Retrofit Hitzer Thermostat to Harman

rberq wrote:Capecoaler, I don't know what it means to "radius the holes", so I guess I won't, or if I do it will be by accident and I won't know I have done it. I think I will have enough airflow now, slightly more than 2 square inches. I did some crude measurements and estimates on my spin draft, and that's more intake area than I ever ran the stove at except for right after loading new coal. As you mentioned, I am curious to see whether the burn pattern and ash buildup change noticeably.

oliver, my brother volunteered to weld the air intake, but it didn't seem wise to do it in the living room with the lace curtains four feet away, and I didn't want to unhook everything to haul it out to the garage. If I decide to undo it, this will be easier.

Yes, I assumed because of the way you went about the add on of the thermostat, it was an "on the spot" install (no welding or torch). Again, NICE JOB!

Westy wrote:Looks good Bob, what was the price of the thermostat?

It was about $80 delivered for all the parts.

Alaska sells the whole thing as a kit for about the same, already set up for bolting on. I bought the Alaska first but sent it back due to what seemed like poor design. The intake door was heavy steel plate, and it rode on crude j-hook hinges. When I raised the door with the chain, then let it back down, often it would not drop into place properly and would leave a big gap at top or side.

Frankly, I am not impressed with the Hitzer quality either. The intake door shuts snugly on one side, but the opposite bottom corner leaves a gap. I haven't checked yet whether it's the door or the intake tube that is out of true. Hopefully it is the tube, and after the heating season is over I will take it off and have it planed by the machine shop.

If I were to do it again, like I said in a previous post, I think I would try parts from the Wonderwood 2931 or similar U.S. Stove model. They are perhaps half the price, and I remember my Wonderwood thermostat as being much lighter-weight parts and working extremely well.

Edit: My apologies to Hitzer. I must have been looking in bad light. When I get down close with a flashlight, I can see that the intake door is closing properly.

Update: The thermostat is working beautifully in this late Spring weather. It keeps a very even, low stove temperature without danger of putting out the fire. We are still having lots of days with temperatures in the 50's and 60's, and nights in the 30's and 40's. I set the thermostat so the stove surface temperature stays about 180 degrees; that seems to be about the minimum where it keeps a stable fire. It keeps the house between 70 and 75 round the clock without any attention. The last load of coal idled for 48 hours and I think it would have gone another 12 to 24.

Yea, I like the Hitzer intake controls. Glad to hear that it is working out well for you.