DROLET DB04800 Outback Chef Wood Burning Cookstove Owner’s Manual

: October 27, 2023
: Drolet

Operation Manual

OUTBACK CHEF WOOD BURNING

COOKSTOVE

(DB04800 Model)

DROLET DB04800 Cookstove Security test made according to regulations ULC S627 and UL 1482 by an accredited laboratory.

READ AND KEEP THIS MANUAL FOR REFERENCE

Printed in Canada

45887_OA
2022-01-24

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GENERAL INFORMATION

APPLIANCE PERFORMANCES

Cooking Stove General Features

If the cooking stove is not properly installed, it could result in a fire, body injuries or even death. To reduce the risks, follow the installation instructions. Contact your municipal building department or the municipal fire department to know the installation and inspection requirements and restrictions in your area.

Read the whole manual before using your new cooking stove. It is important to follow the installation guidelines completely.

You may have to get a permit for the installation for the cooking stove and for the chimney to which it is connected. Communicate with the municipal building department or the municipal fire department before the installation to see if such permit is needed. We also recommend that you ask your house insurance company if that installation will have an impact on your insurance policy.

BURNING HOT WHEN IN USE. KEEP CHILDREN AWAY, AS WELL AS CLOTHING AND FURNITURE.

Any skin contact can cause burns. Gloves may be needed to heat the cooking stove and to manipulate the bypass rod.

Do not use the cooking stove if the window or the vermiculite panels are cracked or broken. That could be dangerous and damage the cooking stove.

Completely open the air intake before opening the combustion chamber’s door.

The cooking stove is not designed to be used when the doors are open. Open the door only to start up or to reload the kitchen stove.

Don’t leave unattended when the door is slightly open for startups. Always close the door after ignition.

DO NOT USE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS SUCH AS GASOLINE, NAPHTHA, FUEL OIL, ENGINE OIL, KEROSENE, CHARCOAL LIGHTER FUEL, SIMILAR LIQUIDS, OR AEROSOLS TO START, REVIVE OR NEAR THE FIRE.

Do not keep the fuel closer than the minimum clearances of the cooking stove. When the cooking stove is ignited, the secondary air handle becomes very hot. Only burn dry wood cord.

Do not raise the fire by placing a grate in the combustion chamber.

The cooking stove must be used and maintained according to these instructions.

This cooking stove is designed only for cooking. Any other use that could result in injury or damages is prohibited.

Do not use the cooking stove as an incinerator for domestic trash.

To open the combustion chamber’s door and the oven door, use the tools included with the appliance.

Do not obstruct the openings to allow combustion air to enter or heat out on the sides of the cooking stove.

Using components from other appliances, or modify the actual components of the cooking stove is prohibited and will void the warranty. Any modifications of the cooking stove that did not receive a written authorization by the homologation authority or by the manufacturer is prohibited and violates the standards CSA B365 (Canada) and NFPA 211 (USA).

Do not use the cooking stove as stairs or any other support structure.

SBI doesn’t assume any warranty, implicit or explicit, related to the wrong installation or to the lack of maintenance of the appliance and doesn’t assume any responsibility for any damage that would result from these.

Contact an authorized dealer to obtain a replacement part. Never use substitution materials. The use of unapproved parts can result in bad performances and risks for your security.

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COMPONENTS LOCATION

DB04800 - COMPONENTS LOCATION

Cast iron rings
Handrail
Hotplate
Plate contour
Secondary air
Combustion chamber’s door
Ash door access
Primary air
Oven door
Accessories
Smoke bypass rod

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COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION

Ash Drawer

The ash drawer is located under the cooking stove, behind the ash door.To avoid the accumulation of cold ashes in the combustion chamber, pull and push on the ashtray knob. The ashes will fall into the drawer. The cooking stove will then always be ready to receive a new load of wood and the primary air will flow correctly in the cooking stove.

The ash drawer must always be in place and the access door must be kept close at all time when the cooking stove is ignited.

It is recommended that the ash drawer be emptied every day or with every use of the cooking stove. Use the glove included with the cooking stove to open the ash door and manipulate the ash drawer. After each emptying, put the drawer back in place. Not doing so could be very dangerous especially if the cooking stove is ignited.

The use of a personal, central, or commercial vacuum cleaner to clean up your cooking stove is not recommended. Ash particles can damage the vacuum engine. Furthermore, hot ashes could ignite the content of your vacuum. The use of a vacuum for ashes is highly recommended.

DB04800 - Ash Drawer

Ashtray Knob
Ash drawer

Bypass Rod

The bypass rod can be found above the oven door. It is used to improve the efficiency of the cooking stove, in the startup stage and, also to heat up the cooking stove. The adjustment can be made by pushing or pulling the rod. When the bypass rod is in the open position, the smoke escapes directly into the chimney, which improuve draft during ignition

Open Closed

Primary Air Adjustment

You can adjust the primary airflow by turning the knob located on the ashes access door. This operation will influence the intensity of the combustion.

MIN = Minimum intensity of combustion

MAX = Maximum intensity of combustion

DB04800 - Primary Air Adjustment

primary air flow knob

Hotplate

Do not overheat the plate.

The hotplate is designed for simple and quick cooking. The hottest part of the plate is located on the cast iron rings. Therefore, it is the ideal place to quickly heat up a pan. The parts outside of the plate are ideal to keep the food warm.

For good cooking on the plate, it is necessary to use flat bottom, heat resistant, pans.

When cooking on the hotplate, it is possible to reduce the discomfort due to the heat coming from the combustion chamber by installing the protection plate, included with the cookstove, outside the door of the combustion chamber.

Accessory Drawer

The accessory drawer is located in the lower righthand portion of the appliance. This space is dedicated to store the tools necessary for the functioning of the cooking stove.

It is prohibited to put or store: alcohol, gasoline, liquid fuel, flammable materials, ashes, paper and wood in the accessory drawer.

Warming Drawer

The cooking stove has a warming drawer located under the oven. To access it, open the accessory drawer located under the oven.

DB04800 - Warming Drawer

Accessory drawer
Warmer drawer

Oven

The kitchen stove has a stainless steel oven for cooking and baking. The oven panoramic window allows you to see the cooking or baking without having to open the door. The door’s integrated thermometer simplifies the reading of the oven temperature. The temperature indicated by the thermometer is only used as a reference for cooking and baking.

Before starting cooking, the stove must operate at an optimal regime (see combustion regime section) and the bypass valve must have been closed for at least 60 minutes.

The fire must be fuelled with small/medium wood logs to bring the oven to the desired temperature.

When the cooking temperature has been reached, add less wood to maintain a constant temperature in the oven. After half of the cooking time, turn the pan to obtain an even and optimal cooking result.

During cooking, keep the oven door close to keep a constant temperature.

DB04800 - Oven

Thermometer
Pan

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OPERATION

Before the First Use

The plate has been treated with a lubricant to prevent rust and oxidation. Therefore, it is important to clean it before the first use.

First Fires

Never use alcohol, gasoline, or any other liquid fuel.

The cover must always be up when the cooking stove is operating. Bring down the cover only when the cooking stove is cold.

Before ignition, check to make sure the chimney is clean and clear. Check for the good operations of all the devices related to the cooking stove.

The use of the cooking stove with cracked or broken components, such as the window or the baffle, could cause dangerous situations and could damage the cooking stove.

The doors must remain closed and locked during the operation. The access panel for the ash drawer must also be closed during the operation.

The startup of the cooking stove must be done only when all the installation steps for the cooking stove and the chimney have been completed.

During the first fires, your cooking stove will give off an unpleasant smell along with a light smoke. This has to do with the hardening of the paint process. The paint heats up, hardens, and adheres to metal. The smell and the smoke will disappear when the cooking stove has been heated for several hours. Increase the fire intensity gradually. Open a window. Get out of the room if needed. Even though the smoke and the smell are unpleasant, they are nontoxic.

Loading

Do not load the wood through the cast iron rings.

The cooking stove must be loaded manually while functioning.

Load with combustible when the flame is minimum to avoid combustion gas to exit when the combustion chamber’s door opens.

To add combustible, it is necessary to open the combustion chamber’s door. Load with wood and close the door.

During this operation, always use the tools provided with the appliance.

Combustible

This cooking stove is designed and approved for wood burning only. The use of any other type of combustible will void your warranty.

Hardwood cut 25 to 30 cm (12 to 15 inches) such as oak, maple and ash is recommended.

To obtain a perfect combustion, it is necessary to keep combustible in a dry and cool area.

Startup Without Embers

If the cooking stove is lit during a very cold day, it will be necessary to preheat the chimney.

Put an ignition cube or a small quantity of paper. Add small pieces of wood on the ignition cube.

Ignite the paper or the ignition cube and open the air inlets and the bypass rod to the maximum. Close the combustion chamber’s door.

When the fire slows down, add bigger pieces of wood. Restart this operation until it reaches a maximum loading interval of 60 minutes and a maximum load of 27 kg/ h (60 pounds/h). When the desired temperature is reached, see the “combustion regime” section for the opening of the air inlets.

Startup With Embers

When loading without fire but only with good embers proceed this way:

With the poker, bring the embers to the center of the combustion chamber.

Completely open the primary and secondary air.

The bypass rod should be closed.

Wait for the necessary time until a regular fire starts. Load a few small pieces of wood and let the flame take over.

Put the primary and secondary air as well as the bypass valve in the position for combustion regime, as indicated in the section “combustion regime”.

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COMBUSTION REGIME

To get a good compromise between the obtained heat and the wood consumption, it is recommended to adjust the fire intensity using the primary air, the secondary air and the smoke bypass valve.

The following air command positions are based on an already ignited appliance and are for information purposes only.

ADJUSTMENT

| POSITION
---|---
Primary air |

Closed

Secondary air

| Open
Bypass valve |

Closed

PRIMARY AIR

| |

Closed

| Half open | Open

SECONDARY AIR

| |
Closed | Half open |

Open

BYPASS VALVE

|

Open

|

Closed

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COOKING STOVE MAINTENANCE

Before each cleaning operation, the cooking stove must be at room temperature.

Combustion Chamber

The cooking stove cleaning frequency depends on the type and quality of combustible used. A high humidity rate, ashes, soot, or chemical components in the wood could increase the number of cleaning necessary. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the combustible used.

Combustion chamber cleaning: To get the maximum performance from the cooking stove, it must be cleaned every day.

Grate cleaning : Empty combustion residues (be careful with the hot embers), open up the holes in the bottom of the grate and empty the ash drawer.

The ashes must be stored in a metallic container with a waterproof lid. This closed container should be put on a noncombustible surface, away from any flammable material. If the ashes are meant to be buried or locally dispersed, they should be kept in a closed container until they are completely cold.

Window Maintenance

Clean the door window as needed. The use of a cleaner especially designed for solid combustible heating appliances is recommended. A regular window cleaner won’t remove soot and creosote.

Never use an abrasive cleaner on the window. Do not clean the window when it’s hot. Do not force, hit, slam, or do anything that could weaken the glass door. Do not use the cooking stove if the window is missing, cracked, or broken.

Cleaning of the Exterior

Steel-cast iron part: Use a cloth and a product specifically designed to clean cast iron.

Glass-ceramic part: Use a sponge and a product specifically designed to clean heating appliances windows then go over again with a dry cloth.

Varnished part: Use a cloth with a little neutral soap, then go over again with a damp cloth.

Cleaning of the top cooking plate: The stove cooking surface is cast iron. The use of it will change its colour. This is not a materiel defect but a chemical and physical process due to the continuous heating of the plate at high temperature. To clean the central part, use a damp cloth and a mild detergent. Once it has been cleaned and dried up, it must be kept slightly greasy with cooking oil.

Plated surfaces: : Do not use abrasive cleaners. To maintain its original gloss, only use a soft damp cloth.

Cleaning Under the Hotplate

DB04800 - Cleaning Under the Hotplate

1. Remove the cast iron rings (A)
2. Remove the hotplate by lifting it upwards (B).
3. You will have access to all the combustion chamber parts for cleaning.
4. Remove the combustion residues with the necessary tools (poker, brush, shovel, etc.) These are not included with the cooking stove.
5. When all the cleaning process is done, put the hotplate back in place.

Cleaning Under the Oven Plate

DB04800 - Cleaning Under the Oven Plate

1. Open the oven door and remove the base plate by uplifting it toward you. You will access all the components for the smoke pipe. Remove all the combustion residues with the necessary tools (poker, brush, shovel, etc.) These are not included with the cooking stove.
2. When all the cleaning process is done, put the plate back in place.
3. Pay attention to the positioning of the folded part upwards.

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COMPONENTS REPLACEMENTS

Replacing Door Gasket

DB04800 - Replacing Door Gasket 1

To maintain optimal performance, the door should always be perfectly sealed with the combustion chamber. The gasket must be inspected periodically to get a tight seal.

With time, the door gasket will compress and harden which will allow air to infiltrate. You can test the condition of the gasket by closing and locking the door on a piece of paper. Check the periphery of the door. If the paper slides easily at any place around the door, it is time to change the gasket.
Use the right gasket that you will find at the dealer. The right diameter and density of the gasket are important so that the seal is tight.

Put the door facing down on a soft surface such as a cloth or a carpet. Remove the gasket and use a screwdriver to scrape the old adhesive. Apply ½ inch (12 mm) high temperature sealant in the groove of the gasket. Push the gasket into the groove. Do not stretch the gasket while installing. Keep approximately ½ inch longer when cutting and then push it into the groove. Push away the exceeding fibres under the gasket. Close the door and do not use the cooking stove for 24 hours.

DB04800 - Replacing Door Gasket 2

Replacing the Window Gasket

DB04800 - Replacing the Window Gasket 1

It is a good idea to replace the window gasket at the same time as the door gasket. The gasket is flat and made with braided fiber glass. Remove the screws (E) and the window frames (C) and (D) that hold the window to the door frame (A). Remove the window (B) and the old gasket (F).

It is a good time to thoroughly clean the window!

Follow the same steps to replace a broken window.

Watch out for cuts: Always wear appropriate gloves when handling broken glass.

DB04800 - Replacing the Window Gasket 2

Do not weaken the door by hitting or slamming it. Do not use the cooking stove if the window is missing, cracked, or broken.

Replacing a Broken Door Window

Delicately remove the broken pieces from the door frame. Discard the window scraps correctly.

A broken window must be replaced by an identical window (ceramic glass). Refer to the replacement components section.

Always wear gloves when handling broken glass.

Warning: the replacement window should only be bought at an authorized dealer, see section “component replacement”. Regular or heat tempered glass is not adapted for the high temperatures of the cooking stove.

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MAINTENANCE

Chimney Sweeping

Chimney sweeping can be difficult and dangerous. If you don’t have any experience sweeping chimneys, you may want to hire a professional sweeper to inspect and clean your system the first time. After seeing how the sweeping is done, you will know if it is a job you can do yourself.

The most commonly used equipment includes fiberglass rods with threaded connections and plastic brushes. The brush is forcibly moved from top to bottom of the chimney to remove the creosote by rubbing.

The chimney connector and its components should always be cleaned at the same time as the chimney.

Cleaning Frequency

It is impossible to predict how long it will take or how much creosote will form in your chimney. Consequently, it is important to check monthly if there are deposits in your chimney until you get used to your new cooking stove or until you know the creosote rate formation. Even if the creosote forms slowly in your system, the chimney should be inspected and cleaned annually.

It is recommended to clean the chimney system at the end of each heating season. During summer, the air is more humid and with minimum air circulation in the appliance, creosote and/or the soot left in the pipes can produce an acid that will accelerate the corrosion process of steel and may perforate it prematurely. Consequently, this will not be covered by the warranty. Have the chimney system cleaned by a professional sweeper.

Contact your municipal or state fire department to get information on how to take care of a chimney fire. Have an emergency plan in place if a chimney fire would occur.

Why Sweep the Chimney?

Wood smoke can condense inside the chimney and the chimney connector, forming a flammable deposit called creosote. If the creosote builds up in the evacuation system, it can inflame when the fire is very hot. An extremely hot fire can progress to the extremity of the fire. Severe chimney fires can damage even the best chimneys.

Smouldering fires can quickly cause a thick layer of creosote. When those are avoided, the gases coming out of the chimney are almost transparent. Creosote is therefore formed more slowly. Your new cooking stove has the necessary characteristics to help you make clean fires producing little or no smoke. Therefore, less creosote will accumulate in the chimney.

Creosote – Formation and Elimination Necessity

When the wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapours. When combined with the moisture expelled, it forms creosote. Creosote vapours condense in a relatively cold chimney from a small fire. Consequently, creosote residue accumulates in the chimney. During ignition, creosote creates an extremely hot fire.

The chimney must be inspected at least twice a year during the heating season to determine when a creosote accumulation occurred. When the creosote has accumulated, it must be removed to reduce the risk of chimney fire.

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TROUBLESHOOTING

PROBLEM

| POSSIBLE CAUSES |

SOLUTION

---|---|---
Oven window and / or combustion chamber’s window blackening. |

Draft too low < 10 Pa
Bad air regulations
Too much combustible in the cooking stove.
Wood with a high rate of relative humidity > 20-25%
Unregulated combustion.

|

Check that all the pipes are clean.
Modify the chimney: increase the height or check surrondings.
See section (combustion regime).
Reduce the quantity of combustible in the combustion chamber.
Dry the wood longer.

Irregular draw. |

Inadequate or dirty chimney.
Dirt in the combustion chamber or in the cooking stove.

|

Sweep the chimney or have it clean by a professional.
Clean the cooking stove. (see section maintenance and cleaning) __

Black smoke leak outside the cooking stove. |

Ignition with green wood.
Smoke pipe obstructed.

|

Ignite the cooking stove with suitable combustible (see section combustible).
Ask for professional qualified assistance.

Smoke coming out of the cooking stove. |

Combustion chamber’s door open while the cooking stove is heating.
Insufficient draw < 10 Pa
Bad adjustments of the air inlets during startup.
The cooking stove must be cleaned.

|

Check the door closing and the tightness of the gaskets.
Check the isolation of the ducts.
Eliminate or reduce to minimum the deviations and the useless horizontal lengths.
Check all the chimney sections as well as its height on the outside.
Ask for a chimney inspection by a certified technician.
Read the instructions in the following section (combustion regime) and (Combustible).
Regularly clean the cooking stove as indicated.

Operation manual – Outback Chef Wood Burning Cookstove

DROLET COOKING STOVE LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

The warranty of the manufacturer extends only to the original retail purchaser and is not transferable. This warranty covers brand new products only, which have not been altered, modified nor repaired since shipment from factory. Proof of purchase (dated bill of sale), model name and serial number must be supplied when making any warranty claim to your DROLET dealer.

This warranty applies to normal residential use only. Damages caused by misuse, abuse, improper installation, lack of maintenance, over firing, negligence or accident during transportation, power failures, downdrafts, venting problems or underestimated heating area are not covered by this warranty. The recommended heated area for a given appliance is defined by the manufacturer as its capacity to maintain a minimum acceptable temperature in the designated area in case of a power failure.

This warranty does not cover any scratch, corrosion, distortion, or discoloration. Any defect or damage caused by the use of unauthorized or other than original parts voids this warranty. An authorized qualified technician must perform the installation in accordance with the instructions supplied with this product and all local and national building codes. Any service call related to an improper installation is not covered by this warranty.

The manufacturer may require that defective products be returned or that digital pictures be provided to support the claim. Returned products are to be shipped prepaid to the manufacturer for investigation. Transportation fees to ship the product back to the purchaser will be paid by the manufacturer. All parts covered by this warranty are limited according to the table below.

The manufacturer, at its discretion, may decide to repair or replace any part or unit after inspection and investigation of the defect. The manufacturer may, at its discretion, fully discharge all obligations with respect to this warranty by refunding the wholesale price of any warranted but defective parts. The manufacturer shall, in no event, be responsible for any uncommon, indirect, consequential damages of any nature, which are in excess of the original purchase price of the product. A one-time replacement limit applies to all parts benefiting from lifetime coverage. This warranty applies to products purchased after March 1st, 2015.

DESCRIPTION |

**WARRANTY APPLICATION***

---|---

PARTS

|

LABOUR

Combustion chamber (welds only) and cast iron door frame. |

Lifetime

|

N/A

Surrounds, ash drawer, trims (extrusions), and convector air-mate. |

5 years

|

N/A

Removable stainless steel combustion chamber components, deflectors, and supports. |

5 years

|

N/A

Glass retainers, handle assembly, and air control mechanism. |

3 years

|

N/A

Carbon steel combustion chamber components. |

2 years

|

N/A

Paint(peeling ** ), plating (defective manufacture ** ), ceramic glass (thermal breakage only ** ), gaskets, insulation, and oven thermometer. |

1 year

|

N/A

Firebricks, vermiculite combustion chamber components, oven mitt, and cooking accessories. |

N/A

|

N/A

All parts replaced under the warranty. |

90 days

|

N/A

*Subject to limitations above. Picture required.**

Shall your unit or a components be defective, contact immediately your DROLET dealer. To accelerate processing of your warranty claim, make sure to have on hand the following information when calling:

Your name, address and telephone number;
Bill of sale and dealer’s name;
Installation configuration;
Serial number and model name as indicated on the nameplate fixed to the back of your unit;
Nature of the defect and any relevant information.

Before shipping your unit or defective component to our plant, you must obtain an Authorization Number from your DROLET dealer. Any merchandise shipped to our plant without authorization will be refused automatically and returned to sender.

Cooking stove_Revision : June 2017

This document is available for free download on the manufacturer’s website. It is a copyrighted document. Resale is strictly prohibited. The manufacturer may update this document from time to time and cannot be responsible for problems, injuries, or damages arising out of the use of information contained in any document obtained from unauthorized sources.

Stove Builder International inc.
250, rue de Copenhague,
St-Augustin-de-Desmaures (Québec) Canada
G3A 2H3
Customer service : 418-908-8002
Email : tech@sbi-international.com
www.drolet.ca