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Good reason to install an inline fuse on a Harman pellet stove igniter

Discussion in 'Pellet Stoves, Pellet Fireplaces, Pellet Furnaces' started by don2222, Sep 2, 2020.

  1. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    The igniter stopped working and the 4 amp igniter fuse blew That I installed on the yellow wire.
    The Circuit board was good, the vacuum switch was good, so I dropped the igniter cradle and to my surprise saw this!
    See pic 1 !! So just taped up the wire and replaced the fuse! No burned out control panel! Igniter is still good!!!
    Pic 1 - igniter wire exposed and shorted to cradle! Actually the wire was stuck to the cradle!
    Pic 2 - Inline fuse holder with 4 amp fuse
    Pic 3 - Igniter cradle
    Pic 4 - Harman Advance Igniter works!
    Pic 5 - Fire!
     

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    Last edited: Sep 2, 2020
    don2222, Sep 2, 2020
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    Orson_Yancey, Washed Up, Meche_03 and 1 other person like this.
  2. don2222

    don2222

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    don2222, Mar 2, 2025
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  3. jtakeman

    jtakeman Moderator

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    I put an inline fuse on my Omega way back in 2008. I also put one on the air pump, auger feed motor and the agitator motor. I'm going to add a fuse to the convection and combustion blower as well. Try not to toast the circuit board as the price of them went nuts! Was thinking something like this automotive style, But will likely source something for glass fuses. Or maybe inline circuit breakers?

    71qC6MjBQwL._SL1500_.jpg
     
    jtakeman, Mar 14, 2025
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  4. don2222

    don2222

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    Hi Jay
    Good idea to fuse everything! I worked on an issue with a Napoleon pellet stove insert with a blown control panel. Before putting a new panel in the stove I connected an ac test cord to each motor and put an Amp clamp meter on to check the current draw. When I got to the auger motor the motor windings burst into flames! The right size inline fuse could have saved the control panel but not sure. This is because I worked on a lot of US Stoves that have approx 6 fuses on the control panel and I have seen surges still damage the components on the control panel. I do believe that having an inline fuse right near the motor is better than being on the control panel. This is because I know for a fact from installing a 4 amp inline fuse holder on the igniter because the board fuses are usually 5 or 6 amps except when you have an air pump ( That may need a higher amp fuse) and I have actually seen bad igniters with a blown inline fuse that I have installed and it did save the control panel!
    It seems to me that in Some cases igniters short out when they fail! I did see a blown Harman control panel as a result of this! I actually would not recommend a circuit breaker because they take longer to trip and a good Fast Blow glass fuse seems to be the very best protection. Just my 2 cents.

    See US Stove Control Panel Board Fuses in pics below. In a rare case they do stop a fire from a bad motor from erupting.
     

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    Last edited: Mar 14, 2025
    don2222, Mar 14, 2025
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