Vapor fire 100 over temp alarm?

[R Henderson]

Just a little while ago I encountered my first high temp alarm with the VF 100. How it went I've been burning on its lowest setting the whole time I loaded up this morning with 9 pieces (just checked on fresh split it was 12-14 percent moisture cut and split approx 2-3 years ago stored inside). I loaded about 8:30am and quickly got it to small "c" which is typical within an hour. Around 11 I happened to be in the basement when it went to beep and flash LA, I shut the computer off and lowered the BD to its lowest setting. I took a peek inside and the smoke flap was glowing. After about 10 minutes I turned computer back on still flashing LA turned back off about 11:30am turned it back on and it went to small "c" opened door and flap still dull red along with top of firebox, turned control back off and probably going to leave off till it cools a little.

Is any of the glowing parts anything to be concerned about?

Anything else I should be doing when it hits over temp?

What are the dangers if this were to occur when no one is home?

I do have some wood more in the 20ish percent range I may mix a couple pieces with this real dry stuff.

 

[brenndatomu]

Sounds like you did fine...the alarm is only really there to alert you to double check that you have all the doors latched properly, check draft (that why I heavily promote having a manometer permanently installed) make sure the blower is running and cooling the furnace, stuff like that.
Once it cools below alarm setpoint, you can turn the computer back on, things will operate normally.
Those internal parts glow like that on every load, especially when loading full, and turning the computer up, you just don't open the door at the point normally (nor should you, the thermal shock is hard on things)
The main time I have high temp alarm issues is when it's really cold and I'm loading full, especially so if loading on a lot more hot coals than normal...gotta use some softwood to burn them coals down when they build up too much...the stove guys have this issue frequently.

I mentioned to Dale about them putting an "acknowledge alarm" button on the computer, that would silence the alarm for an hour...they didn't seem too interested.

 

[R Henderson]

Thank you I am definitely going to be getting some kind of manometer for this now I was thinking about it before anyway. This is our first big cold shot of air and the thought crossed my mind that the chimney is probably drawing harder than it has before. Single wall pipe usually stays 150-200 on surface temperature. I figure inside quite higher and likely in the safe level. Only time it spikes is right after a reload or first starting a fire when computer goes from "3" to "2" and then it's usually 250-260 on surface. Chimney is 18ft insulated stainless flexible, inside brick up middle of house.

I guess if I know I'll be away from home for the day I could mix some more moist (within reason) pieces and I also don't usually load it that full I guess it was kind an experiment to see if I could do just 2 loadings today being home. During the week I usually load 3/4 full around 6am get home 4:30-5 rake around coals and load or burn coals for awhile and load 3-4 pieces then 9:30-10pm load 1/2 to 3/4 load for overnight.

 

[brenndatomu]

I am definitely going to be getting some kind of manometer for this now I was thinking about it before anyway.

I may have mentioned it before, but many here have the Dwyer Mark ll model 25...you can often find them on eBay for $30-40 shipped...make sure it has the red gauge oil with it, if you get one that does not, it is a lil spendy to buy separately, so that would negate any "good deal" you thought you got otherwise.

 

[R Henderson]

I may have mentioned it before, but many here have the Dwyer Mark ll model 25...you can often find them on eBay for $30-40 shipped...make sure it has the red gauge oil with it, if you get one that does not, it is a lil spendy to buy separately, so that would negate any "good deal" you thought you got otherwise.

 

[R Henderson]

I may have mentioned it before, but many here have the Dwyer Mark ll model 25...you can often find them on eBay for $30-40 shipped...make sure it has the red gauge oil with it, if you get one that does not, it is a lil spendy to buy separately, so that would negate any "good deal" you thought you got otherwise.

Would these be the ones? Are there particular I need to do for the install?

 

[brenndatomu]

Would these be the ones? Are there particular I need to do for the install?

Yup, that first one is a pretty good deal...the only other thing you really need is a piece of metal tubing to insert into the stove pipe...I used copper, because I had some here, or you could use a piece of steel brake line too.
For me, I just drilled the hole the same size as the tubing OD, then bent the tubing into a large S shape and just hung it into the stove pipe (it goes between the furnace and the baro) I then used a Phillips screwdriver to stretch out the end of the copper large enough to insert the rubber tubing from the Dwyer ...some people buy compression fittings with barbs for the hose...whatever floats your boat there.
Oh, and you only need the one tubing, the other can be peeled off, or just left, but it doesn't get used...you'll leave the port on the left open to atmosphere, and hook the tubing to the right side, this gives you a much larger scale to work with, although it's marked as positive pressure, it's still accurately reading the negative pressure of the chimney.

 

[woodey]

Just a little while ago I encountered my first high temp alarm with the VF 100. How it went I've been burning on its lowest setting the whole time I loaded up this morning with 9 pieces (just checked on fresh split it was 12-14 percent moisture cut and split approx 2-3 years ago stored inside). I loaded about 8:30am and quickly got it to small "c" which is typical within an hour. Around 11 I happened to be in the basement when it went to beep and flash LA, I shut the computer off and lowered the BD to its lowest setting. I took a peek inside and the smoke flap was glowing. After about 10 minutes I turned computer back on still flashing LA turned back off about 11:30am turned it back on and it went to small "c" opened door and flap still dull red along with top of firebox, turned control back off and probably going to leave off till it cools a little.

Is any of the glowing parts anything to be concerned about?

Anything else I should be doing when it hits over temp?

What are the dangers if this were to occur when no one is home?

I do have some wood more in the 20ish percent range I may mix a couple pieces with this real dry stuff.

If you loaded nine pieces on i assume some had to be small splits. the smaller pieces placed on a bed of coals tend to heat up hot quickly. As stated above , the alarm will go off well before any problems will arise and the furnace will self adjust.

 

[R Henderson]

They were a little variance in size probably the split pieces were roughly 4" square and if I recall 1-2, 5or6" rounds and I did fill it pretty full, enough to where I put shorter pieces on top to allow the smoke flap back in position.

The wood was pretty dry though cut/split at sometime early in 2022 and stored in a basement with wood heat and dehumidifier running all summer. Moisture test read 12-14 percent on a new split. In the pics it was the darker stuff.

 

[brenndatomu]

I'd save that super dry stuff for smaller fires (or cold starts) or at least just mix it in with some wood a lil less dry

 

[Micdrew]

I had the hi limit go off my first year, I had to leave for work and probably loaded on to many hot coals, I also was dealing with small splits, ever since then I make sure the coals are burned down fairly well and larger splits typically right around 20 MC. Funny I just pushed the limit on the coal pile the house temp was starting to drop and I’m trying to stay ahead of this cold weather suppose to be 9 by tomorrow morning.

 

[brenndatomu]

Funny I just pushed the limit on the coal pile the house temp was starting to drop and I’m trying to stay ahead of this cold weather suppose to be 9 by tomorrow morning.

Pine works great for a cold snap like that, burn the coals down without making more, and makes some decent heat too...I never tried a whole firebox full though...I suppose the guys out west do it all the time with no problem, so...

 

[JRHAWK9]

small, super dry splits loaded on a good amount of coals coupled with a high draft can do that. Like bren mentioned, it's not really an "oh crap alarm", just something there to make you double check to make sure everything is in order.

You may be able to get away with lowering your draft down to -0.03 to -0.04 when you have smaller, really dry splits and loading on a good bed of coals. I know I will run a lower draft like that at times.

 

[yooperdave]

I had the high temp go off the first year I ran mine. I figured that the wood was too dry.

I also have hearing loss. The alarm was doing it's thing and my better half (99 lbs) finally asked can't you hear that?

Hear what?

 

[R Henderson]

small, super dry splits loaded on a good amount of coals coupled with a high draft can do that. Like bren mentioned, it's not really an "oh crap alarm", just something there to make you double check to make sure everything is in order.

You may be able to get away with lowering your draft down to -0.03 to -0.04 when you have smaller, really dry splits and loading on a good bed of coals. I know I will run a lower draft like that at times.

I did lower the draft down to 2 or 3 on the BD when that occurred I do have to say I was impressed with the furnace how well it handled it even that dry of wood that one load lasted roughly 14 hours till the next reload although that night I did load on a good sized coal bed and I mixed some in some not so dry pieces. Needless to say it had no trouble keeping the house very warm even the somewhat drafty basement.

 

[R Henderson]

I had the high temp go off the first year I ran mine. I figured that the wood was too dry.

I also have hearing loss. The alarm was doing it's thing and my better half (99 lbs) finally asked can't you hear that?

Hear what?

I'm fairly certain that's what set mine off I've been mixing some wetter pieces in a long the dry.

It really wouldn't surprise me if the alarm has went off while I'm away at work I have loaded like that a few times and ran off to work. The furnace does seem to have good control of itself.

 

[R Henderson]

I may have mentioned it before, but many here have the Dwyer Mark ll model 25...you can often find them on eBay for $30-40 shipped...make sure it has the red gauge oil with it, if you get one that does not, it is a lil spendy to buy separately, so that would negate any "good deal" you thought you got otherwise.

I just received my Dwyer today and will be installing it. Just want to make sure I have some correct points
1. Use the port on the right side to connect rubber hose.
2. I will probably be using a piece of brake line I have here, you said bend it in an S shape and hang it in the stove pipe. Does the end inside need to point a particular direction? Or just as long as it's inside.
3. When it is operating I will be using the black numbers on the right side of zero and likely it should stay below the .10 mark.

4. When I fill with oil i just put enough to get it even with zero on the scale correct?

 

[brenndatomu]

I just received my Dwyer today and will be installing it. Just want to make sure I have some correct points
1. Use the port on the right side to connect rubber hose.
2. I will probably be using a piece of brake line I have here, you said bend it in an S shape and hang it in the stove pipe. Does the end inside need to point a particular direction? Or just as long as it's inside.
3. When it is operating I will be using the black numbers on the right side of zero and likely it should stay below the .10 mark.

4. When I fill with oil i just put enough to get it even with zero on the scale correct?View attachment 334306View attachment 334307

Yeah just a big S shape (I used a piece over a ft long) and hang it in the hole...direction doesn't seem to matter at these low velocities.
Yes, use port on the right and numbers on the right...and if I recall correctly, set the zero knob roughly in the middle, fill oil to the zero with the meter setting plumb/level.

 

[R Henderson]

Alright I got a couple different combinations of copper tubing I got smaller 1/8" that I can slide easily into the rubber or 3/16" and some brass adapters to get it to the barb fitting that was supplied with the Dwyer.

Do you think either would work fine or one would be better than the other?

 

[brenndatomu]

Alright I got a couple different combinations of copper tubing I got smaller 1/8" that I can slide easily into the rubber or 3/16" and some brass adapters to get it to the barb fitting that was supplied with the Dwyer.

Do you think either would work fine or one would be better than the other?

Either would work, but I suspect that the 1/8" may be a lil more susceptible to the end getting soot/fly-ashed over...

 

[R Henderson]

Either would work, but I suspect that the 1/8" may be a lil more susceptible to the end getting soot/fly-ashed over...

I just got it finished I used 3/16" copper and then about 10" of the hose. I zeroed it when I got it all hooked up, it started measuring and the reading was already working or so I assume. It is really windy here now. Even with out a fire present it was getting to the .05 when it would gust outside. Pics attached does the install look alright?

 

[brenndatomu]

You got it! 👍

 

[R Henderson]

I have another question as to the draft. This morning I loaded a little earlier than usual around 4:30am and I mixed some dry wood (same that overtempd last time). Nearly full firebox and got to small "c" by a little after 6 but noticed on the Dwyer my draft was approaching .8 and higher at times the BD was set between 3and4 so I lowered it to 2 on the BD and watched it for awhile and it keeps it more around .5-.6, I lowered it because it is pretty windy this morning and supposed to be all day.

I left for work at 6:30 hopefully I had the right idea and hopefully this isn't something to be concerned about. It wouldn't surprise me if it hits over temp sometimes this morning is this a problem with nobody at home I work about 20 miles away.

 

[JRHAWK9]

I have another question as to the draft. This morning I loaded a little earlier than usual around 4:30am and I mixed some dry wood (same that overtempd last time). Nearly full firebox and got to small "c" by a little after 6 but noticed on the Dwyer my draft was approaching .8 and higher at times the BD was set between 3and4 so I lowered it to 2 on the BD and watched it for awhile and it keeps it more around .5-.6, I lowered it because it is pretty windy this morning and supposed to be all day.

I left for work at 6:30 hopefully I had the right idea and hopefully this isn't something to be concerned about. It wouldn't surprise me if it hits over temp sometimes this morning is this a problem with nobody at home I work about 20 miles away.

I don't pay any attention to what numbers on the BD I have the weight set to. I just set the weight position to wherever it needs to be in order to pull my draft down to where it should be. I have actually added weight to mine to accomplish that.

 

[brenndatomu]

Yeah if you have a real tall/high drafting chimney the marks on the baro don't mean much...that's when it really pays off to have the Dwyer on duty 24/7/365.
Sounds like the mystery of why the HT alarm went off is solved....