Optimus Nova+ Swedish made ca 2007/08

There's been a bit of discussion on the Nova+ (Nova Plus) recently Optimus Nova Plus - Why no longer produced? and I realized there is not one featured here in the SRG. So here we go.

This is a Swedish made Nova+ from ca 2007/2008. The idea behind the + (plus) version was to make the stove safer to use e.g. with large diameter pans and easier to use inside Trangia wind shields compared to the standard Nova. This was achieved by moving the control of the fuel flow further away from the burner while still having an accurate and immediate control with a spindle inside the burner.

The fuel hose is clamped to the spindle and the spindle is drilled through so there is a fuel channel passing by the two o-ring seals at the end of the spindle. The spindle is controlled by turning the fuel hose using the green knob next to the pump connection at a very safe distance from the flame. A brilliant idea but it in practice it did not become as convenient in use as intended since the fuel hose was thick and a bit too stiff so the motion of turning the hose was affected when the hose was a little bent from packing etc. There were a lot of specifications that the fuel hose had to fulfill (fuel resistance, durability, temperature specs etc) that limited the options. But once you got used to managing the setup it was absolutely fine.



The kit:


Notice the small hole next to the o-rings, this is where the fuel comes out into the burner.







Cejn connector on the pump was used only on stoves made in Sweden. Other versions have a bayonet coupling.



Time for burn and brew test. I'm using white gasoline this time. Preheating:



Ignition! The Nova+ preheats really fast especially using white gasoline as fuel. Flame is steady, powerful and blue - hard to catch in a daylight photo outside though.






The Nova+ boils half a liter of water in absolute no-time.

 

Very interesting, Thanks

 

Thank you.

 

@Staffan Rönn
Excellent! Thank you.

John

 

A good post

 

Excellent!

Tony

 

Very well written and documented. Thank you.

 

Hi @Staffan Rönn A Great post.
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Thanks all, I'm glad you like the post!

 

Excellent work, my Nova+ only differs by having the aluminum colored pump part, only the button is black and screwed. CEJN connector has the longest male thread. I agree with the rigidity of the hose, I recommend that when taking the stove out of its case you have to bend the hose opposite to where it has the curvature to structure it as straight as possible, once this is done there will be no problem, it is only technical.

 

Läcker hajkbricka Staffan
/Odd

 

Tack @Odd !! Hajkbrickan är gjord av aluminium och användes även för att gräva fram kokplats i snö, så en kombinerad snöspade och hajkbricka.

@Jose I agree it's a real nice stove once you can "manage" the rigid hose, no problem for the experienced user!

 

Cheers guys!is this photo of my Nova + it must be 2007 or 2008 I bought it second hand in 2016 by sheer luck. The bag was very weak when washing it dissolved,
I sent this bag to rebuild with a seamstress. The O-ring on the bottle too so I had to replace it with a round one. Due to a leak in the 141 CEJN mechanism, I changed the O-rings. In the photo is the fuel I use, it is kerosene "mild smell" a product made in my country for multiple uses, it is much cleaner and less aromatic than normal kerosene. I used it on a 120 KM trip to the top of Mount Roraima. just a problem with sand in the fuel line solved with cleanliness.

 

Hej @Staffan Rönn. I'm a bit late to this post but I am just doing some research on CEJN couplings and came across it. I notice the stove is a big metal tray with the word Optimus punched in it. Was that a standard Optimus article? It looks like something you might use to put a stove on when winter camping and there is snow on the ground.

 

hi @Retro Camper I also saw the aluminum tray, it seems to me that it is great. I also wait for information about the device

 

Hello @Retro Camper and @Jose ,

You have observant eyes.

These aluminium trays are combined mini snow shovels and stove winter trays. As shovels, to prepare a snow kitchen, they worked well. They are bulky but light weight. We made some 50 pcs and used them on winter training trips for dealers in the Swedish wilderness. Participants pulled their tents and gear in pulkas, so bulk was not an issue. It was consequently not a standard article.

BR/Staffan

 

Thanks @Staffan Rönn. With your unique Optimus collection I'm sure you'd be very welcome at the Newark gathering when they start up again!

 

Am I right with my assumption that there were at least two different Optimus Nova models made in Sweden?

This version that is shown by @Staffan Rönn (Nova+) as well as one other version that had the regulator of the stove with a collapsible grip, similar to the plastics grip of the nowadays version.

I think this second Swedish version was called "Brunton Optimus Nova", is this right?

 

I found a picture of the "Brunton Optimus Nova" that I mentioned above:


https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5pkAAOSwRrFl4LJ5/s-l1600.jpg

 

Hi Blantka,
Both Nova versions (regular Nova and Nova+) with Cejn couplings were made in Sweden. The "Brunton" Nova is technically not different from the globally sold regular Nova. Brunton was for some years distributor of Optimus in USA, and sold the Nova together with other products in their range on the US market in packaging with Brunton graphics etc. Thus the denomination.
BR/Staffan