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 ex-
haust 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 radi-
ated 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 Cast-
ings 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.
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 haz-
ardous 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 ad-
dition, the heat produced during 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.
