Pioneer Operating Temp

I have a Pioneer with an 8" duct top. When the feeder is running near max the temp of the stove gets to about 550-600 degrees. I'm afraid that I'm overfiring the stove. What temps are you guys getting when the stove is near full feed?

At first, I thought the problem was that my duct fan was not pulling the heat off the stove quick eneogh (425cfm fan). Even though an 8" duct is fairly small the inlet for the blower can't be bigger than a 4x4 area so that would seem to limit air flow more than the duct size (thought to self...wonder if that hole can be increased in size??).

So for a test I let the stove cool down, I reconnected the blower on the stove and capped the duct top and let the blower blow the air out like normal. Temps climbed right back up.

Thoughts?

-Tim

Hi Tim,
I wouldn't worry to much about over heating the stove. I think that I would put a inline duct fan in your 8" run, just to move the air better. You must have a good quality coal, to get that kind of temps. We have tested the Pioneer to 725*
Jerry LLS

Thanks for the quick reply. I do have an 8" inline fan in the duct. I won't worry about the temps if 700+ has been tested.

Two quick questions though,
1. would recommend taking the blower off when using a duct fan.
2. Should I keep the "V-shaped" air deflector in the top so that air is sucked up the back or take it out so it can be sucked from both the front and possibly the back (if there's enough suction).

Thanks for the quick response....one of the reasons we went with LL.

-Tim

Tim,
If your using a duct fan, then I would remove the fan in the back of the unit. Plug the duct fan into the coal-trol so it regulates your heat. I would remove the V if your using the duct fan only, but I would try and close off the front opening. Make sure you have a high temp duct fan.
Jerry