years.

 

[MikeinMadison]

Maybe there is some institutional inertia at Jotul that precludes the engineering changes that would bring the thermo secondary air control to their stoves. I'm struggling to decide -- do I burn the Jotul 3 and sell the VC Defiant Encore Catalytic? Or vice-versa? It would be easy if I didn't need to make significant changes to the hearth to install the VC. Hmm...

 

[begreen]

Sounds like there might be inertia at home. Maybe go another month or two and think about it. What changes are needed to the hearth? Where is the VC installed now, why sell?