What's the difference between the Accentra 52i and the old Accentra?

[smirnov3]

I have an old Accentra insert, and I was wondering how the new design differed.

 

[smwilliamson]

There are lots of differences, so much so that it is really a different stove. Here's what I know....

1. The heat exchanger was removed from the fire box and now used an aluminum heat sink on the rear of the stove. So you don't ever have to clean the firebox to restore efficiency to the exchanger
2. The combustion motor was moved to the fire box wall so that you can clean the flue without having to pull the unit forward or out
3. The distribution blower was removed from under the unit and now uses two blowers mounted to the rear of the unit
4. The fines box is still in the same location and is very very very difficult to get to
5. The hopper lid is now manufactured by someone else other than VC (that makes the rest of the castings) and it is of a lower grade metal and poorer casting tolerance.Perhaps the reduced weight of the hopper lid will now keep the latch from breaking and not break your fingers if it falls on them ad that would be an upside I guess
   
6. The gasket for the hopper door is mounted on the stove top instead of the hopper so pellets get stuck in it now
7. The hopper opening is smaller, so its harder to fill the unit
8. The unit now has wheels so it can be rolled out but the unit "hangs" on the rails so if you are going to roll it out you need their service rail kit, $399
9. The unit uses a new Z Box for zero clearance installations and will require some custom work if you want a flush to the floor installation
10. The new Accentra is rated 52k BTU verses 40k on the old one
11. The rack is different and so are the mountings for the surround
12. New Accentra requires 26" opening vs. 24" opening
13. New Accentra doesn't have all the bugs worked out yet...some units are overheating and melting the compass
14. The new accentra uses a newer style igniter
15. New Accentra has mirrored glass

 

[smirnov3]

ok, thanks!

Some of those changes sound great. others, not so much (Like I hate having to tip the insert over to reach the distribution fan)

And I actually never had a problem opening / closing the fines box. You just have to hold the lid at the right angle to get it on and off