More Ideal Steel Beta Testing

Right. All that stuff. P&H is the closest place to my house to grab food or gas. I'm due for a trip over there.

 

You are truly in Gods country. (not that a lot of folks out here aren't... but that spot you're in ranks right up there. ...amazing they have Internet there.. last I checked they didn't have dial telephones.)

 

They piggyback the telecom systems on the maple sap lines.

 

Except where there's still good barbed wire, then they go with that, ohms law and all...

 

Thanks OldHippie! I will most likely be going up that way sometime in June to pickup the IS when mine is done. I will enjoy the small side trip just on what you have told me so far.

 

If you have time, and it is a decent day (not raining hard or snowing) get on Rt4 west and cross the bridge into VT. Then follow the signs to Rt5N and take Rt5 up through Newbury and into Wells River.

The Connecticut River would be on your right, and the mountains on both sides and it's a gorgeous ride. In autumn it is a fabulous ride.

 

I try to kayak that route at least once a year.

 

It's very possible that I missed it in the other threads (haven't read the AS or facebook either) and I didn't see anything in the blog about it....what about the dedicated cat air? It's automatic, right? Does anyone know the mechanics of how this is accomplished, or if there's manual override?

 

I believe it's automatic.

 

Yes, automatic, with no manual override. There is a clear observation window on the back that allows you to see how far open it is.

I'm finally doing a lower burn (stovetop 450, flue probe 300, very slow secondaries), and the cat damper appears to be about half open. With our setup I can't easily see it, and I haven't spent much time watching how it responds to changing conditions.

 

It would be interesting to know. I wonder if it supplies more air at the beginning of the load, when there's lots to burn, and less at the end when the cat is slowing down? Less air at the end might cool the cat less, possibly allowing it to burn longer....or I may be full 'o crap again. Heh-heh.

 

One of the IS blogs:
http://blog.woodstove.com/2013/09/under-hood-4-catalyst-air-we-apply-old.html?m=0

 

I dont think the intention on the final models of the stove is to have the window in place. I could be wrong. The glass on my viewing window cracked moving it into the house so I could reach around back and feel if it was opened or closed. Generally it seemed like as the stove the was hot it was wide open. I think the design basically is that if you are at cat temp it will be providing air.

 

Any beta testers have shoulder season weather? I know there have been lots of comments about the potential for long shoulder season burns. I am curious if anyone is seeing some longer burn times.

 

I've been running 3-4 pieces at a time, 2 to 3 times per 24 hours. It a little tricky to get the cat up to temp but once it shuts down it stays warm for 10 hours. It's 35 degrees outside right now and I have the window open a couple inches.

 

Does this stove perform better loading north and south or east and west? Any difference in burn times? Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forum JA! I'm sure the Beta testers along with any forum searches, will answer your questions.

 

I generally find that N/S tends to burn down better. If I load E/W I tend to find that the one log at the very back bottom doesnt seem to burn as well.

 

Does anybody know what size firewood it holds? Can you load 18" or more North and south?

 

Expect right up to 18" N/S, but not over. You can fit slightly longer in, but I would plan on just under 18" as ideal for N/S.

We are burning E/W with 20" wood, and have no issues/complaints. When we are burning for higher heat, it will burn faster at the front since it gets the most air there. In these slower burns now, it burns quite evenly all the way around.