Hello wood burners, got a question for you about my Fireview and a probe type thermometer. I did some remodeling over the summer and moved my wood stove and in the process I misplaced my stove top thermometer that I used for reference to engage the cat. So I figured I would try the probe type thermometer that goes into the hole in the back of the stove. I have a couple questions though, for starters- Can someone give me the overall length of the probe? I know they make a few different lengths? The one listed on Woodstock's website does not give any dimensions. I understand it's designed for 3 different stoves they make but I've read a few places that the probe length is too short and doesn't quite reach the Cat? Someone also mentioned the longer probe length was not very accurate because it was too long and gave a cooler reading at the dial because of the long length. Anyone here using the probe thermometer from Woodstock on the Fireview 205, and is it a useful tool for measuring the heat for engaging the cat? I've gotten by with just the stove top thermometer for the last 6 years but if I can get something that would be a little more accurate that would be nice too. I'd rather not mess around with a thermocouple or anything like that, I would like to just keep it simple because this might be my last year burning wood. I might burn next year as well, but most likely going to pellets due to health issues. I will put a link to the thermometer below and would appreciate any help and advice. Thank you my friends! https://store.woodstove.com/product.php?productid=16684
Have you considered buying another thermometer from Woodstock? I’m curious about your proposed move to pellets for health reasons. I just made the opposite move for the same reason. We went to pellets about a decade ago because it fit our busy lifestyle better, but shortly after that I was no longer able to handle the bags of pellets and my wife had to do most of it and she really struggled with the bags as well. We’re both able to handle firewood much easier, and I spend a lot less time maintaining the Fireview than I did the pellet stove. Firewood does require more work overall, but I find it’s easier to spread out and handle at my pace. Pellets weren’t like that for us at all. Trying to recruit help to bring in a ton in midwinter wasn’t always easy. Wood comes in an armload at a time. And don’t think about stacking pellets outside where mice can get into them. Been there. And then there’s pellet supply issues. One year I was driving 10 miles one way every day to buy a couple bags because they were in such short supply. Many of the cheaper brands didn’t give enough heat in our stove. I could go on... I know this isn’t what you were expecting, but I wanted to share our experience. I know there’s a lot of happy pellet burners out there, but we’re not in that group lol. I wish we had known about Woodstock stoves before we bought the pellet stove. Pellets saved us a lot vs oil, so it wasn’t a bad investment, but I know I’ll spend much less on wood and have a more consistent, reliable supply. Just my 2 pennies...
I bought a cat probe 2 years ago and it lasted one month. Waste of money! You already know how to run the stove, stick with what you know...
I've had the same experience with cat probes. The heat they have to endure is just too hot for how they are built. I've gone through 2 on my Ideal steel. They are a nice indicator for a newbie to learn a stove but not worth messing with for how long they last. First one became inaccurate and failed. The second I ended up wedging, bending a breaking the probe tip off when engaging the sled on the IS. Gave up. Might go to a 4 channel digital readout and add a flue probe.
My cat probe looks virginal still. However I'm not burning hardwoods, and the probe never gets over 1200 degrees. I never look at the cat probe, but use the SST as guide to shutdown.
My reasoning is not only for myself but came down to more of what my wife can handle. I have not been given a very good outlook for the future, not that I plan on giving up but my health is not getting better. It's the chore of keeping ahead on the firewood and making sure to have a good supply of dry firewood. I do remember the pellet shortage, that's always a PIA to deal with as well! I was having second thought about converting to pellets the other night while I was sitting next to my nice warm fire, gazing at the flames. It's so nice, but stacking all the wood is a he strain on the body. My wife was in a really bad car accident 20 years ago and broke 14 bones, she pays for that now so I'm worried about how she would be able to handle that. I'll see how we feel about it at the end of the burning season and make a decision then, it will be very hard because I absolutely love my fireview! As far as the thermometer goes, I purchased a cat probe and the stovetop probe as well. My wife knows how to use the stovetop gauge so that will be familiar for her. I also bought the cat thermometer just out of curiosity. I can actually run this stove without any thermometers at all. So I bought both of them from Woodstock, should have them by next week sometime so I'll let you know how I make out with the CAT probe. Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate the input.
Yes, prayers for you and your family! Sorry to hear about all your challenges. Best of luck whatever you decide.
Thank you very much, it's not easy just living my daily life so It will be a very hard decision. I'll just enjoy my winter season with a nice warm house and make my decision next year. Thank you for all the kind words from everyone!
That may have been me posting about the WS cat probe. Even though it doesn't give a true cat temp, it monitors temp at the flue exit, and I just run it up to 900-1000, cut the air to hold there for 10-15 minutes, then close the bypass. Reliable light-off of the cat every time. I can't look at the front of the dial since it is enclosed in the fireplace. I can see it using a mirror, but I instead have a paper-clip marker at 1000 on the dial so I can see where the needle is in relation to that temp. On my rear-vent setup I also have a surface thermo lying on the tee snout, and could just as easily use that alone since it pretty much parallels the probe. If you wait for the stove top to hit 250, as they recommend, you'll be burning up more wood than you have to.
A Condar probe is all I use on my Buck 80 insert. It's their longest probe, I think 7.5". I spoke with the folks at Buck and Condor about the probe length and the both said to use the longest probe. I could not run my insert properly without it. There isn't any easy way for the use of any other type of thermometer. I do have a stove top thermometer but the only place to put it is the left front corner of the insert. It seldom reads over 300° That being said, I have no clue how accurate the probe is. I haven't trashed a catalyst from consistantly overfiring or underfiring, so, I suppose it's a pretty good guide. There have been a couple of times I've gotten the temps into the "too hot zone, over 1700°, at which point I opened the bypass to cool things off. The probe is not suppose to contact the catalyst but mine seems to come into contact with something, either the 'can' holding the cat or the cat it's self. I plan to check that the next time I shut the unit down for a day or two. (March?)
