My Vigilant Has a Check Damper?

freetown fred wrote:Sounds like you're just down to the experimenting stage MA. Just throw a magnet thermo on that pipe, hell that's close enough in Freetown.

I do check it with one of those fancy thing-a-ma-jig IR thermo guns and the pipe does run real low at average burn, I'm just thinking for somethin' to spark some 'outside the box' conversation when I saw a recent post in another thread about the little fry pan shape cover on the left side of the Vigilant and realized it is Not a secondary air inlet for us coal burners, just getting to the bottom of things that's all.

franco b wrote:

michaelanthony wrote:The parts list for this model stove refers to this tear dropped shape air inlet as an "air control" and my understanding is now check damper
Your thoughts folks.

In the original wood burning Vigilant that was a secondary air inlet connected to a tube within the fire box to supply heated secondary air. In the coal stove it no longer does that and is vestigial; just left over from wood burning. I guess it was cheaper to use the original casting rather than make new patterns to eliminate it.

It could be used as a check damper but because the stove has a bi-metal air control I can't see the usefulness.

Franco is spot on. That is a secondary air inlet for giving additional air into the secondary combustion chamber of the stove aimed at promoting the gases to burn more completely when burning wood. For earlier models (I'm not sure what model you have) that were designed to run either wood or coal (one had to change internal components - nothing changed with that part though) when burning coal that didn't work as a check damper particularly - at least it didn't on my Resolute. It actually didn't do much of anything, although I used to feel I could get slightly hotter fires with it open. Certainly nothing of significance. Your own experimentation will show you how it affects your stoves performance... Don't expect much ...

dj

Like I said earlier, I'm not worried about the draft so much but the temp of the flue pipe.

Adding room temperature air to the flue gasses will cool down the flue pipe, but then you are also removing more air from the room that must be replaced by outside air...meanwhile your cooler flue pipe and chimney are emitting less radiant heat to the room. :bag:

I just want you guys to know I don't doubt any facts or thoughts...franco b is consistently correct and Rob R. is one of our stead fast factual dudes. Maybe this gizmo would be more beneficial during the warmer outside temps, either way just another tool in the box to play with.

michaelanthony wrote:I just want you guys to know I don't doubt any facts or thoughts...franco b is consistently correct and Rob R. is one of our stead fast factual dudes. Maybe this gizmo would be more beneficial during the warmer outside temps, either way just another tool in the box to play with.

Mike, I've played with the position of this leftover opening in the exterior casting for the same reasons you've mentioned. I didn't see any identifiable difference, open or closed, secondary/overfire air, or effect on stove pipe surface temperature measured 6' above my stove. In warm weather draft drops naturally, mitigating the need for a check valve at that time. I just leave it closed for the reasons above that Rob R mentions and the reasons in the last sentence below.

The first gen wood Defiant from VC had the identical opening and cover. I did make a difference in that stove but only under a narrow set of criteria. In low draft conditions, it would create problems if it was opened too far for conditions. The secondary air would act as a check valve and loose draft for a few minutes thus pulling oxygen into the firebox and causing a puff back. The puff back would repeat along with harmonic cadence and eventually set off the smoke detectors at 3 am I'd use it but it would only be open about a third of the way. With a coal fire in a Vigilant II model, I would be very concerned it could exasperate any back draft and potentially CO entering the living space.

Thanks Dave, I guess it's just a conversation piece...literally

Good question tho Mike. I learned a little from your thread.

michaelanthony wrote:Thanks Dave, I guess it's just a conversation piece...literally

Apparently another appendix ... ... truly vestigial

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:

michaelanthony wrote:Thanks Dave, I guess it's just a conversation piece...literally

Apparently another appendix ...

... truly vestigial

Nothiing but chuckles on that one...It even looks like an appendix