It takes forever at high temps to turn on via the sensor. I seem to start to get good secondaries above 325-50. But the fan won't kick on via the sensor unless it has been 450+ for an hour. Is this kind of normal for stoves with a thermal sensor?
Yeah, it has a manual and auto switch so there is no problem there. Just would be nice if it engaged a little faster. I did a fullload burn last night for the first time and the fan didn't kick on in the warm up load and didn't kick on during the full
Have you got a way to adjust the temp it turns on at ? Maybe a dial setting ? Most turn on between 250 and 300 that I know of.
Here is our typical answer to this often asked question... All of our inserts and blowers are designed to complement each other. It is a matter of achieving the greatest amount of heat transfer from the unit. The key is to design the insert so air can move and extract the greatest amount of heat without cooling the firebox and hindering the efficiency of the unit. If the blower velocity were to be increased, it would give the impression that the unit heats more. However, it would actually blow cooler air and reduce the unit's efficiency. A hot firebox will burn better and cleaner. A slower but hotter air displacement is therefore always preferable. The same principle applies to the heat sensor available on many models. It is better for the heat sensor to activate the blower later, when the unit is very hot, rather than activating it too early and blow cooler air when the unit is still completing its start-up phase.
Not taking Mr. Fyrebugs word for gospel I removed the fan assembly and looked under the ash lip with a flashlight and lo and behold there was a 1/8" round weld spatter right where the sensor would contact the side of the stove. I knocked it down with a flat file and I just built a small hot fire and have been waiting and the fan just kicked on at 425 as the temp was rising. That is fully 100 degrees less than it was kicking on at and makes more sense to me than 525 for an hour sustained.
The weld spatter was holding the sensor away from the stove wall not allowing it to do its job properly.
