Blaze King thermostat

[Short timer]

Here is stat position on a cold stove. This is a bit more counter-clockwise than before, earlier this setting was exactly 3. Its no colder in the house now, so perhaps the spring has some break in?

Stat setting on a hot stove after its settled in for an overnighter. Flapper is completely closed.

This confuses me too. I've never seen someone operate these stoves like this. Cold stove, bypass is open and thermostat should be at 6oclock. When cat becomes active, flip bypass and leave thermostat at 6oclock for 20 minutes. Then slowly bring down thermostat in small increments to the lowest setting your setup will allow so you can reach your longest burn time for shoulder seasons.

Your pics and description almost make me think you're operating the thermostat backward. What I'm saying is my cold stove setting is like your hot stove setting and my hot stove setting is like your cold stove setting.

 

[CaseyForrest]

My cat has never stalled. Quite the opposite actually as it always operates well over 1600 until the load starts to peter out. I hadn’t read that it can take 30 days to break in a cat, so eventually it may start operating at more reasonable temps. This could be why my stat likes to trend more towards the closed side.

Most of these pics are a cold stove to demonstrate how much room is left on the dial between the flapper being closed and 12 on the dial. Normal operation has my dial between 4 and 5.

My only point of reference was the Princess and the stat had far more room for adjustment. That’s why this struck me as odd. Low on the Princess for me was around 2, on this king it’s between 4 and 5. The cat on the Princess never got this hot either, so maybe there is something there. I hadn’t considered the temp of the cats influence on the stat.

 

[CaseyForrest]

What started this journey was loading the stove for overnight, setting the stat between 2 and 3, and waking up to full pieces of unburnt wood in a cold stove. I pulled the cover to see where the flapper was based on dial setting. Closed at 2-3 on a cold stove is going to be closed with tension on a hot stove.

 

[bkvp]

When I first got my Princess, I could turn my stat down to the lowest setting and it would never stall. I’ve replaced the cat a couple times already and could never match the performance of that first cat. Now I’m in the range you’re operating at.

This sounds like a difference in the cat sensitivity between the two stoves to me. I too thought about it too much, even changed the thermostat like you did. Finally gave up and just run the stove in the range it lets me.

Where did you purchase the replacement combustors? There is a conception that all combustors are alike because they fit a particular stove. When we get ready to design a new model, we can get a dozen different samples from 2-3 different companies. They can all "fit" the opening, but each is different. Cells per square inch, precious metals used, % of palladium to platinum, application process & composition of the wash coat (carries the precious metals and creates surface area), substrate material (metal monolith, cordierite, mullite) and to amount of precious metals. Some applications are very surface oriented with the precious metals, others have more depth in their application.

With online selling, consumers may not realize the difference in performance until they try it. The federal law prohibits a manufacturer of the stove to suggest or recommend any other combustor other than the one it was certified with. This is done for a very good reason. EPA just hasn't made enforcement on resellers a priority.

 

[Short timer]

Where did you purchase the replacement combustors? There is a conception that all combustors are alike because they fit a particular stove. When we get ready to design a new model, we can get a dozen different samples from 2-3 different companies. They can all "fit" the opening, but each is different. Cells per square inch, precious metals used, % of palladium to platinum, application process & composition of the wash coat (carries the precious metals and creates surface area), substrate material (metal monolith, cordierite, mullite) and to amount of precious metals. Some applications are very surface oriented with the precious metals, others have more depth in their application.

With online selling, consumers may not realize the difference in performance until they try it. The federal law prohibits a manufacturer of the stove to suggest or recommend any other combustor other than the one it was certified with. This is done for a very good reason. EPA just hasn't made enforcement on resellers a priority.

Condar. I believe they are applied ceramics, what you use, correct?

I tried there steelcat too, the good one, not the deiselfoil but the durafoil? Diamond shaped openings.

 

[Short timer]

What started this journey was loading the stove for overnight, setting the stat between 2 and 3, and waking up to full pieces of unburnt wood in a cold stove. I pulled the cover to see where the flapper was based on dial setting. Closed at 2-3 on a cold stove is going to be closed with tension on a hot stove.

That means your cat stalled.

 

[CaseyForrest]

I disagree. The stat never opened up to maintain the stove temp. If the cat stalled the stove would have cooled and opened the stat. But since my stat is closed between 12 and 3, cold, it never opened to maintain stove temp.

 

[Short timer]

I disagree. The stat never opened up to maintain the stove temp. If the cat stalled the stove would have cooled and opened the stat. But since my stat is closed between 12 and 3, cold, it never opened to maintain stove temp.

I’m going to let Bkvp answer this, but your cat most definitely stalled at some point.

 

[bkvp]

Condar. I believe they are applied ceramics, what you use, correct?

I tried there steelcat too, the good one, not the deiselfoil but the durafoil? Diamond shaped openings.

No we do not use or endorse Condar. They have their processes that are not consistent with our combustors. And we have two suppliers currently, neither is Condar.

 

[Short timer]

No we do not use or endorse Condar. They have their processes that are not consistent with our combustors. And we have two suppliers currently, neither is Condar.

I never replaced my original one under warrant, I probably should and get one from you guys.

 

[bkvp]

I never replaced my original one under warrant, I probably should and get one from you guys.

If you have the original combustor and it failed from thermal shock or thermal degradation and was purchased after April 2012....you should! Remember, reduced efficacy is expected over time. Did your original combustor suffer thermal shock?

 

[Short timer]

If you have the original combustor and it failed from thermal shock or thermal degradation and was purchased after April 2012....you should! Remember, reduced efficacy is expected over time. Did your original combustor suffer thermal shock?

No, just wasn’t getting the same performance out of it.

It was just tired, did the vinegar bath and all that.

 

[Short timer]

I’d rather we focus on Casey’s issue if we can.

 

[bkvp]

No, just wasn’t getting the same performance out of it.

It was just tired, did the vinegar bath and all that.

While that would not be warrantied, I would be willing to get your combustor back for some testing. Can you tell me the years/amount of wood burned annually? Perhaps we can take this off line to not consume this thread? [email protected]

 

[CaseyForrest]

I’m going to let Bkvp answer this, but your cat most definitely stalled at some point.

I’d buy it stalling because the stat couldn’t open. But not an arbitrary stall. Not when it was above 1600 when I shut the lights off.

Clarification, here is what I found one morning.... eco fan had stopped and I could keep my hand on top of the stove. Embers are glowing because I always crack the door and walk away for a couple minutes to get any draft going that I can.....

 

[Short timer]

I’d buy it stalling because the stat couldn’t open. But not an arbitrary stall. Not when it was above 1600 when I shut the lights off.

Clarification, here is what I found one morning.... eco fan had stopped and I could keep my hand on top of the stove. Embers are glowing because I always crack the door and walk away for a couple minutes to get any draft going that I can.....

Yeah, I don’t know, especially since you’re already operating another Blaze King. Like I said I’m going to leave it to the VP of the company, @bkvp

 

[bkvp]

I’d buy it stalling because the stat couldn’t open. But not an arbitrary stall. Not when it was above 1600 when I shut the lights off.

Clarification, here is what I found one morning.... eco fan had stopped and I could keep my hand on top of the stove. Embers are glowing because I always crack the door and walk away for a couple minutes to get any draft going that I can.....

Until you cracked the door, there was no glow? Cat was inactive? What was thermostat orientation (referencing a clock). The reason I ask, you may not have sufficient draft to operate at the burn rate the stove was set. So, you have a tall chimney and dry wood, you still can only go so low and still maintain complete combustion and combustor activity.

 

[CaseyForrest]

Until you cracked the door, there was no glow? Cat was inactive? What was thermostat orientation (referencing a clock). The reason I ask, you may not have sufficient draft to operate at the burn rate the stove was set. So, you have a tall chimney and dry wood, you still can only go so low and still maintain complete combustion and combustor activity.

No glow. Cat was inactive. Stat was right around 2.

I’m inclined to agree that for this stove, I had the stat set too low. At 2, the flapper won’t open at all. Not even cold.

 

[bkvp]

Incidentally, all state, Federal testing and manufacturer test reports show little to no emissions of particulates in the tail end of the burn. 90%+ are produced within the first few hours of combustion. That is precisely why going "active" as soon as possible is desirable.

 

[Short timer]

Incidentally, all state, Federal testing and manufacturer test reports show little to no emissions of particulates in the tail end of the burn. 90%+ are produced within the first few hours of combustion. That is precisely why going "active" as soon as possible is desirable.

Isn’t there airflow into the stove with the flapper fully closed?