Production Woodstock IS

This the dial face from the front. The top doesn't seem to affect it when it closes.

 

Is it just sitting on the hole?

 

I take it that the probe had to be cut to length as to adapt to the cat sled raising and lowering? If so, does the probe still work after being cut? On a side note, Condar makes a cat probe that is a cable attached to a digital readout. A cable entering the stove through the cat probe port in the front would be as attractive as Rosie O'Donnell.....

 

For now it is. I need to find a way to fasten it or keep it still with a magnet another way.

 

I never visited the digital route. I saw them on condars website but never really looked into them.
I would assume the probe will work, I had to take 2.5" off of it. Right now it goes over the cat 3/8" and is 1/2" above it.
If I had the probe any longer the rod on the sled assembly would have pushed it into the cat itself. I can see why WS never really got into having thermometers ready for the production models. I won't be able to see it work until mid way through wednesday, it's warm here until the next storm comes in then.

 

I do not know what Condar uses for their thermocouple probe wires and wire sheating but if it is high temperature, it might be possible to put the thermocouple into the stove without even using the hole provided in the front of the stove at all.

I am using bead thermocouples, very thin with high temperature insulation. They are literally threaded through the top of the fiberglass rope seal on the top / left of the stove and then run to the back of the stove (outside). One thermocouple goes into the firebox, and the other one enters a stainless steel tube used to hold it in place as the cat. probe. These lousy photos may help explain it:

 

Not sure I know what I'm about to say is gonna help 'cause I haven't verified the info. But here it is....

I'm looking at the idea of a compression fitting threading into the port. I believe (based on one of the posts) that the thread of the port is 1/4-20 UNC (Unified Coarse Threads. I also believe (based on internet research) that the metric equivalent for 1/4-20 UNC is M6 x 1.
So far I have found compression fittings that come with NPT threads (National Plumbing Thread) that are NOT compatable with UNC threads. I'm almost certain, a male compression fitting with NPT threads will NOT engage properly into the port with UNC threads. So, I'm searching for compression fittings that have UNC threads (american 1/4-20 or metric M6 x 1) that will be sized for the 3/16" OD of the Condar probe shaft.
Anyone.....? Bueller?.......Bueller?.....Anyone???

 

Base on what I saw of the Condar probe leads; I'm not certain how far up from the probe itself the leads will sustain the stove temps. Haven't had hands-on experience. But the probes you're using seem great for the application. Where'd ya get them leads from Brian?

 

1/4" NPT (National Pipe Thread) is much, much larger than 1/4". Also, 1/4" NPT has tapered threads while any SAE thread is straight. It is not likely you will find any compression fitting threaded in 1/4- 20.

Brian

 

They are custom made from Omega. Not overly expensive but not in the realm of a commercial cat. probe either: probably $30 each but they are 'raw' and end in sheathed wire (no fitting or connector). I had those made because they are thin (and not the thinnest available (!)) for this very application. The stainless steel tubing is just that- thin- walled, small diameter (0.090" as I remember) tubing bent to fit over the cat. and under the steel radiator. Because the entire tubing part is inside the stove, it can be mounted anywhere and does not need to align with the hole used.

I do not expect the one in the firebox to last all that long and will also sheath the next one in S.S. tubing if (when?) it quits. Part of using such a small thermocouple is that they are not very corrosion resistant or rugged.

Not sure what the Condar digital cat. probe uses for the actual probe so I do not know what the factory one can be replaced with. There are other, not overly expensive probe displays that can be purchased and used with a standard thermocouple if that is what someone wants to do. Unfortunately most of the inexpensive ones operate on battery rather than A/C power and I don't know how long the battery life would be.

Brian

 

Darrin,'
Does the stainless probe on the Condar disengage from the back of the bimetal mechanism?

 

The end that the dial is on is threaded, all the components but the face are threaded together.

 

That's an interesting solution there, going through the gasket instead of the Woodstock cat port. The Condar digital probe might also work in that situation and it has an AC adapter that costs $17.00. The problem is that with the digital probe costing $120.00, AC adapter $17.00, there is no guarantee that it will function suitably on the Ideal. I'm prolly gonna hold off until Woodstock comes up with something. The stove is proving remarkably easy to operate, I have a Condar probe in the double wall stove pipe and it's pretty easy to figure out when to engage the cat and when to disengage.

 

I'm gonna light the stove within the hour. I'll have some idea how well this new Catalyst thermo works then.

 

Inquiring minds want to know....

 

I started a small fire with three splits just to take the chill off. The catalyst therm on the left is showing 1200 deg and the surface mount to its right is around 360.

Flue temps were about 210.

 

So if I'm interpreting this correctly, your modified cat probe is working. This would be a welcome development.

 

I'd say so, at least for now anyways. Later tonight I'll set the IS up for an overnight burn. I'll take some more pics and post again with the news.

 

So....the probe "un-screws" from the body of the thermometer?
Did you "un-screw" the probe to bend it?
There are a couple-a acute bends to the probe in your pics to get around the carriage etc - easy enough to do? I guess..?

 

I didn't take it apart, I was very careful not to beat up the dial face. I used two sets of lineman pliers to work the bends. I would say it was easy enough for me but some others trying it might not be so lucky. The lineman pliers has the long flat surface for gripping a round piece of s/s.