First things first, take a peak at the picture. Englander says to put a magnetic thermometer to the left or right on the stove above the door. I took this as meaning location A, but my Rutland won't fit so I put it in location B. The email I got back from Englander recommended location C.
I did my first break in fire outside before I had the magnetic thermometer. First break in fire goal was 350F and that's what I did according to my IR gun, within 10 degrees or so. Second break in fire I did last night, inside all hooked up to my nice new chimney etc and with the Rutland on in location B on the right of the stove. I ran the stove for an hour and it only got up to 350F again, I hadn't put in enough wood (I'm new to burning). So I let the stove simmer till it was all coals and 300F, then I reloaded with two small sticks of birch (2-3" around) and 3 pieces of 2x4". After 30-45 minutes it was roaring hot and the Rutland read 550F on the right! The good news is that according to my IR gun it was only 480F which isn't too far off from the goal temp of 350-450F according to the manual. I put a fan near the stove and blew cold air on it. After an hour of that it came done to 450F on the Rutland. Now, the real possible pucker factor. With my IR gun the right side of the stove next to the thermometer read 480F at the high point, so pretty close but a little higher than the goal temp, however, the LEFT side in the same spot read 615F What?? I checked multiple times.
So what I learned is, the stove may be hotter on one side than the other, by a fair margin. Also, the Rutland is off by ~75F compared to my IR. Oh yeah, also during all of this, area C of the stove on both sides was only 300F so I'm glad I didn't go by that!
Should I be worried? Overfire for this stove is listed as 650F. And they do mention all through the manual "as measured by a magnetic thermometer" in the location they told you to put it.
Also, should I go by the Rutland or the IR gun?
I did my first break in fire outside before I had the magnetic thermometer. First break in fire goal was 350F and that's what I did according to my IR gun, within 10 degrees or so. Second break in fire I did last night, inside all hooked up to my nice new chimney etc and with the Rutland on in location B on the right of the stove. I ran the stove for an hour and it only got up to 350F again, I hadn't put in enough wood (I'm new to burning). So I let the stove simmer till it was all coals and 300F, then I reloaded with two small sticks of birch (2-3" around) and 3 pieces of 2x4". After 30-45 minutes it was roaring hot and the Rutland read 550F on the right! The good news is that according to my IR gun it was only 480F which isn't too far off from the goal temp of 350-450F according to the manual. I put a fan near the stove and blew cold air on it. After an hour of that it came done to 450F on the Rutland. Now, the real possible pucker factor. With my IR gun the right side of the stove next to the thermometer read 480F at the high point, so pretty close but a little higher than the goal temp, however, the LEFT side in the same spot read 615F What?? I checked multiple times.
So what I learned is, the stove may be hotter on one side than the other, by a fair margin. Also, the Rutland is off by ~75F compared to my IR. Oh yeah, also during all of this, area C of the stove on both sides was only 300F so I'm glad I didn't go by that!
Should I be worried? Overfire for this stove is listed as 650F. And they do mention all through the manual "as measured by a magnetic thermometer" in the location they told you to put it.
Also, should I go by the Rutland or the IR gun?