What to do with VC Energy Extender

[ptgilland]

I recently purchased my first wood stove second hand. It is a Vermont Casting Resolute (pre 1990). It seems to be in great shape, so I recently installed new gaskets and look forward to start heating with it. After doing allot of research, I find myself stumped on the Energy Extender that came with the stove.

This appears to be an option that was produced by Vermont castings for the Resolute and Defiant models. It attaches to the back of the stove, and comprises of a insulated box which ducts the flue exhaust down to a Catalytic element for ignition of a second burn of the gases. The problem is I can find very little information on the Energy Extender. I called Vermont Castings and found one person that emailed me a pdf. of the Energy Extender operations manual. However, they can not provide any further information or parts for it. I didn't get any further with the local dealer, or other internet searches.

My guess is that with enough digging I may find an after market source that can reactivate the Catalytic element, if not custom make a replacement. However, I would really like to know the following. Should I remove the Energy Extender and go without it until something can be done about reactivating or replacing the element? Could the stove possibly work better with unit attached even if the element is no longer active? Also, I tried cleaning the unit and I am wondering if the refractory lining in it might be asbestos? Perhaps I am safer getting rid of it?

Any insight is much appreciated!
Pete

 

[webbie]

Trash it if possible. This was a device that could be called a Lemon.

 

[ptgilland]

Thanks for helping to decide this matter. I don't mean any offense, but I hope others might chime in with similar responses. It would make me feel better knowing that was the consensus of everyone before I send it to the dump, or perhaps flea bay.

 

[webbie]

Just FYI, I owned a shop that sold the brand at the time that came out - and sold a few - I also know a lot of other dealers that sold some. It was a feeble attempt at making these relatively dirty stoves cleaner - but it didn't work.

 

[ptgilland]

Thanks, I think I will avoid potential problems, not to mention expence of replacing the element, and junk the extender. You say the Resolute was a relatively dirty stove. I was just wondering, should I consider a new stove at some point soon? I like the look of the stove, and not having had one before, I'm not sure what to really expect. Hopefully lower propane bills, that was my goal.

Also, on a side note, that manual says to put a inch of either ash from another stove or sand in the bottom to insulate. As I understand it this is a good idea. I was wondering, since I have a fireplace as well, should I use the ashes from it instead of sand, or does it matter at all?

Once again thanks for the help.
Pete

 

[begreen]

Ash from your fireplace will work just fine. I ran the original Resolute for years. Even though I was burning softwood, the stack stayed quite clean and there was little or no smoke coming from it once the stove was up to temperature. Burn dry wood, don't smother a fresh fire and it will burn reasonably well. But in comparison to modern stoves it's not nearly as clean as the best of them.

 

[elkimmeg]

In the mid 80 stove manufactures knew they would have to produce stoves that had to burn much cleaner to meet the 1990 EPA mandates States like Oregon had passed similar mandates as early as 1986.. Just like cars of 1973 mandates to become cleaner Cat combustors were added.

Most were a failure due to trying to retrofit them into existing stoves. Many companies realized this did not work out all that well and VC started from the ground up and designed an entirely different combustion system Today's cat converters are mounted into a secondary combustion chamber fed by thematically controlled secondary air. The EPA had dramatic impact on the industry before the EPA there were about 250 manufactures after about 17 It cost a lot of money to bring a stob ve to the market passing UL and EPA regulations so much so many smaller companies did not have the R&R;or the money to design and pass regulations,

Your stove was a feeble attempt to retrofit a cat combustor.

You guys know the time to ask all these questions is before a purchase, not after when you found out you just bought a boat anchor.

 

[ptgilland]

Well, for the time being I'm happy enough with my purchase of the old Resolute. I simply remove the Energy Extender and I am now back to the standard method of operation. I didn't pay anything extra for the extender, in fact according to the local swapsheets and Ebay, I did well on my purchase price for the used stove. If this will work for me over the next three or four years while my wife is in school I'll be very happy. Until she starts working again there just aren't any funds for a newer model. It's actually nice to know that I don't need to shell out more dough right now to replace the catalyst.

Thanks all.

 

[webbie]

Yeah, the old Resi is pretty good as far as older stoves go because the firebox is medium - so you can run it decently. It also holds up well over the years.

 

[ynotwood]

I have a mid-80's VC Resolute. Work well with minimum maintance an no-cat. Only trouble with use is wife not great at starting the fires after work.

Are newer stoves easier to light or more efficient. This Resolute seems fine, can't imagine being more efficient. Only complaint may be with a long full burn over 2-3 days I run out of room to continue burn due to large ash pile.

 

[begreen]

Get her some supercedar starters from Thomas for Christmas. Life will be good.