Vigilant II Is Just Humming Along!!!
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
Turbogeno, that all makes good sense. It's good that you know your stove is tight. The over fire snake manometer port is definitely an off season OCD project
An MPD will help keep heat in the Vig while the stove is warming and the flap is open wider than the cruising opening. Set to keep excessive draft lower than it might run naturally might slow how quickly it gets to temperature and closes the flap. Sounds like that's what you're after. Pea vs. nut will do the same. Pea slows the draft up thru the firebox load but not from the secondary air pathways. If you do the 2 probe, I'm real interested to see what your temperatures will be with the two thermometer readings - one before and after the MPD. A two channel Maverik BBQ thermometer might do the trick! I've measured -0.10 thru the "secondary air", crazy high but I'm happy with reload recovery time, especially with this year's coal (just a few minutes if that).
Prolly repeating the point, but the Vig system can't let any more air up the chimney than it can pull in to displace it. Though that's true with any stove, that displacement air must pass the thermostatically controlled air flap. An MPD works like putting a kink in a straw with a fire in the middle. The Vig's internal system works like that but with a variable funnel at the inlet end of the straw. The only way more air can get up the past the kink is thru the variable small opening of the funnel. The regulated air flap lets the sove combust faster until the stove is hot, then the flap closes. After the flap closes the heat is going to sit in the system until new air displaces it. Using an MPD or Baro with a thermostatically regulated combustion air supply has less effect than they would on a manual slide/screw combustion air control that can't adjust to stove temperature.
An MPD will help keep heat in the Vig while the stove is warming and the flap is open wider than the cruising opening. Set to keep excessive draft lower than it might run naturally might slow how quickly it gets to temperature and closes the flap. Sounds like that's what you're after. Pea vs. nut will do the same. Pea slows the draft up thru the firebox load but not from the secondary air pathways. If you do the 2 probe, I'm real interested to see what your temperatures will be with the two thermometer readings - one before and after the MPD. A two channel Maverik BBQ thermometer might do the trick! I've measured -0.10 thru the "secondary air", crazy high but I'm happy with reload recovery time, especially with this year's coal (just a few minutes if that).
Prolly repeating the point, but the Vig system can't let any more air up the chimney than it can pull in to displace it. Though that's true with any stove, that displacement air must pass the thermostatically controlled air flap. An MPD works like putting a kink in a straw with a fire in the middle. The Vig's internal system works like that but with a variable funnel at the inlet end of the straw. The only way more air can get up the past the kink is thru the variable small opening of the funnel. The regulated air flap lets the sove combust faster until the stove is hot, then the flap closes. After the flap closes the heat is going to sit in the system until new air displaces it. Using an MPD or Baro with a thermostatically regulated combustion air supply has less effect than they would on a manual slide/screw combustion air control that can't adjust to stove temperature.
- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
That is a good explanation of how stoves with the thermostatic controlled air intake work & why the mpd or baro is not needed on that type of stove.I don't have such a stove currently,but knowing this will influence future stove purchase,when that time comes.VigIIPeaBurner wrote:Turbogeno, that all makes good sense. It's good that you know your stove is tight. The over fire snake manometer port is definitely an off season OCD project
An MPD will help keep heat in the Vig while the stove is warming and the flap is open wider than the cruising opening. Set to keep excessive draft lower than it might run naturally might slow how quickly it gets to temperature and closes the flap. Sounds like that's what you're after. Pea vs. nut will do the same. Pea slows the draft up thru the firebox load but not from the secondary air pathways. If you do the 2 probe, I'm real interested to see what your temperatures will be with the two thermometer readings - one before and after the MPD. A two channel Maverik BBQ thermometer might do the trick! I've measured -0.10 thru the "secondary air", crazy high but I'm happy with reload recovery time, especially with this year's coal (just a few minutes if that).
Prolly repeating the point, but the Vig system can't let any more air up the chimney than it can pull in to displace it. Though that's true with any stove, that displacement air must pass the thermostatically controlled air flap. An MPD works like putting a kink in a straw with a fire in the middle. The Vig's internal system works like that but with a variable funnel at the inlet end of the straw. The only way more air can get up the past the kink is thru the variable small opening of the funnel. The regulated air flap lets the sove combust faster until the stove is hot, then the flap closes. After the flap closes the heat is going to sit in the system until new air displaces it. Using an MPD or Baro with a thermostatically regulated combustion air supply has less effect than they would on a manual slide/screw combustion air control that can't adjust to stove temperature.
I apparently got a batch of less than desirable coal when I split a ton with my son. My handling techniques didn't change, nothing changed except I let the fire go out during this last warm spell and cleaned the stove good. I lit back off as normal and set the air inlet flapper at normal.
Temps dropped back down the last two days and I readjusted the flapper to the position needed for OAT. I couldn't get the stove over 350F on the griddle. I had it almost wide open and still no change. Lots and lots and lots of ash gettting cleared twice a day where before it was once a day gave me the indication that something was amiss with the coal.
I got a small table fan and set it back about a foot and one half from the rear of the stove. I pointed it toward the air inlet to kinda give the stove a little forced draft through the flapper inlet.
Bingo it took off. Griddle temp went from 350 to 510 and it's putting out heat like it was before. I've got about 800 lbs of this coal to burn up. I may top it off with some stuff from another source and mix it good to use it up.
Temps dropped back down the last two days and I readjusted the flapper to the position needed for OAT. I couldn't get the stove over 350F on the griddle. I had it almost wide open and still no change. Lots and lots and lots of ash gettting cleared twice a day where before it was once a day gave me the indication that something was amiss with the coal.
I got a small table fan and set it back about a foot and one half from the rear of the stove. I pointed it toward the air inlet to kinda give the stove a little forced draft through the flapper inlet.
Bingo it took off. Griddle temp went from 350 to 510 and it's putting out heat like it was before. I've got about 800 lbs of this coal to burn up. I may top it off with some stuff from another source and mix it good to use it up.
- Rich W.
- Member
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 10:29 pm
- Location: Newport County, Rhode Island
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant Multi-Fuel (coal for me); Vermont Castings Vigilant 2310 in the shop
- Coal Size/Type: Nut
- Other Heating: System 2000 Oil Burner; VC Resolute Woodstove (sold) Jotul 8 Woodstove (sold)
Is it possible that during the clean out some ash blocked the inlet? Then it cleared when forced air (fan) was introduced? Just a thought...
Naw I don't think so. I cleaned all the passages really good. I even remember the ash inside the cleanouts was soft like talcum
I was a little suspect when we got the coal because it wasn't as bright and was a bit on the dirty side.
i am running 550 on the griddle and its 72 in the living room again with 14 oat
I was a little suspect when we got the coal because it wasn't as bright and was a bit on the dirty side.
i am running 550 on the griddle and its 72 in the living room again with 14 oat
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
The Great Blue Wall . . .
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- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
Vigll , VERY NICE, AWESOME pics.
- michaelanthony
- Member
- Posts: 4550
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 10:42 pm
- Location: millinocket,me.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant 2310, gold marc box stove
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Gold Marc Independence
- Baseburners & Antiques: Home Sparkle 12
- Coal Size/Type: 'nut
- Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace
That's sweet Dave, you got me wanting some pea size for those special moments. I get plenty of heat with the stove coal but it lacks the show.
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
I was doing some PT on the floor in front of the Vig tonight. Looked to my right and saw ...
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- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
Vigll, That was beautiful, but too short,i played it 2 times.
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
windyhill4.2 wrote:Vigll, That was beautiful, but too short,i played it 2 times.
- Rich W.
- Member
- Posts: 335
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 10:29 pm
- Location: Newport County, Rhode Island
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant Multi-Fuel (coal for me); Vermont Castings Vigilant 2310 in the shop
- Coal Size/Type: Nut
- Other Heating: System 2000 Oil Burner; VC Resolute Woodstove (sold) Jotul 8 Woodstove (sold)
To my Vigilant friends...
You made me such a believer that I decided to look for a 2310 to replace my 30 y.o. wood burning Resolute I'm my shop. As luck would have it I found a new, never fired Vigilant at a VC dealer in Maine, and brought it home last weekend. This weekend I fired it up for the first time, but just a small, cool fire to start. It is everything I was hoping for and more. Kind of ironic that my newest and best stove is not in the living room!, but rather in the shop! Another big thank you is in order to this community of coal burners.
You made me such a believer that I decided to look for a 2310 to replace my 30 y.o. wood burning Resolute I'm my shop. As luck would have it I found a new, never fired Vigilant at a VC dealer in Maine, and brought it home last weekend. This weekend I fired it up for the first time, but just a small, cool fire to start. It is everything I was hoping for and more. Kind of ironic that my newest and best stove is not in the living room!, but rather in the shop! Another big thank you is in order to this community of coal burners.
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- michaelanthony
- Member
- Posts: 4550
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 10:42 pm
- Location: millinocket,me.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant 2310, gold marc box stove
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Gold Marc Independence
- Baseburners & Antiques: Home Sparkle 12
- Coal Size/Type: 'nut
- Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace
That's awesome Rich W. I don't know if anyone has burned both models together in the same house, you could be the first. It will be great if you can post any differences. Did you move any furniture out to the shop yet?
MA
MA
- Turbogeno
- Member
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Thu. May. 15, 2014 6:58 pm
- Location: Lake George, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL Pocono
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: VC Vigilant II at home and a military surplus tent heater at camp
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite, Rice and Nut
- Other Heating: Oil hot water baseboard and DHW
Looks good and you may well have gotten the best deal ever on a new one. Mine's shut down for now but there's supposed to be some cold weather coming. I'm looking forward to seeing the blues in my living room again. The basement stoker is great but after 20+ years of stoves in the living room I miss it when it's not there putting out that heat.
With the wicked cold coming I decided to let my 3210 burn all the coal out so I could get a good cleanout. It's getting pretty ashed up. I didn't refill it last night and this morning I had a small glow about the size of an orange right in the center. Perfect!!! I keep 5-6 logs just in case something goes wrong. I put two on top of the glow and they immediately caught.
When they were burning good, I shook and shook and shook and and knifed and shook and got two and 1/4 ash pans out. The burning logs keep a good draft going and doesn't seem to care. As I get more ash out the better they burn. Now I'll let the logs burn down to coals and refill in layers with my combo of nut and pea for the cold cold weather coming.
This is an easy way to deash without losing your fire and doing a complete cleanout.
When they were burning good, I shook and shook and shook and and knifed and shook and got two and 1/4 ash pans out. The burning logs keep a good draft going and doesn't seem to care. As I get more ash out the better they burn. Now I'll let the logs burn down to coals and refill in layers with my combo of nut and pea for the cold cold weather coming.
This is an easy way to deash without losing your fire and doing a complete cleanout.