New Member and Fahrenheit 50F owner

Hello all,

Just wanted to drop a line and say hello after joining the site. Been trolling a bit and got some real good info from the likes of DexterDay and others.

I can't recall exactly when I bought my 50F, but I've had it for quite some time now. It's a V2 or V3 I believe, in that It's auto ignition, came with the v-shaped pot and had (has again) the older LED control pannel. I live in Southern NH and the unit is heating (solely) a 2,700 sqf home. It's installed in the basement and is patched into the existing FHA ductwork. Running 4" pipe and it has outside air (I did all the HVAC work myself - including installing dampners for the main propane furnace - only used for vacations and such).

Been through a lot with the unit as it has it's ups & downs, but I've stuck with it over the years as it's considerably cheaper to run 4-6 tons of pellets a year than deal with the rediculous propane prices. I've had the newer LCD control pannels, but they don't seem to last as I'm back with the original unit that came with it.

Due to the unfortunately cheap metal the various components are made with, I've had to fabricate several over the years. Interestingly enough, my fabricated parts, made from cold rolled steel (same thickness as original) has lasted far longer than the stockers. Will move to thicker stainless this summer - hopefully that will end the fabrication routine.

Only current upgrades (very recent from this site):
1) closed off several burnpot holes
2) created gasket for ingnitor (not mentioned on site, but when looking for leaks this was a big one)
3) sealed off gaps in extended hopper
4) cleaned back wall - for the first time ever!
5) used 5/8" rope for door - I think It calls for 1/2", but I got it to work
5) used 3/8" rope for ash pan - just barely allows locking tabs to clear - but barely is good enough

Personally, pellet quality has been a big driver in furnace performance. I've run the good, the bad and the ugly and can say, at least in my furnace, pellet quality has a lot to do with performance. Running NEWP...last year (without upgrades), those pellets kept the house warm in one of the coldest winters I can remember...this year, they absolutely suck! I'd clean my furnace once every 2 weeks last year...this year, running same pellet band, I need to clean it 2x a week and the burn is noticebly ugly. I did all the mods just to help that poor furnace burn those sh*t pellets. Gatta be excess moisture or they changed the adheasive. I store my pellets in the basement - my supplier also stores in-doors...so not sure what the deal is. I did do some googling and found exact same complaints from this year's batch of NEWP...and those complaints were coming from Harmon users (supposedly they eat anything).

Anyway...tired of typng for now...I'll get some picks up soon and hope to chat with you all in the very near future!

Frank

 

Welcome Maximus (Frank)
I see you've brought some experiences with you
We like Beer & pics

 

I'll try to remember & snap some tonight...as far as beer goes...yours is probably better than ours!

 

Welcome...All beer is good beer!!

 

Welcome!

 

Here are some pics:

Please forgive the mess - so in the pics you'll notice a couple goodies...pic #2 shows what I believe to be a requirement if heating a large house with long runs, that being booster fans (I have 2 pointing down the main runs @ 300cfm/ea) tied into a pressure switch - they turn on/off with blower. This add-on really moves the heat around the house and into my 22x22 greatroom at one far end. Pic #3 also shows what I believe to be a requirement - a UPS (it's 1500w and will run the furnace for approx 15 minutes - enough time for me to get the geni running during our all too often power outages). Pic #6 is one of my fabricated parts - the stock re-light plate was a constant PITA for me - I run 4-6 ton/yr and mid-season, without fail, it would buckle and cause jams - this is my spare as I have my first fabbed peice in the pot and is still looking great after 2 years - same dimensions of original, so the steel they are using must be really cheap - will fab SS units next (actually, will do the whole pot in SS over the summer - should have came that way IMHO). Pics #5 & #7 show it running on heat levels 1 & 5 respectively (sorry for the poor quality - glass is original and I never really clean it as it's in the basement) as I run off a T-stat.

You can also see my pittiful attempt at blocking some of the blow-by on the main door - saw some upgrades using latches - I like that idea!

It's running OK now - but my pellets are a huge dissapointment this year - so even with the pot upgrades and sealing the extended hopper It's not running as it should.

I don't have the larger exhaust fan/moter, manifold or sail switch upgrades. I'll buy the switch from Fahrenheight, the manifold is something I'll tackle now that I've seen pics of it (nothing my plasma cutter & welder can't handle). I've seen the fan online...guessing it's the 4.5" version...question is does it really need the larger motor to spin it?

I'll get the serial number tonight (if I remember).

I had the cool LCD control board as well...it lasted about 4 years...old one has lasted 7+ years. Does anyone fix the boards? I loved the new one...especially the maintenance features...

I've owned mine since new...just an FYI (long-term relationship).

One of the biggest issues in the design is that front burn pot door...it takes a beating and seals for sh*t. I'm going to modify the pot frame and weld in tabs that extend the air passages into that door...basically help the air get through that door...I suppose you could put a gasket on those surfaces, but I'd like a more perm solution...

Chat soon,

 

Welcome aboard, and nice setup!

 

DexterDay...I'm with ya on the actuator adjustments...issue is...if too loose you get crappy seal, if too tight, that door/and or retractor arms take a beating..I think I have a solution, but need to play with it during the off-season.

Above are pics of my very recent pot upgrades (stolen from Dex...welded) and my fabed re-light plate that has held up considerable better than the Fahrenheight units.

oh...and my serrial # is 2684

Funny (well, not really) story...I was able to take those pot pics because I saw the flame looking ugly...re-light plate had popped out of the arm and was hanging over 1/2 the pot...upon further inspection...the studs that hold both the pusher and re-ligh plates in the actuators were bent and I couldn't re-assemble...thought I had seen everything...but my 50F keeps throwing me surprises. Once again...cheap steel...the pusher is all stock Fahrenheight and the tail section (with the studs) on the re-light plate is also Fahrenheit steel (you can see my weld in the re-light plate pic). I know what I'll be doing this weekend...finding high grade replacements...

The wriring for those boosters was pretty straight forward. I know this because I did it and I'm no electritian...ah, not even close...

I used a good grounded extension cord, there is an outlet on my main furnace, so just wired from outlet to pressure switch, then from swich to each booster. Just need to drill a small hole to mount switch...boosters take a little more effort but come with handy templates to help with the install. I do all my own HVAC work, so getting cut up is part of the fun

 

Very cool stuff there Frank , all we need to do is get you hooked up with some good pellets and you are good to go

 

Welcome aboard Maximus. I can see you will be a wealth of information on here.
And your right our beer is better than yours so is the Capt. Morgans.
Old Fart.

 

True...however the Germans have us all beat by a mile when it come to the alixa of life...they flat out rock when it comes to beer (actually seriously considered moving to Munich after visiting a number of times...just for the beer!!!!

 

I went to High School in Germany. Every Friday night the group met at the local brauhaus. The management always reserved the table in the basement for us, not that we would get loud or anything. Welcome!!!

 

After seeing how many pieces there are with the newer burn pots, I really appreciate the relative simplicity of the 'old style' that I have in my Fahrenheit, even if I do have to manually light it.

Welcome Maximus.

 

You must be a new FB member as you're forever changing your avatar like changing profile pics
Hard to figure who's who

 

Another member had the same Clint Eastwood avatar. I think I was using it first, but who knows. I was getting confused as I browsed the forums trying to figure out why I replied to something I know nothing about, so I changed it.

And for the record, I am not a FB fan.