16
Vermont Castings Vigilant
®
2000898
operation
The Vigilant Controls
The Thermostat lever
Adjust the thermostat lever to control the heat level. Move
the thermostat lever to the left to make the fire burn hotter.
Move it to the right for less heat.
The thermostat regulates the heat level when the stove
is operating by controlling the amount of combustion air
entering the stove. The heat level is based on the setting
of the thermostat lever and the strength of your chimney’s
draft. (Refer to Page 4 for more information on draft.)
ST697
Damper controls
8/8/01 djt
Rear View
Less Heat
More Heat
Thermostat Lever
Thermostat
Air Inlet Flap
Air Inlet
ST697
Fig. 22
The components that regulate incoming air.
The Damper
Use the internal damper to control the direction of exhaust
flow within the stove.
When the damper is open, smoke goes directly to the
chimney. The resulting heat warms the chimney and helps
develop and maintain the strongest draft.
When the damper is closed, smoke —and heat— is held
in the stove longer. This results in more heat radiated into
the room and less heat going up the chimney.
The Vigilant II Coal Stove may be set for a long burn with the
damper either open or closed. However, some chimneys
may require the extra heat provided when the damper is
open for best operation.
The thermostat lever will continue to control the amount
of combustion air entering the stove to ensure a steady
heat output.
Fuel
High quality fuel gives best results
Pea or nut-sized coal, either anthracite or bituminous, may
be burned. Anthracite coal that has a low ash content will
provide more heat with less ash than most other types of
coal. Your fuel dealer may be able to provide you with
information about the ash content of the coal he sells.
The Vigilant II Coal Stove is designed to burn anthracite
(hard coal) or bituminous coal (soft coal). Do not burn
other fuels. As shipped from the factory it is set up to burn
bituminous coal.
If you wish to burn anthracite, call your Vermont Castings
Authorized Dealer, and request that your stove be modified
to burn anthracite. The dealer will make the modification
and attach a label to the top of the ash door stating that the
stove has been modified to burn anthracite, and warning
against burning bituminous coal in the modified stove. If
your stove has the label attached to the top of the ash door,
it has already been modified. Refer to Page 26.
Do not burn bituminous coal in a stove which has been
modified to burn anthracite.
Burning bituminous coal in
a stove which has been modified to burn anthracite could
cause very high temperatures and create a hazardous
condition.
Coal should be stored under cover to maintain dryness.
Even for short term storage, keep coal a safe distance from
the heater and keep containers of coal out of the areas
around the heater used for refueling and ash removal.
Starting a Coal Fire
The most important step to a successful coal fire is to build
a thick bed of hardwood or charcoal briquette coals on the
grates. Coal requires a high ignition temperature compared
to wood, and a concentrated ember bed is necessary to
get a coal fire going. In addition, the heat produced dur-
ing this step is necessary to warm the flue and establish
a strong draft.
Follow this procedure to start a coal fire:
1. Cover the grates with crumpled newspaper. Add a
layer of short, finger-sized kindling wood, preferably
hardwood.
NoTe:
Do not build the fire close to the
glass. Open the damper, close the griddle, and move
the thermostat lever to the left.
2. Light the paper, and once the kindling is burning briskly,
add a layer of larger wood or untreated charcoal.
3. Continue building up the fire until there is a thick bed of
hot embers on the grates.
