Harman p series startup

Hey guys, I've noticed lately when burning "good" hardwood pellets, that they take a while to ignite and the burn pot gets quite full.

This doesn't really happen with softwood pellets.

Eventually everything evens out and runs normal, but I'm just thinking my igniter may be crapping out.

What is everyone else's experience with this?

Thanks!

 

When was the last time you cleaned the ash out from under the burnpot?

 

Not telling.

Edit: I'll do that, but it seems like this only happens with good hardwood pellets no matter how clean the stove is.

 

I rarely burn hardwood. Usually blends or softwoods. I actually can't remember the last time I burned a hardwood pellet. It could be because they are hardwood, or just the pellet. But I would clean under the burnpot, especially around the ignite.

 

yea, certain pellets will ignite at certain temps, depending partly upon the gaseous components....for instance, methane will ignite around 540 degrees, but other components ignite at higher temps, some well over 1000 degrees.
So, in short, some pellets shall ignite easier than others. But, as subsailor says above, and I concur, the greatest factor inhibiting ignition would be the stuff on your igniter.....clean that well.

 

I'll clean it tomorrow night when it's 50 degrees out.

Are the igniters an "all or nothing" part or will they slowly fade away and then stop working?

I'm on year three of exclusively running "room temp auto" so this current igniter has done well and will most likely replace it this summer as pm.

Thanks guys

 

We discussed this one a little while ago and the concensus was with some stoves the igniter can slowly go out over time, but with Harmans they tend to go all at once, so it's either working not working, they don't really weaken over time so to speak.

When you clean out the igniter compartment also do your best to clean out the cradle itself. The cradle is designed in a way where it can tend to trap some ash, so do your best to get in there and clean that out as well. The manual says to tap the burnpot above the cradle area with the harman tool to loosen any ash in the igniter, which is probably fine for the most part, but I pulled the cradle off one time and was surprised to see how much crap was in there.

For what it's worth, I also notice that some pellets take longer to ignite than others. It's just the way it is, and it's unlikely there's anything wrong with your igniter.

 

I myself like trying different pellets but find a good softwood can't be beat , Somerset's pellets were the one exception last year . After you do all your cleaning find a good softwood and stick with it.

 

I prefer hardwoods, they just seem to go farther than softwoods and usually for far less money. Yes, they don't burn as clean as LaCretes, but at $350/ton for them, it's just not feasible for me.

 

NY pricing He's got a Harman roast the Cheap stuff , you'll be just as warm with $$$ let over for Beer

 

Yep, the best value I can get is $270/ton for Lignetics. I could play the Home Depot/Lowes game, but Lignets are a solid pellet for me without all the searching and hoping they get something good.

Now that it's in writing and I plan on burning a lot more in the wood insert, that $70/ton doesn't seem as much......hmmmmmmm

 

All good info and yes some pellets take longer to light.

Also, make sure your burn pot hols are cleaned out. I use a drill bit to clean these

 

I don't mind the Big Box stuff my Harman's eat it all just some are more ashy than others at $270 for Lig's I'll pass .

 

If I can grab a couple tons of Tractor Supply pellets in the spring dirt cheap, I'll be all over them. My Home Depot also has stove chows this year which have always burned great for me which I would also buy if they're dirt cheap.

I just know the place I buy Lignetics stores them in a barn so they aren't getting soaked for 8 months before I buy them. The forklift drivers and pellet weatherproofers at my local bbs need a little training so you just need to be extra careful.

 

I'm with ya Jason , some times a few extra $$ are worth it , less head aches later on , that's why we are Harman owner's

 

Some people have their igniters last up to 8 years (or so I seem to remember reading). Maybe get a spare, but I wouldn't replace it until it actually goes - but that is just me.

Different types of wood pellets ignite at different rates. I've had my P61a since winter of 2013/2014, run it mostly on room temp auto (it probably ignites up to 10 times a day when it is in the 20's), and the igniter is still fine. I thought it was going last year so got a replacement. Then when I went to install it I unhooked the OAK and found there was an obstruction in there that reduced the air flow to the burn pot . Removed that and haven't had an issue since. My P43 has seen more seasons than my P61a and is still on its original igniter. I will grant that I have no idea how it was run until last winter since I bought it used, but I run it off a thermostat so it cycles on a regular basis.

So, I concur with others, clean out the igniter area, and reach way back to the air opening to clear out any that may be piled on the lip there, and don't obsess over how long one type of pellet takes to ignite over another type of pellet.

 

I'll probably grab a spare igniter and install it when the old one goes.

My burn pot and the area under under it get a good cleaning every couple of weeks, so I'm going to chalk up my slow ignitions to the pellets I'm using. It definitely takes much longer to ignite the Turmans I'm burning now, compared to the Okanagan Platinums and Douglas Firs I've been burning the last few weeks. Just for grins I filled up with Lacretes yesterday, and about 2 minutes after they hit the burn pot, they were going, so all is well with the stove.

 

I just replaced my P61A Ignitor [wire had a barespot inside the pot and blew the fuse..
[easy enough to replace as long as you are sure to pull the 2 ignitor wires a bit taunt from the rear
so hardly any slack inside the burnpot.. but, I digress..

since the replacement I have burned some Hamer Hots[ Hardwood] and Okie Plats [Softwood].
I don't see any difference in 'zero to flame' time.. seems to take same amount of time..

 

check your new igniter wire with a loop meter to make sure the igniter isn't always energized. Sometimes when the igniter causes the fuse to blow, it will burn out the triac, causing it to be stuck in the closed position, which leaves that igniter on all the time. Dont go by the little red light either. just wait until the fire is well established, then use the loop meter to ensure the igniter isn't still on. Eventually, this can cause the burnpot to bubble, the igniter to fail, and you'd use a fair amount more of electricity! you wont find this on the "other' forum.