Vermont Castings Intrepid II Installation & Operating Manual page 23

Burn Only High-Quality Wood:
The Intrepid II is designed to burn natural wood only; do not
burn fuels other than that for which it was designed.
IMPORTANT: Do not burn any type of artificial or
synthetic materials such as fire starter logs (containing
wax) in this appliance. Never burn liquid-based fuels
such as kerosene, gasoline or alcohol.
Burning any materials not allowed in these instructions,
or over-firing the stove, may void the warranty.
You'll enjoy the best results when burning wood that has been
adequately air-dried. A void burning "green" wood that has not
been properly seasoned. The wood should be 16" (410 mm)
in length. Do not burn construction materials; they often
contain chemicals and metals that can damage the catalytic
combustor or pollute the air. Do not burn ocean driftwood;
when it burns, the salt it absorbs will attack the cast iron.
The best hardwood fuels include oak, maple, beech, ash,
and hickory that has been split, stacked, and air-dried outside
under cover for at least one year.
For areas that do not have a supply of hardwood, commonly
burned softwoods include tamarack, yellow pine, white pine,
Eastern red cedar, fir, and redwood. These too should be
properly dried.
Store firewood under cover to keep it dry. Dry, well-seasoned
wood is best for heating and fire-viewing. However, avoid
wood dried more than two years. This wood burns very
quickly, reducing burn time.
Even for short-term storage, keep wood a safe distance from
the heater and keep it out of the areas around the heater
used for refueling and ash removal.
A Surface Thermometer is a Valuable Guide to Operation
An optional surface thermometer tells you when to adjust
the air control, when to refuel, and helps to tell when your
catalyst is operating properly.
For example, when the thermometer registers at least 450°F
(230°C) after start-up you know the stove is hot enough to
begin catalytic combustion and it may be time to close the
damper.
Place the thermometer in the center of the griddle, as in
Figure 38, and use the following temperature ranges as a
guide to operation:
Figure 38 - Take temperature readings with a thermometer located
in the middle of the griddle.
23 Vermont Castings • Intrepid II Installation & Operating Manual_R48 • 11/17
When thermometer readings drop below 350°F (175°C)
it's time to adjust the air control for a higher burn rate or to
reload the stove.
• A temperature reading over 650°F (340°C) is a sign to
reduce the air supply to slow the burn rate.
• Readings in the 300-400°F (150-200°C) range indicate
low to medium heat output.
• Readings of 500-650°F (260-340°C) indicate high heat
output. Operating your Intrepid II continuously at griddle
temperatures higher than 650°F (340°C) or higher may
damage inner parts or the enamel finish.
Temperature Probe:
Your stove is equipped with a temperature probe which
shows the operating range of the catalytic combustor. This
is located on the back of the stove and is viewed from the
top. If the probe indicator is below the operate catalyst
range, add fuel or open the bypass damper too allow the
fire to build. Closing the bypass damper should then result
in an increase in catalyst temperature to within the operate
catalyst range.
If the probe indicator is above the operate catalyst range, the
catalytic combustor is running to hot and may be damaged.
In many cases, increasing the primary air can reduce the
catalyst temperature and adding less wood with each loading
can also help if overheating is persistent. Overly dry wood
can also cause overheating of the catalyst element. Do not
add wood to the stove if the probe reads above the operate
catalyst range.
Use the Air Control Settings that Work Best for You:
No single air control setting will fit every situation. Settings
will differ depending on the quality of the fuel, the amount of
heat desired, and how long you wish the fire to burn.
The control setting also depends on your particular installation's
"draft," or the force that moves air from the stove up through
the chimney. Draft is affected by such things as the length,
type, and location of the chimney, local geography, nearby
obstructions, and other factors.
Too much draft may cause excessive temperatures in the
Intrepid II, and could even damage the combustor. On the
other hand, too little draft can cause back puffing into the
room and/or the "plugging" of the chimney or combustor.
How do you know if your draft is excessively high or low?
Symptoms of too much draft include an uncontrollable burn
or a glowing-red stove part. A sign of inadequate draft is
smoke leaking into the room through the stove or chimney
connector joints, low heat, and dirty glass.
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