How Accurate is the Alaska Channing III Thermostat?

coalmiser · Post by **coalmiser** » Sun. Mar. 04, 2007 8:48 pm

I just bought a new Alaska stove and they sell a thermostat that plugs into the stoker module and a programmable thermostat can also be used. I was wondering if anyone had one and could tell me if the thermostat is accurate or does it over fire and underfire. Am I better without this? My dealer said that an aftermarket thermostat would void my warranty so I'm looking to buy an Alaska product.

Thanks

coalstoves · Post by **coalstoves** » Mon. Mar. 05, 2007 4:28 pm

I'm curious about this, what type did they try to sell you I'm thinking it would be the standard off/on type .
Seems they should be embracing the Coal-Troll,, although when I first heard about Coal-Trol I thought it was the greatest but now after getting more input as to what it does I'm not so sure its that revolutionary it turns the feed motor off and on as room temp calls for it like any wall mounted thermostat and uses a temp controlled electronic rheostat to govern the room air circulation motor. That’s about it unless I'm missing something .

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon. Mar. 05, 2007 5:38 pm

Coalmiser,

I'm running an Alaska Hearth with the optional factory thermostat. I set it at what looks like 74 degs. The thermometer in the programmable thermostat for the hibernating natural gas furnace falls to 69 and rises to 72 regardless of where I've set the low and high fire controls. So, its consistent, but has a three degree variation as it cycles from low fire to high fire. Works for me, but you obviously could run without it. Maybe just some time getting used to the cause and effect of the low and high fire settings and outside temps. Good luck with the new stove.

Tom

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Mon. Mar. 05, 2007 6:14 pm

If it is a standard 2 wire, 24VAC hookup, then any type of standard thermostat should work. Our keystoker came with a Honeywell Dial type (like a standard Gas Furnance) thermostat. I put a Digital Setback (LUX) type one on it and works fine. I can program it to heat up about 30 minutes before we get up in the morning and the downstairs warms up a few degrees and then it sets back a few degrees after we leave for work and back up later in the afternoon before we come home.

There will be a lag with any thermostat, by the time it calls for heat or drops below the setup and the stove catches up, there can be a 1-3 degree swing, then the stove gets cranking and satisfies the thermostat and usually overshoots a couple of degrees. The digital can be programmed for cycles per hour also.

but I think the CoalTrol system eliminates that lag and in its program actually anticipates the drop and starts stoking it so it gets hotter faster and then stops before the setpoint is reached and varies the blowers to compensate. (I think, Neil, correct me if I am wrong).

As soon as I get mine hooked up, I will know more about it.

jpen1 · Post by **jpen1** » Mon. Mar. 05, 2007 8:03 pm

Coalmiser,

I have an Alaska channing III with the thermostat option, which I purchased this fall. The thermostat option comes with a high fire/ low fire control which is run by a wall mounted thermostat. I don't use the thermostat that came with it, being thatI already had alow voltage honeywell round thermostat already on the wall from the pellet stove. As long as you set the heat anticipator fairly low you can get the stove to operate +/- 1.5 degrees of the set point, which is what I am getting. I bought my stove from Alaska's factory direct showroom and they also told me an aftermarket thermostat like the coal-trol would void my factory warranty. Also it made no sense for me to run an ether net cable when I already have a thermostat wire fished through the wall. I am happy with the way the thermostat performs and if you have any questions you can PM me.