When should I engage the Cat on a BK Princess

[davenorthshorema]

So when do you engage the cat. Is it at the point where the probe is at the inactive/active point or more up the active scale on the probe....or .....

Thanks in advance!

 

[weatherguy]

I do it when all the wood is charred and it's in the active zone, sometimes that's when it's at the beginning of the active zone and sometimes its a ways past active. Usually on a reload it'll be further into the active zone than when you start a fire from a cold start.

 

[davenorthshorema]

Thanks weatherguy! That answers my question and then some. I thought a cat stove would be a little more complicated but this has been an easy transition from non-cat to cat.

 

[johnstra]

Yep, super easy. I've found that if I engage the cat early (barely in the active zone) I get at least a few more hours out of a load. If you let it get roaring you quickly burn a lot of volatile material.

 

[Highbeam]

If you notice, there are little white tick marks on the outer edge of the meter. Those appear to correspond to 500 degree increments. Just about 1/4" above the active line there is a tick mark, I wait until it gets there sometimes a little higher and on the rare occasion I only let it get past the active line.
According to the manual, it just needs to be past the line. A little higher won't hurt but too low and you risk a stall.

 

[davenorthshorema]

Yep, super easy. I've found that if I engage the cat early (barely in the active zone) I get at least a few more hours out of a load. If you let it get roaring you quickly burn a lot of volatile material.

Are there any risks engaging too soon? I like the idea of a few more hours but does that harm the cat in any way?

 

[davenorthshorema]

If you notice, there are little white tick marks on the outer edge of the meter. Those appear to correspond to 500 degree increments. Just about 1/4" above the active line there is a tick mark, I wait until it gets there sometimes a little higher and on the rare occasion I only let it get past the active line.
According to the manual, it just needs to be past the line. A little higher won't hurt but too low and you risk a stall.

I was wondering what those lines meant. Trying to read the user manual is no easy task. Info on that thing is everywhere...Thanks for the heads up!

 

[johnstra]

My understanding is that if the cat thermometer is in the active zone and climbing it's safe to engage.

 

[rdust]

There is a delay in the probe reading, when mine crosses the active mark I flip the handle. If I'm reloading with the cat in the active zone I let the load get involved for 5-10 minutes and flip the handle. No hard fast rule for me, every load can act a little different so I go off feel, look, gauge and experience. Before long it'll all be second nature.

 

[weatherguy]

Thanks weatherguy! That answers my question and then some. I thought a cat stove would be a little more complicated but this has been an easy transition from non-cat to cat.

Yeah its easy, just need dry wood and you're good to go.