I have tried to count the fins on my igniter. I THINK its the 15 fin....either way its still going pretty strong but I know it can fail at any time now.
I am probably wrong but I don't think they came out with the 15 fin until 2010 or later. At least as replacements. They may have started factory installs before that.
My P68 is going into its 8th season and it's still got the original igniter. Starting to wish it would die so I can justify buying the newer model replacement. You guys notice any improvement in how quickly the stove starts up with the new model? It takes mine quite a while to start up - usually 20 mins from turning the power knob to dist blower finally turning on.
Most times mine lights before the initial feeding of pellets is done. Occasionally, if there a lot of ash in the burn pot it may take a minute longer. It doesn't take long after that for the distribution blower to start. Less than 10 minutes total time.
Holy Cow! My P61a takes 8-12 minutes just to get a flame started - and has since day 1. I can watch the zingers (flying sparks) going around the pot and chamber for entertainment for several minutes though. The P43 takes maybe 5 minutes from start to the distribution blower starting.
My P61A takes about the same time.. A Good 10 minutes.... right about when I think the Ignitor has wheezed, I start seeing the zingers and go, "Kewl" Btw: When I'm Home, I lower the feed rate to #2 on startup and this helps speed up the "catch fire" time.. I then put feed rate back up to 3.5 or 4..
It's the Volume of pellets ignited.. if you have less pellets in the burnpot, the Full flame will be evident sooner. sort of like igniting 6 ounces as opposed to 10 or 12..
What I'm saying is the feed rate does not affect how many pellets are pushed into the burn pot during the startup sequence. A separate pre-determined program controls that logic. The feed rate setting only affects the stove operation after the stove has ignited. The amount of pellets pushed into the pot at startup time can be adjusted, but that's done via dip switches on the control panel, not using the feed rate knob.
Cause shoulder stuff saves some for the good beer kitty. With todays prices its not as much difference in the shoulder stuff. Maybe $25 to $30, Where in the past it was an easy fifdy I could stash on each ton. So a $100 for the season was pretty easy peasy!!
I don't think the term shoulder pellets is applicable anymore. Back in the day it meant you were buying a product for less money, knowing and accepting it wasn't going to perform as well as a product that cost $100/ton more. That's fine with me. Why heat your house with $6/bag pellets when $4/bag pellets will do just fine, right? These days all of the products cost about the same (too much) so there is hardly an opportunity to pay less money even if you wanted to. I feel inclined to add that people sometimes tend to associate the term "shoulder pellets" with BBS or big box stores, when that is not necessarily the case. Last season alone, I bought Somersets, Greenways, Blazers, PTL softies, Ligs, and Hardwood Heats (Hamers) at BBS stores and they were all some of the best pellets I ever burned; they sure did outperform some of the products I bought for more money at the pellet store.
I am guilty of calling BBS pellets shoulders as thats pretty much all they carry in my area. I am also guilty of calling my sets shoulders, Though they are no where near a shoulder. I am guilty because of the $$$ I saved. I won't call em shoulders once they melt the snow about a foot away from the house this winter!
TT, assuming your initial feed of pellets is similar to my stove, it's less than 5 minutes. If it takes another 15 minutes before your stove ignites, your whole neighborhood must be blanketed in smoke. Had any complaints from the neighbors?
Same experience here. The P68 (2008) takes much longer to startup than the P43 (2014). I know what you are saying, because if I go outside and look at the flue exit at startup time, I do see a bit of smoke while the stove is just getting started. That's not what's going on here though. TBH, I don't think the igniter has much to do with the P68 slow startup. It appears to me that the feed sequence simply isn't pushing enough pellets into the pot. The first feed sequence is never enough to get the pellets to the point where they reach the area in the burn pot where the igniter is. It always has to a second full feed sequence before they "reach the igniter" so to speak. Once they get there and light, they smolder with a tiny flame for a little while and another feed sequence or two are needed before they will get pushed far enough out into the pot for the combustion air to really get them burning. This was not the case when the stove was new. The first couple seasons it lit up fast like the P43 does now. I'm guessing some part of the feed process (auger, motor, slide plate, etc.) have lost their effectiveness and need to be "tuned up" so to speak.
Since my P61 is in the basement and I can turn off all light sources easily, I actually do stand there in the dark watching it start up for entertainment (yes, y'all should be jealous that I have such a fun-filled life ). I can say with 99% certainty that there ain't no flame under the pellet pile. there is some smoldering going on and just before take-off the chamber starts filling with smoke that clears right quick once the flames start.
but, but , but, if it takes 3 lbs of cheap pellets to make xxx btu's and only 2.2 lbs of good pellets to make the same btu's, where is the savings??? more pellets to stock, more pellets to haul, more pellets to burn, more ash to clean, less time for beer. kind of like ethanol gas, it is cheaper but it also gets less mpg for same quantity of fuel. I would do the math, but it is to early.
Thant would make sense if the spread really was 1/3 (3# = 2.2#), but it isn't. The spread is more typically 15% and under. Still I get what you say regarding the "work" involved.
I got him stuttering?? Now that the cost has gotten so much closer between the 2, It makes it easy to skip the cheap stuff(it aint cheap no more!!)...... I still might get a ton of crap(depending on the deal), But for the most part spending more for better stuff isn't as hard as it once was with the prices now so close!! So I'm slowly leaning over to skippin the cheap crap and just filling with good stuff for a couple a bucks more. I've always preferred the better beer brands and just can't seem to enjoy the cheaper stuff. So I guess I should apply the same to my pellet stash? I certainly know I will clean far less often with the better stuff which gives me more beer time or fishing time! I agree, Better to just start drinkin, Its easier!! Personally I feel with the BBS trying to close the gap and make more per ton has leaned the buyer towards the pellet house where you not only have a better choice(in my area anyway), But also better service. If the price playing field is close to equal, Then its a no brainer!!
