Everything Drolet Tundra - Heatmax...

[brenndatomu]

The Max Caddy requires a blower,

Then why do they offer them without? What struck me as odd was the fact that base unit to base unit, the Max was cheaper, and it is physically much bigger.
Actually, I remember firebug saying that the amish run them with no controls (just a "non-advertised" bi-mettallic spring to run the damper door) and just run gravity heat

 

[brenndatomu]

Did you by chance see if there was a false top to the firebox on the Caddy?

Dang it, I forgot to look! The sales dude would have probably thrown me out if I dismantled his furnace though...I can see it now "It's OK, I'm with Hearth.com, and I'm a "professional"

 

[laynes69]

Then why do they offer them without?

Not sure...maybe they have the option of a simple limit/control for a series install? You would have to have the multi speed blower and computer to run things as advertised.

 

[sloeffle]

When I was looking at furnaces about 5 years ago the Max Caddy was 2k ( $5500 if I remember right ) higher than the Caddy. That was before they "modularized" everything on both furnaces. I also looked at an Energy King 385 but couldn't find any reviews or a lot of info about it.

Our Caddy has no problem heating our 2200 sq ft house down to negative temps. Like @laynes69 said, a lot of it has to do with how well your house is insulated.

We only burn hardwood in our Caddy and I do get some pretty big coals. I have gotten into the habit of pulling those forward when I reload the furnace and that seems to take care of most of them. If I run to furnace for an extended amount of time and start getting a lot of coal build up I will just open the damper all of the way and burn all of the coals up.

Does the Tundra come with a grate that is covered with a plate ? The Caddy does and the plate one of the first things I removed.

Edit: changed it to plate

 

[brenndatomu]

Yesterday it was cold and windy...24 outside with a chill of 13. Our 2500 sqft home plus 1200 sqft basement was 74 degrees

We're only about 25 miles apart so same weather, and as I have stated before I'm only really trying to heat 1200 sq ft ground floor, and I think the high in the house yesterday was 72*. That was with (3) 2/3 full loads. The frustrating thing is, like I mentioned before, my (mostly) unfinished basement is warmer than the ground floor due to just the heat lost off the front of the furnace!

Does the Tundra come with a grate that is covered with a plate ?

No. They have a ~3" round hole with a cast iron plug in it that you have to pull out to chase the ashes down the lil hole...PITA. I (and I would say most people) don't use it. Easier to just dig out when needed. I would have gladly given up the whole ash drawer deal in exchange for the air jacket wrapping the front of the furnace like the Caddy has.

 

[Byron21]

We're only about 25 miles apart so same weather, and as I have stated before I'm only really trying to heat 1200 sq ft ground floor, and I think the high in the house yesterday was 72*. That was with (3) 2/3 full loads. The frustrating thing is, like I mentioned before, my (mostly) unfinished basement is warmer than the ground floor due to just the heat lost off the front of the furnace!

No. They have a ~3" round hole with a cast iron plug in it that you have to pull out to chase the ashes down the lil hole...PITA. I (and I would say most people) don't use it. Easier to just dig out when needed. I would have gladly given up the whole ash drawer deal in exchange for the air jacket wrapping the front of the furnace like the Caddy has.

I found it very hard to get my place above 72 without the help of the oil furnace the heatmax would hold elevated temps for some time once I got the house where I wanted it ...There is a lot of heat off the front of these stoves. Even when mine was down to coals and using the provided poker "which is quite long" you wanted a glove on raking them around.. yet very little blower action
Not sure if your second story floor system is insulated ? they are usually not and you would be losing quite a bit of heat to conduction there.. just a throught...

 

[lexybird]

The max caddy at my local dealer was I think 2499 without blower and electronics ( Amish buy them this way remove side panels and install a simple 35$ bimetallic Chained damper in place of the servo electronic unit for incoming air flap ) The blower and electronics with PC board runs over 800 extra . I got all that on mine and I think my max caddy was around like 3600 plus tax if I remember right . I just fall in love with this thing every time I add wood to it . So much more heat and the long burn times ( got like 14 or so hours today and it was windy and never got over 28) make running this in the dead of a winter a real nice experience . Quality quality unit. Best money I think I ever spent. I was quoted 800 for the big electric insert backup that slides in and I forget what the psg domestic hot water kit costs . Honestly though I'll probably never get either but it's cool to have a furnace with all these options

 

[brenndatomu]

The max caddy at my local dealer was I think 2499 without blower and electronics

The local dealer here (just the closest one to me, I just wanted to see a Caddy in person) has the base Caddy at $3449...$3349 for the Max base furnace... another $1375 for the blower/controls package.

Not sure if your second story floor system is insulated ? they are usually not and you would be losing quite a bit of heat to conduction there.. just a throught...

It is, but I have a new Seek IR thermal camera coming (Merry Christsmas to me! ) so we will see what-is-what with the ole insulation here soon

There is a lot of heat off the front of these stoves

Yes there is!

 

[brenndatomu]

I have said this here several times before...the reason that I think that my furnace is not working to it's potential is that the firebox can be just screaming hot with coals and the duct temp is just kinda warm. The highest duct temp that I ever see (with the blower running) during the peak of the burn, is about where the Yukons blower kicks off at! I can turn the fan switch on/off temp up, but that just makes the overall heat output drop...but I'm a stubborn son-of-a-gun, so I will keep beating this dead (and cold) horse until it makes some heat daggum it!
Like I always say at work..."I dunno why these things always wanna fight me...I always win in the end"

 

[Byron21]

wonder if its gravidity feeding away from the stove to quickly and then kind of dissipating in the duct work ... just another thought ....kind of brings me back to the plenum using a Honeywell fan and limit switch....anyhow I'm hoping you figure it out good luck

 

[brenndatomu]

wonder if its gravidity feeding away from the stove to quickly and then kind of dissipating in the duct work ... just another thought ....kind of brings me back to the plenum using a Honeywell fan and limit switch....anyhow I'm hoping you figure it out good luck

Thanks B, I'll keep at it.
I've been talking to a guy on another forum...he said on his Tundra that you can hardly touch the duct pipes above the furnace for the first couple hours of a load! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous right now!

 

[Builderml]

Layne's, have you tried loading softwood on the bottom and placing the hardwood on top? As long as I do this I have great heat out put and no coal build up at the end of the burn cycle.

 

[Builderml]

Thanks B, I'll keep at it.
I've been talking to a guy on another forum...he said on his Tundra that you can hardly touch the duct pipes above the furnace for the first couple hours of a load! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous right now!

Brenn, I too can not keep my hands on the Ductwork above the stove, left side more so. The right duct I can not keep my hand on the left/back side of it but the right/front I can keep my hand on it longer.

 

[Builderml]

Well the true test for the Tundra will be tomorrow into Tuesday. They are calling for temps around 3 with wind chill well below 0. I wouldn't call this normal temps around here but it will be time for the Tundra to chit or get off the pot. I will definitely post what she is able to do. If nothing else I'll be nice and toasty 6' in front sitting in my recliner.

 

[laynes69]

Layne's, have you tried loading softwood on the bottom and placing the hardwood on top? As long as I do this I have great heat out put and no coal build up at the end of the burn cycle.

No, I burn only hardwood for the most part. Of I have any softer wood, I burn it in the shoulder season. When I burn oak, locust, etc., I don't have any problems with a coal bed. The coalbed stage gives me plenty of heat. When I wake up in the morning if there's been a strong demand for heat, there's ash in the front of the firebox and white hot coals in the rear.

 

[brenndatomu]

Brenn, I too can not keep my hands on the Ductwork above the stove, left side more so. The right duct I can not keep my hand on the left/back side of it but the right/front I can keep my hand on it longer.

I can grab any of my ducts at any time no problem. The front one gets the warmest by 10* or so

 

[lexybird]

The local dealer here (just the closest one to me, I just wanted to see a Caddy in person) has the base Caddy at $3449...$3349 for the Max base furnace... another $1375 for the blower/controls package.


Yes there is!

Wow that dealer is looking at a 2,000$ profit on that deal . I'd avoid that shop like the plague

 

[laynes69]

Does anyone else have a false top on their tundras? You guys should post a short video once they go into cruise mode to compare fires.

 

[Builderml]

No, I burn only hardwood for the most part. Of I have any softer wood, I burn it in the shoulder season. When I burn oak, locust, etc., I don't have any problems with a coal bed. The coalbed stage gives me plenty of heat. When I wake up in the morning if there's been a strong demand for heat, there's ash in the front of the firebox and white hot coals in the rear.

Didn't you say you shoveled out about 1 1/2 gallons of coals? Or did you mean ash? If coals that's a lot of coals to be taking out.

 

[brenndatomu]

Wow that dealer is looking at a 2,000$ profit on that deal . I'd avoid that shop like the plague

I have spent very little money there over the years...they are very well known to be high priced. Even with that price, they said delivery was extra!

 

[laynes69]

Didn't you say you shoveled out about 1 1/2 gallons of coals? Or did you mean ash? If coals that's a lot of coals to be taking out.

No, I de-ashed the firebox and spread the coals over the floor for a reload.

 

[Builderml]

Just tried loading a short video about 4 secs. and it said file to large.

 

[Builderml]

Does anyone else have a false top on their tundras? You guys should post a short video once they go into cruise mode to compare fires.

Yes i do have a false top but it looks to be in direct contact with the top itself, I don't think that it would impact heat transfer much unless it had a nice space between the two.

 

[brenndatomu]

Yes i do have a false top but it looks to be in direct contact with the top itself, I don't think that it would impact heat transfer much unless it had a nice space between the two.

My gut tells me that all Caddys and Tundras have the flame shield on the top of the firebox. Like builder said, it is kinda "spot" welded right against the top
I missed my opportunity to verify this on a new Caddy yesterday...

 

[Builderml]

Here is a picture of the video. This is back side of burn no strong flames, no more nice secondary burn going on. Mostly logs are about to brake up in larger coal chunks. The second picture of the top ( see red dot in middle ) is to show where i took the temp reading. Its 130*-135*.