xanadu1797
Member
I don’t have a stovepipe therm set upwhat is the temperature of the stovepipe when this happens
I don’t have a stovepipe therm set upwhat is the temperature of the stovepipe when this happens
I like it plenty. I burn Pennsylvania hard coal (Anthracite). Not the soft Bituminous that billows out yellow smoke and high sulfer smell. Anthracite will have no smoke and virtually no smell if burned properly save for a little on start up and re-loads.Coal stinks pretty badly, you and your neighbors won't like it. I have neighbors tht have burned coal. it actually smells worse than when they burn their garbage.
I have had similar problems getting my cat up to temp today. Small fires and low draft. Let the cat sit there plugging away for an hour, best it could muster was 550. Threw in 2 fresh splits on a hot bed of coals, immediately engaged the cat and off it went.... 1100 - 1300.This could be possible. I am using a custom metal gasket with a factory ceramic gasket. The stainless is slightly thicker but I thought I got everything tight.
Can you explain the ‘quenching’ and the ‘mixing’
Here it comes, brace yourself..... It is not easily explained in words. I did not really understand until I rebuilt my stove, twice....Ok youse guys, I’m asking for the crown jewels here, the secret knowledge:
How does the primary/secondary air flow in the firebox/refractory? Why does an air leak between the firebox and the refractory assembly lead to a cat temp drop with the secondary open?
If you have air leaking in downstream of the cat then you get what @Woodsplitter67 described. No secondary combustion on the cat.Can you explain the ‘quenching’ and the ‘mixing’
You should be able to see a lot without tearing it apart. If you remove the covers and the cat you can see almost everything. i woudl satrt by looking and see what you see...wow! that's amazing and pretty involved. Thanks to you both for explaining this sucker to me. I guess I'll tear it down again in the summer and try to find my air leaks.
Yeah but after I refitted my stove I closed off the secondary as a result of convos I saw on here. I nuked the last two cats and thought I had a problem with running the stove hot so preemptively closed it off. to protect the new ($800 in parts). After running it nicely for a month and a half I took off my secondary air blocking and the cat sinks like a stone. Totally threw me for a loop. Getting to understand now the possibilitiesYou should be able to see a lot without tearing it apart. If you remove the covers and the cat you can see almost everything. i woudl satrt by looking and see what you see...
Are you sure you have an air leak..... as I said yesterday I could not get my cat hot for hours, stalled at 550.... Finally with a good bed of hot coals and fresh wood it lit off. I blame it on a low draft day, small loads and intermittent running.
wow! that's amazing and pretty involved. Thanks to you both for explaining this sucker to me. I guess I'll tear it down again in the summer and try to find my air leaks.
that says ignites.. not range.. the cat ignites between 500/600 degreesBest I can make out the manual says the operating range of the cat is 500-600 F. Funny because I know that’s not true but it makes me wonder if my 700-800 degrees might not be so bad. I’ll have to study the smoke coming out of the chimney after a reload.
View attachment 306656 View attachment 306657
There are air passages there, those scalloped out channels allow for secondary air so I would not block those if you can avoid it. Maybe use sections of rope. My guess is they are not that critical..... but I am just guessing.Here?
Interesting is says the "element is a metal honeycomb"..... I did not realize they were offering metal cats for these models. I have only seen ceramic versions.... Is that right? Anybody tried one in a 2n1 stove?Best I can make out the manual says the operating range of the cat is 500-600 F. Funny because I know that’s not true but it makes me wonder if my 700-800 degrees might not be so bad. I’ll have to study the smoke coming out of the chimney after a reload.
View attachment 306656 View attachment 306657
Interesting is says the "element is a metal honeycomb"..... I did not realize they were offering metal cats for these models. I have only seen ceramic versions.... Is that right? Anybody tried one in a 2n1 stove?
Where did you buy the steel cat? I think the Defiant 1975 and the Encore 2040 use the same cat, right?Iv been using the steel cat.. much better.. more durable
I rarely need to use kindling to restart from night before unless it is too warm for that afternoon and I let it die@GrumpyDad not looking for arguments here but I leave my Dauntless running all the time. I run it the same as all my other stoves before it…as far as closing the primary air down halfway before I leave the house or go to bed. Always come back to a STT of 350-450 and lots of coals. This thing’s been running for 6 days 24/7 and I haven’t had to use kindling one since the initial startup. I’m not going to say you’re running it wrong because I think every stove is a little different. I do think there are many of us on this thread though that are very happy with our VC stoves, but there are a few having issues, but I don’t think it’s good to keep trashing a certain brand over and over on this forum. Good luck
Where did you buy the steel cat? I think the Defiant 1975 and the Encore 2040 use the same cat, right?
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.