First Impressions of the Harman Accentra 52i

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Peterfield

Peterfield

Minister of Fire
Dec 12, 2013
1,394
New Hampshire
Well, the stove was installed last Saturday and has been on constantly until I shut it down this morning as it will be in the mid-50's today. I am impressed with the ease of operation and the incredibly small amount of ash produced (FSU's & GS) for the time it has been burning. I thought I would miss the radiant heat I previously enjoyed from my Jotul No.3 wood-stove but I am liking this convective heat much more and the heat penetrates much better into the nooks and crannies of my home than my previous wood-stove. In the past, sitting in my living room chair I could feel a draft and the cold of the large picture window right behind the chair. I don't feel that at all now and I am guessing the circulating air is dissipating the chill before it reaches me and I find myself feeling a little guilty being wrapped in so much warmth as compared to my previous heating experience.

I have a couple of question for owners of this model. One, the installer pointed out the new features of this model versus the old Accentra inserts. He told me raising the hopper lid no longer starts the stove into shut-down mode and that only happens if you open the door. He also surprised me by saying you don't have to go behind the medallion anymore when cleaning and that is something only needs to be done at the season-ending annual cleaning. I know this is contrary to videos I have seen and advice given on this forum and wonder what you think about this. The other question pertains to the blower noise as it is louder than I expected but I understand this new model has twin blowers vice the older model. I do not recall the 52i's I saw in various showrooms being as loud but it could simply be the acoustics of a showroom versus my living room. I really don't find it bothersome but if there are any tweaks to quiet them down a bit I wouldn't mind trying that,. Thanks in advance.

Paul
 
I have noticed that it is louder than i anticipated but a few clicks of volumn on the TV and its not a big deal. A small price to pay for the warmth it provides. I havent taken it apart yet to do a cleaning but taking the medallion and heat exchangers off takes seconds so I plan on scraping behind them during my weekly cleaning.
 
I also completed a recent install of this unit. So far, I like it. A bit noisy, but as MR47930 points out, nothing a few clicks of the remote can't fix. I'm currently burning using the room temp sensor. I have it set to about 70 degrees and it comes on and off as needed. I've maybe burned a whole bag of pellets thus far. We're trying to get used the heat this thing is throwing. The accentra replaced a 25kBTU propane insert, and all I can say is that the level of heat coming off is night and day. If this runs too long, we have meat falling off the bone in our living room. I can't wait to see how she does when we dip into the 20s or the teens at night. You guys running this thing overnight yet?
 
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Irish916 said:
I also completed a recent install of this unit. So far, I like it. A bit noisy, but as MR47930 points out, nothing a few clicks of the remote can't fix. I'm currently burning using the room temp sensor. I have it set to about 70 degrees and it comes on and off as needed. I've maybe burned a whole bag of pellets thus far. We're trying to get used the heat this thing is throwing. The accentra replaced a 25kBTU propane insert, and all I can say is that the level of heat coming off is night and day. If this runs too long, we have meat falling off the bone in our living room. I can't wait to see how she does when we dip into the 20s or the teens at night. You guys running this thing overnight yet?
Click to expand...

Yes, I ran it from Saturday afternoon until this morning. I tried both automatic and manual modes and the temp was maintained within a degree of where I wanted it. One thing I was not aware of is when you are in manual mode and stove temp mode, the blower won't come on unless the manual level is at or greater than five. Useful if you just want the ambiance of the flame to look at without heating the room. This "feature" is listed in the "What your Harman Manual doesn't tell you" sticky thread on this forum.
 
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Irish916 said:
I also completed a recent install of this unit. So far, I like it. A bit noisy, but as MR47930 points out, nothing a few clicks of the remote can't fix. I'm currently burning using the room temp sensor. I have it set to about 70 degrees and it comes on and off as needed. I've maybe burned a whole bag of pellets thus far. We're trying to get used the heat this thing is throwing. The accentra replaced a 25kBTU propane insert, and all I can say is that the level of heat coming off is night and day. If this runs too long, we have meat falling off the bone in our living room. I can't wait to see how she does when we dip into the 20s or the teens at night. You guys running this thing overnight yet?
Click to expand...

Had it on room temp auto for the past couple of days when the lows were upper 30's low 40's and it kept the house at whatever temp i wanted it. Looks like it wont get much time to burn this week as 70s are forecasted. Thinking about room temp manual for the cold winter months. I'm on bag #3 and so far am very impressed. Still worried about how the first deep clean is going to go.
 
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Well I did a brief clean on my 52i today.

Yes the metal inserts have to come out. There aren't the acording style heat exhanger back there any more...but there are one panel for the cross over fan..and one panel for the fan it's self back there.

The igniter chamber fulls up with ash rather quickly....so that is something to clean out. Ash pan seems smaller too.

I guess for me it's like anything new.....I really like my old 52....but just getting acquainted with my new 52i.
 
Congrats you will love your new stove.i felt the fans were pretty quiet as compared to my old stove.when I clean my stove I take all the parts out and clean them you will find plenty of ash behind that medallion.why not clean it.never heard that one but I would clean behind it.
 
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Congrats and that baby will give you heat and put $ in your pocket over the years.on my p35i I do a good cleaning once a week.maybe compulsive but a happy stave means a warm house.
 
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Once you turn off the 52i, generally how long does it take for the entire stove and fans to go off? I find that mine could take close to an hour for all quiet? Is this right?
 
thundercracker said:
Once you turn off the 52i, generally how long does it take for the entire stove and fans to go off? I find that mine could take close to an hour for all quiet? Is this right?
Click to expand...

Yes, it takes quite a while for the exhaust fan to finally turn off. I am guessing it is programmed that way to ensure all exhaust gases are removed before the last pellet dies out during shutdown.
 
Peterfield said:
Yes, it takes quite a while for the exhaust fan to finally turn off. I am guessing it is programmed that way to ensure all exhaust gases are removed before the last pellet dies out during shutdown.
Click to expand...
Yes all the Harmans are that way now. What I do and have learned that others here do it as well, is I don't wait for full shut down to start cleaning. I open the door and start cleaning as soon as the flame is basically out and embers are glowing. First thing I do is rake the glowing embers into the ash pan. The exhaust blower will continue to run so I just brush down the inside of the stove while it's going. At some point I shut the door and by then often the blower will go off. Not having those embers glowing shortens the shutdown period. I don't own a 52i so I won't comment on cleaning behind the medallion or when to pull the insert ..
 
alternativeheat said:
I don't wait for full shut down to start cleaning.
Click to expand...

Just in a hurry to get it fired back up, or do you find this has some positive impact on the cleaning process?
 
I'll have to try that and see if cleaning out the box decreases the shutdown time but it makes sense as it would cool sooner. I am still getting used to all this but it's been so good I am wondering what the heck I waited so long for to switch to pellets.
 
tiger said:
Just in a hurry to get it fired back up, or do you find this has some positive impact on the cleaning process?
Click to expand...
Both. For one thing, although my install has natural draft, it does help to contain fly ash. Secondly, in the dead of winter I might beat the oil burner from starting ! Still in the end I need the stove to fully shut down to clean the exit passages and combustion fan blade ( in P series Harman this is a very simple task but the fan has to be off obviously).

As to raking the embers into the ash pan, they will burn down to ash anyway in my stove so no loss there. It's not as though they will ever relight. However if you dump the ash pan the same day be careful where that is in the yard, not in the trash !!!! I dump mine in one of my wife's raised garden beds where it is only dirt and or snow.
 
Also just installed this stove this summer. I have been using now for about a month, just to take the chill out of the house, and weekend when we're home all day. Make sure to check the under the burn pot once a week in the igniter chamber as it seems to fill with ash much faster than I thought it would. About a week ago my auto igniter would not fire up. I thought, here we go with a bad part already. To my surprise the chamber was real full with ash. Cleaned it out and she fired right up again. I probably had burned maybe 10 bags at that point. Love this stove. I was a wood burner for the last 20 + years. Wasn't sure if a pellet stove was going to be as good as the wood burner. It is! I can throw out just as much heat with much less work. The nice thing is I don't have the swing in temperature that you have with the wood stove. I could get the wood stove hotter but you had to tend to it all the time if you wanted constant heat.

One thing you might want to look into is getting a wireless thermostat for your unit. I put one in last week and it is the second best thing I have done since I purchased the stove. This will allow you to program set back times for different temperatures or shut down for times your not home or sleeping when you don't want to run it as hot. Work like a charm and is saving me pellets and allows a nice warm house when I get home from work and wake up in the morning.
 
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alternativeheat said:
Both. For one thing, although my install has natural draft, it does help to contain fly ash. Secondly, in the dead of winter I might beat the oil burner from starting ! Still in the end I need the stove to fully shut down to clean the exit passages and combustion fan blade ( in P series Harman this is a very simple task but the fan has to be off obviously).

As to raking the embers into the ash pan, they will burn down to ash anyway in my stove so no loss there. It's not as though they will ever relight. However if you dump the ash pan the same day be careful where that is in the yard, not in the trash !!!! I dump mine in one of my wife's raised garden beds where it is only dirt and or snow.
Click to expand...
I do Exactly the same procedure as you do for the same reasons.....makes positive sense and get's the stove back up to speed sooner.
I do a full shutdown cleaning every 10 days or so...about 40 minutes or so. Blower compartment, fines box etc..
Oil furnace comes on if it's brutal cold out but not for long..
 
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Husky said:
One thing you might want to look into is getting a wireless thermostat for your unit. I put one in last week and it is the second best thing I have done since I purchased the stove. This will allow you to program set back times for different temperatures or shut down for times your not home or sleeping when you don't want to run it as hot. Work like a charm and is saving me pellets and allows a nice warm house when I get home from work and wake up in the morning.
Click to expand...
Hmm, now I like this wireless thermostat idea. I assume though programmable they have a version with simple send and receive connections and that is what you used ? Is it line of sight or can it be in another room ?
 
Tonyray said:
I do Exactly the same procedure as you do for the same reasons.....makes positive sense and get's the stove back up to speed sooner.
I do a full shutdown cleaning every 10 days or so...about 40 minutes or so. Blower compartment, fines box etc..
Oil furnace comes on if it's brutal cold out but not for long..
Click to expand...
It seems we do a lot of things the same Tony !
 
Husky said:
One thing you might want to look into is getting a wireless thermostat for your unit. I put one in last week and it is the second best thing I have done since I purchased the stove. This will allow you to program set back times for different temperatures or shut down for times your not home or sleeping when you don't want to run it as hot. Work like a charm and is saving me pellets and allows a nice warm house when I get home from work and wake up in the morning.
Click to expand...

What model did you buy? How difficult is it to install? Thanks.
 
so you guys are going 10 days with out cleaning, but do you have to scrape off the speed bump daily? If not how are you avoiding that pesky little chore?
 
3650 said:
so you guys are going 10 days with out cleaning, but do you have to scrape off the speed bump daily? If not how are you avoiding that pesky little chore?
Click to expand...
Depends on the pellets used and burn rate as well. But ya, I scrape under the fire daily and sometimes more than that. Others here do not though. If you burn Douglas Fir pellets that goes a long way towards avoiding the speed bump all together. There are other brands and types of wood pellets too though.. I'm very surprised at how much of that surface carbon I'm getting from LG this year. And very little with Maine Wood blend.
 
3650 said:
so you guys are going 10 days with out cleaning, but do you have to scrape off the speed bump daily? If not how are you avoiding that pesky little chore?
Click to expand...
scrape every day couple times....
did NOT scrape for a couple days and under the ash I found a nice speedbump..
Thank u stove chows...
 
alternativeheat said:
Hmm, now I like this wireless thermostat idea. I assume though programmable they have a version with simple send and receive connections and that is what you used ? Is it line of sight or can it be in another room ?
Click to expand...
It can be in another room up to 20 feet away from transmitter. Bought the skytech 5301p form amazon. You can program 2 temp changes mon-fri and 2 changes sat-sun. Been using it for a week now with no problems.
 
Husky said:
It can be in another room up to 20 feet away from transmitter. Bought the skytech 5301p form amazon. You can program 2 temp changes mon-fri and 2 changes sat-sun. Been using it for a week now with no problems.
Click to expand...

How do you go about programming it to the stove?
 
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