OPEL3 Owner's Manual
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RSF Woodburning Fireplaces
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
THE COMBUSTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Since the door is sealed, all combustion air must come through the OPEL3's draft control. This control has a
bimetal coil to allow more air when the unit is cold, and less air when the unit is hot, guarding against overheating.
It can be controlled either manually with the lever that is located on the right below the door, or automatically with
an optional electric wall thermostat.
For the first few days, it is best to operate the fireplace with the manual control fully open (moved to the right as
far as possible). Just control the fire as you would any normal fireplace, using one or two logs at a time for a
smaller fire, or more logs for more heat. Once you become familiar with operating the fireplace with the control
open, you can start experimenting with lower settings. Remember: when the fireplace is hot, the control will not
need as much movement to reduce the fire as when it is cold. The bimetal coil will already have shut the damper
part way.
OPTIONS
There are many different ways you can finish your OPEL3
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fireplace. You can choose to install louvers – with or
without the upper louver – louvers are available in various colors (black: FO-OPLB, gold: FO-OPLG, or pewter:
FO-OPLP) or no louvers at all (FO-F).
If you choose to install only the lower louver while bocking off the upper louver on your OPEL3 fireplace, you
MUST install two Gravity Vent Kits (FO-V). Gravity vent dampers may not be installed on an OPEL3 with a
blocked upper louver.
If you choose to install your OPEL3 fireplace without any louvers, you MUST install the Clean Face Option (FO-F)
along with two Gravity Vent Kits (FO-V). Gravity vent dampers may not be installed on a Clean Face OPEL3.
Furthermore, we recommand that you do not install any option requiring electricity or a thermal switch inside your
fireplace since it will be difficult to access those components after the fireplace facing is covered with non-
combustible materials. If you decide nevertheless to install electricity or a thermal switch in your Clean Face
Opel3, remember that you may eventually have to break through the non-combustible finishing to access the
electrical box or the thermal switch for servicing.
To simplify the installation of thin non-combustible materials such as ceramic tile or sliced brick, we have
designed a very versatile rock retainer kit. It is not designed or required for full brick or stone. With a Louvered
OPEL3, you can choose to leave all the black metal completely exposed, partially exposed or completely covered
with non-combustible material. Whether you have chosen a Louvered or Clean Face OPEL3, the FO-KP3 kit will
help you finish the facing of the fireplace as you wish. Thin materials can also be installed directly on the face of
the OPEL3 using high temperature silicone as glue, without a rock retainer kit.
For increased air circulation and marginally more heat output, you can add the Circulating Internal Blower (FO-
FDHB5-N) to your Louvered OPEL3 or the Inline Fan (FO-CIF) to your Clean Face OPEL3.
If you have any rooms directly above or adjacent to the room with the fireplace that you would like to heat, you
may want to consider the Gravity Vent Kit (FO-V). The gravity vent distributes hot air to these rooms and requires
no blower to assist its operation. With a Louvered OPEL3 (both louvers unblocked), you could consider installing
Dampers (FO-D) on your gravity vents. The dampers will enable you to choose between sending the heated air to
the gravity vent outlet or keeping it in the fireplace room.
For constant heat, day and night, you will be surprised by what the Thermostat Option (FO-FDHC4) can do for
you. This option provides you with the necessary parts to automatically control the draft control via a wall
thermostat. It will keep your room temperature as even as though you were heating with oil, gas or electricity,
except you will find wood heat more comfortable.
To maximize the distribution of the heat generated by your OPEL3 fireplace throughout many rooms and different
floors, consider the Central Heat Option. With our Central Heat Blower (FO-FDHB6-1), you can use the house
central heating ducts or dedicated ducts to circulate the fireplace heat to one or many rooms. The Central Heat
Control (FO-FDHC6) will enable automatic control of the Central Heat Blower via a wall thermostat and thermal
switch. The Zone Heat Control (FO-FDHCZ1) along with Zone Damper Kits (FO-FDHCZ2) will provide the same
features as the Central Heat Control but for more than one heating zone. If you wish to install the Central Heat
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You can also refer to the configured option list on page 21.
