Napoleon
Napoleon Vector Fireplace, Direct Vent, Natural Gas
Napoleon Vector Fireplace, Direct Vent, Natural Gas
A 38 inch single-sided linear flame behind sealed glass. The Vector 38 is a direct vent natural gas fireplace with a long, low flame and a remote control included. It draws its combustion air from outside and sends the exhaust back out, so the flame never uses the air in your room. Napoleon classes it as a decorative appliance, built for the look of the fire rather than as a source of heat.
Two pipes in one run: exhaust goes out through the inner pipe while fresh air comes in around it.
What you get
| Model | Napoleon LV38N-1, Vector™ 38 single-sided |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Natural gas. Napoleon also makes a propane version and says a certified kit converts the appliance, so tell us before you order if you plan to change fuels. |
| Maximum input | Up to 30,000 BTU/hr on natural gas at 0 to 4,500 ft. Above 4,500 ft, Napoleon reduces the certified input by 4% for each additional 1,000 ft, unless your local authority says otherwise. This is a gas input rating, not a heat rating. |
| Gas supply pressure | 4.5 to 7 in. w.c. on natural gas. Manifold pressure is 3.5 in. w.c. |
| Viewing area | 40 3/4″ wide × 18 5/8″ tall, from Napoleon's specification sheet |
| Overall size | 53 5/16″ W × 41 3/16″ H × 19 7/8″ D |
| Framing size | 53 13/16″ wide × 20 1/8″ deep, with a minimum enclosure height of 73″ measured from the bottom of the appliance |
| Venting | Direct vent. 5″ exhaust inside an 8″ air intake. Up to 20 ft horizontal and up to 40 ft vertical. Rigid and flexible vent systems must not be combined. |
| Power | 115 V, 60 Hz, hard wired by a qualified electrician |
| Ignition | Electronic ignition with a pilot on demand mode. Continuous pilot mode can be selected from the remote. |
| Controls | Remote control with six flame levels, room temperature display and a child-proof key lock. The owner's manual also describes Napoleon's eFIRE Bluetooth app on fully equipped appliances. |
| Power outage | With batteries in the receiver, flame height and on/off control keep working through a power failure |
| Included | Safety barrier, firebox glass door, media tray, porcelain end and rear panels, remote control and battery holder with switch |
| Not included | Surround or trim, logs or media kits, vent pipe and termination |
| Where it can go | Approved for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations. Certified for mobile home installation. |
| Optional upgrades | Surrounds and finishing trim, birch logs, beach fire, shore fire, mineral rock and glass bead media, Nickel Stix, a non-combustible board kit, hot air distribution kit and the Dynamic Heat Control system |
| Warranty | Napoleon Gas Appliance President's Lifetime Limited Warranty. Terms are in the owner's manual. |
Add to your order
Everything below is listed as a fit for the Vector 38. Tick what you want and add it to your cart with the fireplace in one step.
Questions people ask us
What does direct vent mean for this fireplace?
It means the fireplace is sealed. Combustion air comes in from outside and exhaust goes back out through a two-in-one pipe, a 5″ exhaust inside an 8″ air intake. The flame does not use your room air, and you do not need a chimney.
Plan the route before you order. Napoleon allows up to 20 ft of horizontal vent and up to 40 ft of vertical vent, and calls for a vertical rise of at least 6 ft as the minimum practical height. The pipe and termination are sold separately.
Is it a heater?
No. Napoleon's owner's manual describes the Vector as a decorative product that is not a source of heat. The 30,000 BTU/hr figure is the most gas the burner can use, not a heating rating. Plan the heating of your room separately and choose this fireplace for the flame.
What comes with the fireplace?
Napoleon's accessory chart lists the media tray and the porcelain end and rear panels as standard, and the owner's manual shows a safety barrier, a glass door, a remote control and a battery holder with switch. A surround or trim, logs or media kits, vent pipe and the termination are sold separately.
How tall does the enclosure need to be?
Napoleon requires a minimum enclosure height of 73″, measured from the bottom of the appliance, and says that space must be left unobstructed. Some vent layouts that need more vertical rise will need a taller enclosure. Install the firestop before you frame, because it will not fit between the studs afterwards.
Can I mount a TV above it?
Napoleon's owner's manual says the area above a Vector without the Dynamic Heat Control system will be hot, which makes it unsuitable for a TV or other heat sensitive objects without risk of damage.
Napoleon's installation manual, section 11.5, shows TV layouts with minimum gaps of 2 in. between the top of the opening and the TV, and recommends no more than 3 in. It calls these minimums offered in good faith, not a guarantee, and says TV temperatures must be checked at the time of installation. The optional Dynamic Heat Control system is the route Napoleon lists for a TV above the fireplace. Ask us and we will check the right kit for your size.
Can I put a mantel above it?
Yes, but the depth of the mantel sets how high it has to sit. Napoleon's chart in section 11.4 of the installation manual gives the minimum height above the finishing flange for each mantel depth. It also says a mantel placed between the appliance and a TV reduces the heat reaching it.
What can I finish the wall with?
Napoleon says the 15 5/8 in. above and the 7 in. on either side of the opening must not be finished with combustible materials. Non-combustible finishing material tight to the safety barrier frame must not project more than 4 in. from its face. Napoleon recommends dry butt joint tile set with a two-part mortar, and screws no longer than 3/4 in. near the appliance. The non-combustible board kit is in the add-ons below where Napoleon lists one for this size.
What are my options for the opening, logs and media?
Napoleon lists a black or brushed stainless surround with a premium safety barrier, and a black or stainless finishing trim, for the Vector 38. For the burner bed, Napoleon's accessory chart lists small birch logs, a medium beach fire kit, a medium shore fire kit, small mineral rocks, Nickel Stix and glass beads for the Vector 38. Pick one in the add-ons below and it goes into your cart with the fireplace.
Can I control it from my phone?
Napoleon's owner's manual describes the eFIRE app, which uses Bluetooth, and notes it works when the appliance is fully equipped. The remote is always the main control, with six flame levels and a room temperature display. Ask us if phone control matters to you and we will confirm what your model supports.
What happens in a power outage?
Napoleon's manual says that with batteries in the receiver, flame height and on/off control keep working during a power failure. Tell your installer when you book so the batteries are set up before the gas goes on.
Where can I install it?
Napoleon approves the Vector for bathroom, bedroom and bed-sitting room installations and certifies it for mobile homes. It is hard wired, so it needs a 115 V supply, and it must be installed by licensed professionals in line with Napoleon's installation manual and your local codes.
Is this the natural gas or the propane model?
This listing is the natural gas model. Napoleon says the fireplace is only for the gas type on its rating plate and can be changed only with a certified conversion kit.
Goes with this
Manuals and warranty
Napoleon's terms cover the first 10 years at no charge for warranted parts, and from year 10 to life Napoleon supplies replacement parts at 50% of the current retail price. The fireplace must be installed by a licensed professional in line with Napoleon's instructions, and parts from other makers void the warranty. Registering is not required to make a claim, but keep your proof of purchase, model and serial number. Read the warranty section of the owner's manual for the full terms.
Read the warranty terms · Our warranty library · Register your fireplaceEvery document is kept on our site, so the link works when you need it. More are in our Napoleon manuals and documents.
A note on the photos. Napoleon’s photography often shows optional surrounds, trim and fire media. What ships with the fireplace is listed in the What you get table, and anything else is sold separately.
Ask us about your install