Dwarf 3kW Standard vs. Dwarf 3kW LITE
The Dwarf 3kW is our smallest size full-featured wood stove. For small spaces like vans, small to medium size RVs and short buses, and tiny homes in more temperate climate, a Dwarf 3kW wood stove can be the perfect size. With a nominal capacity of 10,236 BTUs, a Dwarf 3kW may be the perfect balance between serious heat output, and ease of use on milder Winter days. Learn more about choosing the right wood stove size for your tiny home.
But which model Dwarf 3kW stove is best for your space?
The Dwarf 3kW Standard
The Standard model of the Dwarf 3kW stove is our full-featured heavyweight. It's identical in features and construction to our larger Dwarf stoves, just in a smaller size.
Heavy Duty Construction
Weighing in at 75 pounds, the Dwarf 3kW is constructed of heavy duty welded steel for longevity and heat retention. The top and bottom plate are 3/16" thick, and the sides are 5/16" thick.
An insulated firebox burns fuel hot and clean with 1" thick firebricks on the sides, and a heavy-duty steel baffle on top.
Full-Featured Air Controls
Airtight construction, efficient tri-burn technology, and independent controls for primary, secondary, and tertiary air, give you complete control over your burn rate. Burn a hot, efficient fire by dialing back your primary air and feeding plenty of air to the top of the firebox. Use the upside-down fire method to get the longest possible overnight burn.
Mechanical Riddling Grate
Shake ashes through your fire grate and into the ash pan without opening the door. The lever on the lower left of the stove operates the mechanical riddling grate.
Are you living or traveling in coal country? With a riddling grate, coal bar, and independent air controls, the Dwarf 3kW Standard can also burn anthracite coal.
Top or Rear Exit Options
Use the top exit for a more compact install, or exit through the rear to preserve the entire top surface of your stove for cooking. The 10-1/4" x 8-1/2" top surface of the Dwarf 3kW works great for heating a kettle, stewing or roasting in a dutch oven, or frying in a cast iron skillet.
Accessory Options
The Dwarf 3kW Standard comes with pre-drilled and tapped holes to mount custom heat shields or other accessories to the sides of the stove. It's also compatible with the Direct-Air Kit for feeding the stove directly with an outside air supply.
Available Tall Cast Iron Legs and Wood Storage Stand accessories provide options for raising your firebox for easier viewing and stoking, and customizing your stove's look. For a truly unique stove, swap the factory black door for a colored enamel door.
The Bottom Line
For a stationary structure or vehicle where an extra 20 pounds isn't a problem, the Dwarf 3kW Standard is usually the best option. If you want to use the rear exit, mount accessories to your stove, burn coal, or get the longest possible burn times, the Standard model is the right choice.
The Dwarf 3kW LITE
Our LITE model 3kW wood stove is a stripped down version of the Dwarf line, with simplicity and weight savings in mind.
Weight-Saving Construction
It's no lightweight, but the Dwarf 3kW LITE drops 20 pounds versus the standard model, weighing in at 55 pounds. The top and bottom plate are still 3/16" thick, but the welded steel stove body has been reduced to 1/8" thick to save on weight.
Heavy firebricks are replaced with lightweight ceramic fiber refractory panels to insulated the firebox, the same material used in industrial retorts.
Simplified Air Controls
With the same efficient tri-burn technology and airtight firebox as the rest of the Dwarf line, a single air control operates both primary and secondary air for the Dwarf 3kW LITE. This balanced air supply is easy to use, and works well for controlling wood fires.
Fire Grate and Ash Pan
The fire grate provides even air distribution to the bottom of the firebox, and the ash pan below makes for easy cleanup. A coal bar at the front of the firebox keeps logs from rolling out when you open the door, and helps to keep the door glass clean. The LITE model does not include a mechanical riddling grate. This model is not compatible with anthracite coal.
Top Exit Only
Install your Dwarf 3kW LITE with the smallest possible footprint using the top exit. No rear exit option is available for the LITE model. You can still cook on top of the stove with the top exit, but your kettle or pan needs to be small.
The Bottom Line
The Dwarf 3kW LITE is ideal for a mobile structure where weight savings is a primary concern. If you're planning to use the top exit and you'll burn wood only, the 3kW LITE is a great choice for your build.
Dwarf 3kW Standard vs. LITE: Side-By Side Comparison
Dwarf 3kW Standard Features
- 75 LBS - Heavy-Duty Steel and Cast Iron Construction
- Large Fire Viewing Window for Ambiance
- Efficient Tri-Burn Technology
- Stay-Cool Spring Handle
- Ash Pan and Tool Included for Easy Cleanup
- 4" Flue System - Roof Exit or Wall Exit Options Available
- Firebox Lined With Heavy Duty Firebrick
- Top or Rear Exit Option for Versatile Installation Options
- Independent Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Air Wash Controls
- Coal Bar and Mechanical Riddling Grate
- Mounting Points for Heat Shields and Future Accessories
- Compatible with Direct-Air
Dwarf 3kW LITE Features
- 55 LBS - Thinner Steel and Cast Iron Construction for Lighter Weight
- Same Large Fire Viewing Window for Ambiance
- Same Efficient Tri-Burn Technology
- Same Stay-Cool Spring Handle
- Same Ash Pan and Tool Included for Easy Cleanup
- Same 4" Flue System - Roof Exit or Wall Exit Options Available
- Firebox Lined With Lightweight Ceramic Fiber Panels
- Top Exit for Compact Installation (no rear exit option)
- Combined Primary/Secondary Control, and Separate Air Wash
- Coal Bar and Simple Fire Grate
- No Accessory Mounting Points
- Not Compatible with Direct-Air
Still unsure which stove is best for your space? Contact us to review your project with a tiny wood stove expert.
What are the exact dimensions?? Height? Width? Depth?
Both Dwarf 3kW stove models are 17″ tall with the standard legs, 10-1/4″ deep, and 8-1/2″ wide. The dimensions of each stove are listed on the product page under the heading “The Dwarf Specs.” You can also find a detailed PDF drawing of each stove on the Manuals and Downloads page.
Are the clearance requirements the same for the lite and standard version?
Is the lite compatible with other 3kW accessories, such as the wood storage stand?
Timothy-
Great question. The exterior dimensions and clearance requirements of the 3kW LITE and 3kW Standard are identical. The tall legs and wood storage stand accessories are compatible with both stoves. The air controls are different, though, so the direct air only fits the Standard model. Also, the enamel door and rear exit option are only available for the Standard model.
Can you set this little heater in your fire place? Or do you sell a tiny fire place insert?
It would be great if it would sit inside your fireplace and use your fire place chimney.
You can often install a wood stove in an existing masonry fireplace, but you’ll usually want to have the chimney inspected by a professional to make sure it’s in good shape), and then line it with an insulated solid fuel rated chimney liner matching the flue flange of the stove. We like the ones that terminate in a tee on the bottom so you can connect to the stove’s rear exit, and provide an easy clean-out.
Can you hook up your pipe to either the top or back of your heater? Or do you have to buy a heater for either the top or back for hook up? How can I get the 125.00 off the heater?
Thank you!
Thanks for the message! The Dwarf 3kW Standard comes with an option to use the top exit or rear exit for the flue. You just swap the cover plate and flue flange to choose which one you want to use. See the unboxing video for a visual of how to do this.
Hi. Can you post to Australia?
John-
It’s possible to get a Dwarf Stove shipped overseas, but stoves are heavy, so air freight can be expensive. The easiest way to do it is to go through a freight forwarder like shipito.com, which some of our other customers have used with success.
Is it possible to reduce the 4” flue exit to a 3” without affecting the ability of the stove to heat a 150 sq ft room? The maximum flue height would be 6ft, at 3” in diameter. Thank you.
It’s generally not permitted to reduce the flue system to any size smaller than the stove’s flue flange. We did have a previous version of the 3kW with a 3″ flue system, and it worked OK most of the time. But we found that it had some trouble drafting at higher elevations and with shorter chimneys. Increasing the flue system to 4″ resulted in a stove that functioned far better in all of our tests.
For your situation, I’d recommend either increasing the flue size to 4″, or using a stove designed for a 3″ flue. Having very good draft versus “just OK” draft is the difference between a stove that’s easy and pleasant to use, and a stove that’s smoky, temperamental, and high-maintenance.
Can you cook on top of the 3KW Lite?
Dani-
Yes, you can cook on top of the 3kW LITE. The top surface of the 3kW LITE gets just as hot as the 3kW Standard, but since it’s top exit only, space is a bit limited. You can fit a small kettle, pot, or pan on the top cooking surface. It works great for heating up water for tea, toasting a bagel, or maybe simmering a can of soup. If you want more space, the 3kW Standard with a rear exit will give you the same heating output, but a much larger cooking area to work with.
Would the lite be light enough to put in a slide out?
Amy-
Good question. That really depends on the specs of the slide-out on your particular rig and your intended use. Folks have installed our wood stoves in slides successfully, including heavier models. However, most of those installations have been for stationary or semi-stationary rigs. We don’t have a lot of data about the capacity of slides in rigs that regularly move, so you’d need to consult with the company that made your RV.
The Dwarf 3kW LITE itself weighs in at 55 pounds. However, if you install it in a slide-out, routing the chimney through the top of the slide would interfere with the slide’s ability to close. So, you’ll need a wall exit, which means more insulated pipe placed further from the center of the rig. Depending on the design of your wall exit, your chimney parts could easily weigh as much as the stove. Additionally, wall exits don’t draft as well as roof exits, so you may need a bit taller of a detachable chimney to compensate.
It’s generally best to avoid installing a stove in a slide if at all possible. However, depending on the details of your particular situation, it might be a workable solution. I suggest us an email to support@tinywoodstove.com, so one of our Customer Success Coaches can work out the details with you directly.
Are these mobile home approved?
Hi Liz,
Thanks for your question! Sorry, our stoves are not UL listed for residential spaces, including for mobile homes. While there are often exceptions in local building codes for using an unlisted stove in a sticks and bricks house, if you’re in the United States and your home is classified as a “mobile home,” it falls under HUD’s jurisdiction. HUD requires a stove to be specifically tested and listed for mobile home use. Our stoves are not, and the Kimberly is the only one I’m aware of that is.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
Good day, hope u r well. I’m currently looking at the dwarf lite for my van. The question, my van has a fiber glass topper, will it be sage to install the pipe through the roof?
Thank you
Hi, great question! A roof exit is almost always the best option for vehicle installations because it keeps the pipe more vertical for a better draft and better protected during travel. Our silicone pipe boot gasket seals great to fiberglass since it is a non-porous surface and the only concern you might have is with the roof support bracket which mounts to the roof or ceiling and holds the pipe steady. Overtime, bumping down the road, it’s possible that the fiberglass could crack where you mount the roof support bracket so you may want to mount this bracket to your interior ceiling material instead. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to send us an email and we are happy to help you plan your installation. support@tinywoodstove.com
What size logs will it take?
The Dwarf 3kW will burn logs 6-8″ in length.
Hello,
We’re just beginning to explore our choices for the heating of a 450 sqft structure. Your products are handsomely displayed and well described. We are yet to decide between a small pellet stove and your fine products and I do appreciate your carefully expressed explanations to those with questions. I sense your business practices are commendable and should we select a wood burner we’ll purchase with your company.
Pol-
Thank you for the kind words! We’re here to help so don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Support@TinyWoodStove.com for any additional questions. The 3kW might be a little small for a 450 sq. ft. space but it depends on your winter temperatures and how you use the space. Look forward to hearing from you!