180-BX24.1 v1.00
May 27, 2020
Page 24
BX24.1
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
LIGHTING THE FIRE
NOTE: As you heat up the stove for the first time, the paint will go through a curing process and will give off
an odor. To minimize the inconvenience, burn the stove at a low temperature setting for several hours. It is
advisable to open a door or window until the odor dissipates. You may also notice a change in color as the
paint cures, this is normal and will appear uniform after subsequent firings.
1. DO NOT USE A GRATE. BUILD THE FIRE DIRECTLY ON THE BRICK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
STOVE.
2. Set the thermostat to
HIGH
(maximum) position and turn the fan(if fitted)
OFF
.
3.
Open both the loading door and the bypass door (bypass latch / rod pulled out using bypass handle).
4.
Place 10 balls of non-glossy paper towards the front of the bottom of the firebox then stack 20 pieces of
kindling on top of the paper in a crisscross fashion (leaving air gaps in between sticks).
5.
Light the fire and allow it to get a good start while leaving the loading door cracked open (approximately
3 to 5 minutes).
DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED.
6.
Once the kindling is fully on fire, place two or three medium size logs onto the fire. Keeping the loading
door unlatched, allow the logs to catch fire (approximately 5 minutes).
DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE
UNATTENDED.
7.
Once the logs are burning, latch the loading door shut
BUT
keep the bypass door open. Leaving the
loading door open after the fire is well started may cause premature failure of the catalytic combustor.
8.
When nearly all of the wood in the firebox is fully burning, finish loading the stove. Lay the wood as
far back in the stove as possible. Latch the loading door shut and observe the catalytic thermometer.
Once the needle is in the
ACTIVE ZONE
, close the bypass door (rotate the bypass handle backwards).
Turning the thermostat down to soon may cause the fire to go out.
9.
Let the fire burn, with the thermostat in a
HIGH
setting, for 20-30 minutes, or until the fire is well
established. At that point, turn the thermostat down to the desired setting. It is good burning practice
to burn the stove on
HIGH
for 20 to 30 minutes after every refuelling, this will help to condition the wood
load for optimum combustion. The temperature in the stove and the gases entering the combustor
must be raised to at least 500°(indicated by the thermometer needle in the
ACTIVE ZONE
) for catalytic
activity to be initiated. During the start-up of a cold stove, a high fire must be maintained for at least
20-30 minutes. This ensures that the stove, catalyst, and fuel are all stabilized at proper operating
temperatures. Even though it is possible for flue gas temperatures to reach 600° within 5 minutes of
a fire being started. If the fire is allowed to die down immediately (thermostat set to a
LOW
setting too
soon), it may go out or the combustor may stop working, indicated by the thermometer needle being in
the
INACTIVE ZONE
. Once the combustor starts working, heat generated in it, by burning the exhaust
smoke, will keep it working.
10.
The fan (if fitted) can be turned on when the stove is hot or after the initial warm up period of 20-30
minutes.
Probably the least understood requirement in maintaining a good fire is that of establishing a good base
of coals or embers. A good bed of hot coals or embers will maintain a more even temperature as well as
getting the new load of wood started easily. Put as much wood into the stove as needed, practice will teach
the amount of wood necessary to keep the fire going until the next reloading time. Don’t be afraid to fill it
completely if necessary. With the Blaze King automatic thermostat, the wood will only burn at the rate set on
the thermostat. Once the full load is established, the stove should be left to complete the full burn cycle. This
is evident by either a coal bed (ember bed) remaining or the catalyst’s thermometer hovers just inside the
active zone. This procedure will maximize the efficiency of the combustor as well as limit chimney emissions
and smoke spillage.