Question about pellet consumption p43- p61a, xxv

Shouldn't make any difference, as long as you don't run out of heating power (ie undersize the stove). If your house requires 30Kbtus to keep it at the temperature you want.....it doesn't care which stove is making the heat. It takes x number of pounds per hour of pellets to make x number of btu's. So...pellet usage should be.the same. If 30K is the magic number a P43 running at 80%, or a P61 running at 50%, pellet usage should be the same.

Is the p61 more efficient than the p43? If they are the same efficiency you will burn the same amount of pellets. The only difference is the 61 has the capacity for higher output.

Arguably you could burn more pellets running a large stove on low because of the air fuel ratio required, but that's another discussion.

I have a P68 and a P43. If you use a P61 you will probably be at stove temp 3 or around there because to get the same btu the stove doesn't have to work as hard as the P43. You will use the same amount of pellets like mentioned above because you want the same amount of heat. The larger stove will give you more overhead for colder days without maxing out the P43 along with a larger hopper.

Just got me a new XXV a little while ago and love it. It's very purdy(brown enamel-porcelain), will put out some good heat when turned up but is much less efficient than my 24yr. old Avalon. Maybe all new stoves are less efficient than the older ones, I'd think it should be the other way around. I'll be interested to hear some comparisons of efficiency between the different top Harman models.

AZ23 said:

Me too, I am debating between the 61 and the XXV and need to decide now

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I don't know the XXV but people have stated that the P series are easier to maintain Either way good luck

I have not had any problems cleaning the xxv but I have only had the unit for 3 weeks. Very accurate and keeps the room at what ever temp I set it. I have not done a major cleaning yet. There is a nice post that was just put last week xxv one ton cleaning with lots of pictures. My wife really like the looks of the stove so that made it the one. lol

Ive read somewhere on here, From a Cleaner combustion standpoint, you are better off running a P-43 a little hotter, like 4-5, than running a 61-68 at a#2 setting. The stove likes to run hot, hotter is cleaner, and just overall works better. I know my P-43 is easier to clean when run around a 4, and can soot up a bit on low.

I have both stoves, though I didn't pick either (came with the house). As for pros, I like the P61A's burn pot & heat exchanger design better than the XXV. Also a bigger hopper, bigger ash pan, and very easy to brush off the ESP during cleanings. That said, the XXV is obviously the nicer-looking stove, which is why it's in our living space upstairs . Otherwise pretty comparable to operate and maintain.

XXV is somewhat quieter, but I wouldn't call it quiet - still a lot of white noise. P61A fan is a bit louder and has a higher pitch, but really throws heat. I'd say you can't go wrong either way - just go with your gut.

Maintenance not significantly different (see my first reply). As for heat output, the P61A is rated at 61,000 btu & the XXV at 50,000. Not sure about the actual numbers, but that sounds about right for the difference I've noticed between the two.