Ideal Steel question

How hot at the highest do you run your stove, i have never had mine over 550 STT due to the cat temp getting up to 1600 or above.
Bought a condor probe for the cat thinking it was a better option then the one they sent with the stove.
Called Woodstock about the probe and the guy i talked to didn't put much faith in the need for the cat probe. At least that was my impression.
These cold temps make want to run the stove hotter but cat probe will be pegged out.

 

On a straight cat stove, opening the draft will increase flames and heat output while lowering cat temp. Not sure about a hybrid.

 

Thats intetesting, maybe i need to run the stove a little differently, i like to keep flue temp reasonable also.

 

I have been running the I.S. for 3 years and have run it in the 300-350 range since buying it in 2019, Called and talked to Woodstove rep and they mentioned that the cat will light at that temp and letting it simmer for that long burn doesn't hurt the cat. We have a well insulated 800sq. ft. domain and we have had no issue with the stove top thermometer from them, Get the stove to 250-300 and engage cat wait for the temp to start going up and close the air down to last 2 tics or lines. After that it will rise up into the 350-400 and start to simmer down to the 250-300 and we are getting heat for 14-18 hrs on a bout half a load. The window is never clear and that is ok. We are using it for looks we need the heat and we get that, Burn 24hrs-7days a week. Hope this helps, No flue damper, No cat thermometer. Jus the stove and burn all oak. I do find that smaller pieces heat quick than the larger so I try and have a mix. Couple smalls and couple large, Total rarely more than 7.

Just how it works for us, GOOD LUCK with the I.S. and enjoy the heat

 

This is my first season with the IS. So far I have been very happy with the stove.

Through my learning process I find that the IS is a pretty forgiving stove. In my setup hitting stt of 600-650 is fairly easy and happens almost daily, especially when packed full before bed. Flue temps on my single wall pipe have never gotten over 360* iirc.

My cat probe regularly spikes and will go off of the scale at times. I've come to the conclusion that it's inaccurate and I no longer worry about it. I use it as a guide to close the bypass at this point and that's about it. STT and Flue temps and looking at the fire itself is how I'm running. Cat and everything else looks fine for now. If I ruin the cat then so be it. I'll buy another.

I do remember reading somewhere that under 700* stt is just fine for the IS.

 

Beginning to think the cat probe is somewhat irrelevant.
Gonna due some experimenting next couple days as its nasty cold here now.

 

Just for the record the cat is warrantied for one year and will replace no charge, JUST AN F.Y.I.

 

My year is up November i believe, every time i clean the cat it looks perfect.

 

Oh yeah! Great time to experiment with something inside. We're gonna get cold here in my part of PA, but I don't think we'll be as cold as what you are dealing with.

 

When I called and talked to the tech, it was just shy of the year since we purchased he sent one to us and now have an exchange. Rather nice as it can be cleaned and then wait for the exchange, much nicer than having to wait to light it up. (it is our only heat)

 

My stove top temps are not what I worry about. I use a thermal gun to measure the front of the stove around the cat probe screw. And I keep a magnetic temp gauge on the side of the stove and on my single wall pipe. My STT never gets much above 350, however the area near the probe hole can reach 450-600 when it is cooking and on high. Side magnetic temp gauge runs between 300-500 I am happy. In the photo attached it is 350. Single wall temp gauge on my single wall pipe up about 16” from top, like to see around 300 for throwing cat, and keeping it between 275 when low and slow and 350 max when running hard.

pic of that side magnet area

 

Careful with those furniture sliders, your stove might blow away.

 

oldspark I typically keep my stove at 600* on hottest part; on mine that’s left side of top looking at it 3/4 of the way back.. Tom Morrissey owner of Woodstock asked my why I would not let stove out of 3rd gear!

 

I have used to thermometer on the top right next to exhaust/flue pipe. It seems to work well for us and has for the entire time we have had stove, ABSOLUTELY A WONDERFUL STOVE, Saves us lots of wood that is for sure

 

If the beast moves we are having a BIG earthquake!!

 

Gonna start ignoring the cat probe, giving it a little more air and running flue temp up to 350 (single wall) .
50 mph winds today (or more) the stove rumbled on a reload earlier today until i closed the bypass, secondarys were angry.
Thanks for all the info, house has been almost too warm until this storm from hell hit.
Bunch of roads closed in my area.

 

Do you remember that old song about the "little nash rambler" that was following me? Hey buddy, how do you get this thing out of second gear?

If you don't remember that old song then you might think I'm crazy, and you might be right.

 

Sure do Highbeam

 

When I started running our IS I had the cat probe installed. After a bit I determined that it was inaccurate since it would go off the chart if the stt got to around 600* which isn’t really pushing the stove. That lead me to believe it was inaccurate and irrelevant. I removed it shortly after that and haven’t worried about it since. The IS is a very forgiving stove that runs great in a multitude of different situations.