Run Harman without igniter?

TimfromMA said:

I think they are concerned with the smoke bothering their neighbors.

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ok.. can understand that....
my Harman sends up a semi- thick white/gray cloud for about 30 seconds after Ignition
Neighbor likes the smell....

Even without the billowing smoke, there is a distinct smokey smell in the air outside when my stove is running.

I put a switch in series with the igniter and keep it off. To light a fire place a handful of pellets in the burn pot light up the propane torch and after 25 seconds we have flame. Adjust the heat and go drink coffee. TimfromMA I also smell the exhaust fumes in the air outside as the wind swirls around but never see actual smoke.
Picked up a hundred bags to start the heating season, now wait for the sales. Last year we burnt six plus a bit tons, real cold at times and was every day. Less than one half tank of oil used.
As I type my pellet stove is all over the basement floor, cleaned out and repainted ready to go back together and no parts required.

Not using the stove's igniter is like refusing to use your car's starter motor and preferring the hand crank or a pull start. Why someone would prefer starting manually is just odd. If you have no igniter or your stove's igniter is faulty then I understand.

TimfromMA said:

Not using the stove's igniter is like refusing to use your car's starter motor and preferring the hand crank or a pull start. Why someone would prefer starting manually is just odd. If you have no igniter or your stove's igniter is faulty then I understand.

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I agree 100%..Mine is under 3yr Harman warranty and looks simple enough to replace someday down the road..
Only use once in the morning and then I am on manual burn settings..
that said,
On manual lighting, how is it that there is no smoke but I get smoke when 1st startup using ignitor?

During ignition, my stove smokes quite heavily even before there is ever a flame. Since the igniter heats up gradually, it creates alot of smoke before getting hot enough for the pellets to ignite. When lighting manually, you skip the whole igniter warm up process and go straight to flame. There is a bit of smoke as the pellets get going but alot less.

TimfromMA said:

During ignition, my stove smokes quite heavily even before there is ever a flame. Since the igniter heats up gradually, it creates alot of smoke before getting hot enough for the pellets to ignite. When lighting manually, you skip the whole igniter warm up process and go straight to flame. There is a bit of smoke as the pellets get going but alot less.

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Ya know, I knew that... used to watch the pellets smolder while the ignitor did it's thing..
just sort of forgot that part I think since winter..

Tonyray said:

I agree 100%..Mine is under 3yr Harman warranty and looks simple enough to replace someday down the road..
Only use once in the morning and then I am on manual burn settings..
that said,
On manual lighting, how is it that there is no smoke but I get smoke when 1st startup using ignitor?

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The warranty on electrical components is 2 years on Harman pellet products.

Bioburner said:

The warranty on electrical components is 2 years on Harman pellet products.

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Correct..
I just checked my Manual...thought it was 3..

Since I sprayed the whole inside of my Harman with cooking Spray this spring,
I imagine my 1st fire up will make enough smoke that will be seen at the State Capitol..

chickenman said:

You will need to do our tyre burning trick;
only light up after dark on a windy night.

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Dark and light rain around here. No need to alert a Fire Marshal or EPA.

I do odd things, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I started doing it as a curiosity of what it takes to get a fire going without the auto ignite, also recall the ignitor being close to $100, just kept doing it. I run my stove 24/7 till it needs cleaning so i really only start it a few times a month.
As for not smoking with manual light i'd guess the flame burns off the smoke? and the ignitor heats the pellets till hot enough to creat a flame, smoldering along the way?

johninwi said:

I do odd things, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I started doing it as a curiosity of what it takes to get a fire going without the auto ignite, also recall the ignitor being close to $100, just kept doing it. I run my stove 24/7 till it needs cleaning so i really only start it a few times a month.
As for not smoking with manual light i'd guess the flame burns off the smoke? and the ignitor heats the pellets till hot enough to creat a flame, smoldering along the way?

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Pretty much smokes till ignition temp of around 600 or so, corn a couple hundred more

Funny joke to play on a corn burner. Throw a handful of popcorn in the hopper and wait.

Works just as well on a pellet burner

Kernels are easier to spot in a hopper full of pellets but if you bury them....then yep.

Runts or the small kernels at the end of a cob tend to crack and pop.

where's the butter go? don't think i have that attachment
won't the salt cause clinkers?

I don't know of any high altitude burners. Corn has more sugars and some conversion if I remember right,to methane, that has a higher oxygen content. Not unlike some of the diesels that use a propane injection to clean up the burn.

chickenman said:

So in theory I guess the corn should burn better in thinner air as the methane adds to the air mix. So there may be some truth to it.

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Fart in your stove's air intake.

chickenman said:

Stove is too close to the wall to back up to it

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OAK hose.

Might get a billion or two to hook it up to some cows from Big O to lower emissions to combat global warming!

chickenman said:

That is genius!
Would you like to post a demonstration video?

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I would but the people who run this board might disapprove.

chickenman said:

Our neighbour has a large pig farm. He built a digester and runs 2 x V8 Detriot generators 24/7 powering everything on the farm plus power to the grid. Plus the stink factor is immensely lower.
Paid back the 2mill (without any government subsidy) in 4 years. He tried to sell the systems to others but banks won't take the risk.

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Is he a short little guy who rides on the shoulders of a much larger man in a steel helmet by chance?