Vigilant ...coal or wood??

[craigbaill]

Howdy all,

We have the option of getting a never been used Vigilant stove by Vermont Casting. Problem is this: I have no idea whether this one is coal or wood. I read a post on here by someone that it might be a Vigilant 2 but I need some input on that. I only have a few pics so hopefully someone can help.

By the way this will be FREE to me and the missus. We have a new to us home which has oil heat and we wanted to get a wood stove anyway. Opinions and feedback much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[webbie]

This is the coal vigilant, originally called the Multi-Fuel vigilant. It was actually the first vigi that burned coal well - because the coal conversion kits didn't!

I think you are correct - current designation was Vigilant II.

It copied the grate system from Coalbrookdale.

I think the hopper was an option or could be used...or not...
Here are some shots of the grate and a clear view of the front.

 

[craigbaill]

Very nice!! Thanks for the info!! I definitely need to go see the stove again as it now seems it is missing some parts: like the ash door. What is the rectangular section hanging down from the top? Why does the stove have the small door under the top griddle? Soo many questions...

I never thought I would miss the fireplace insert in our last house. Its chilly out tonight folks! 14 degrees now at 10:30pm in New Jersey.

 

[webbie]

That rectangular thingy is a hopper and the top extra door is really just for it - so coal doesn't go anywhere except into the hopper - also makes the top opening smaller so the stove can use a 6" pipe (as I remember).

The manual should be available online somewhere.

This works in the basic style of Euro coal stoves:
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/hopper_fed_coal

 

[craigbaill]

Hmmm. I was hoping it might be a wood stove...I understand it a) might not be worth converting as I may need parts b) it may not work well as a converted wood stove and c) I may run into issues getting permits to install it since it is a pre-EPA stove.

Thanks for the input.

 

[webbie]

Conversion on this unit is not really possible since it was manufactured differently. You could use it for wood, but it would not be very good......

The older Vigilant I was sometimes converted to coal - that one can be converted back to wood, but not this one.

 

[craigbaill]

Thank you for the information. We will continue to look at new stoves then!

 

[billo44]

Thank you for the information. We will continue to look at new stoves then!

I did convert a few of these back in the 90's, after they changed the 'Vigilant Coal' 2310 which has an ash drop with an ash door below the ash lip it was hard to convert them to wood burners. But yours has no ash drop so it is a 1450 I think and should be possible to convert if you can still get all the parts you need.

Where you would stand with required permits to install I don't know (I'm not in the US). There is no effective clean burn system in the Vigilant wood stove, so you might consider looking for a newer stove just from the environmental viewpoint.