vc encore stove top Temps and secondary burn

[jamesm14000]

When do you know it's ready to support secondary burn. Tonight I closed the damper at 500 stove top and 30 mins later my stove pipe started glowing. Both the damper and primary air were closed. Just when I thought I was starting to figure it out this happens. I'm still suspicious is my splits aren't to small. And only getting about 4 hours of heat. This is very frustrating and thanks again for all of the input

 

[Toploader]

When do you know it's ready to support secondary burn. Tonight I closed the damper at 500 stove top and 30 mins later my stove pipe started glowing. Both the damper and primary air were closed. Just when I thought I was starting to figure it out this happens. I'm still suspicious is my splits aren't to small. And only getting about 4 hours of heat. This is very frustrating and thanks again for all of the input

That's strange, what was your stovetop temp when the pipe was glowing? I would check all the gaskets again very carefully, because with the damper closed and the air as well there is nothing else you can do to control the burn so you have to find out if air is getting in somewhere it's not supposed to, this would also explain the short burn times.

 

[Charles1981]

It sounds like you are attempting to operate the stove normally and it just isn't working.

I wouldn't use the stove any more if it is glowing red shut down all the way. Just indicated air is entering where it isn't supposed to.

Need to get installer out to evaluate the issue or get a replacement imo.

You can't have stove parts glowing red when shut down as much as you can shut down. Just dangerous.

 

[OK_Bill]

I've never even gotten close to glowing hardware with my Encore 2n1 even with 3 air leaks. My supposition is there's a BIG air leak somewhere. Cracked casting, loose hardware, air seals not in place... some big issues.

Heed the advise given here, and get the stove fixed before damage is done.

Read through this thread - from a guy with a 2040 running hot. Some more insight here...

 

[jamesm14000]

Ok. So the dealer I purchased from came out and tore the stove apart. The only thing found was the glass wasn't very tight against the seal. He bent the small tabs that hold the glass in place. We fired up the stove with some of his wood and it acted completely different. However I am still not getting very long burn times. Went to a friends house and got some of his wood still only making heat for about 4 hours. Any other suggestions

 

[Toploader]

Ok. So the dealer I purchased from came out and tore the stove apart. The only thing found was the glass wasn't very tight against the seal. He bent the small tabs that hold the glass in place. We fired up the stove with some of his wood and it acted completely different. However I am still not getting very long burn times. Went to a friends house and got some of his wood still only making heat for about 4 hours. Any other suggestions

I think you have to be a bit more specific about stove top temps and for how long because if your talking 4 hrs at say 450-550 that would be excellent, I think, for your stove but others who run this stove could give you a better idea based on the specifics of the burn cycle.

 

[Charles1981]

Id say griddle top temps of 500-600 are normal for 3-4 hours at start of burn. 400-500 for the next 2-3 hours, and then at 300 I reload. Typically can get 8-9 hours with the stove stuffed to the gills and to the top of the griddle with my mostly ash fire wood until the temp drops to 300 on the griddle top. Usually about 2 inches of coals left in the box.

Sometimes I will reload at hour 5-6 though based on my timing needs if we want to go to bed early or have to go out for the evening at an off time. Usually the stove will still be at 400-450 and the coals ignite the added wood almost immediately and the stove runs a little hotter than normal reloading like this early but almost never does it go above 600.

 

[Charles1981]

Very rarely does the stove need to be filled more then 3x a day. But we are stuffing it to max capacity each reload. I spend a little bit picking out pieces and re-arranging pieces in the stove to jam as tightly as possible kind of like tetris. You will get some smoke into the house through the top loader doing this however because often the bottom pieces catch and I am trying to stuff every last piece in and the draft hasn't quite caught up yet with the top open and you get a little smoke in the face.

 

[OK_Bill]

Totally agree with Charles.

We're not packing our Encore completely full - maybe about 2/3 to 3/4 full with black oak. Just got a load of oak from a tree that caught fire but remained standing - it lost all its bark. The wood is really excellent to burn. We get maybe 6-7 hours before reload at 300F stove top.

My stove has now been modified, mostly because it was chewing through fuel and running too hot. Take a look at how I blocked off a few of the secondary air holes to reduce O2 levels in the firebox... this mod definitely lowered temps, made the stove much more controllable and able to burn longer at lower temps:

VC Encore 2040 secondary air mod

 

[jamesm14000]

My Temps go from 650 to 400 in about 4 hours. Does any other encore owners also hear a low rumbling sound when burning. I have ask this before but I'm still not to sure of this noise.

 

[jamesm14000]

Oh and air control is nearly closed

 

[Diabel]

My 0028 encore makes no noise when cat engaged.
However, I recall when I had my encore 1450 non-cat the famous "everburn" or shall I say "neverburn" , when I would engage the damper at say 550-600*
for the first 15min it would bumble like a freight train. It was almost scary! Then of course the rumble would slowly go away and the smoke would start coming from the stack! A classic stall.

I am wondering if you are having something similar in the secondary combustion chamber....not a typical cat burn but a crazy inferno happening!!

 

[OK_Bill]

My Temps go from 650 to 400 in about 4 hours. Does any other encore owners also hear a low rumbling sound when burning. I have ask this before but I'm still not to sure of this noise.

Yes - we do usually hear a low rumble when shifting into CAT mode. Its not loud - I really have to listen carefully to hear it - and the rumble is usually evident when the CAT has plenty of heat to run right up to 700F or more. If we engage the CAT with slowly increasing combustion temps, and throttle it down as the CAT reaches a good operating temp, the stove is quiet.

From what I've gathered on the forum, this is normal for the VC Encore. My personal theory is that its just aerodynamic turbulence in the stove we're hearing. Actually, I think its kinda neat.

 

[Excavator]

Same here, if I engage the cat at lower temps I don't here much of a rumble but if i wait few minutes longer before engaging cat it does sound like a louder rumble for a while. It has always acted like this and is normal