Accentra Temp Control Problems - Too Hot, Too Cold, Off

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AbsolutPolack

New Member
Dec 16, 2014
2
Centrail MA
Hi All!

I've been having a bit of trouble with the Harman Accentra insert I had installed in November (same problem since). If I have it set at 70, it will crank the living room to 95. If the stove is on, it is always full bore big flame, seemingly unnoticing of the heat in the room (probe under unit - not cooler than room here, usually same). To counter this so I can live, I set it to 65 until the system cycles down and lowers the flame. Unfortunately, it always then kicks off and never reignites on its own. This is troublesome when I turn it down before heading up to bed. When I wake up, the unit is cold and the room is down to 50-55 deg.

Feed rate 3, auto ignite, dist fan usually 50-75%, variable temp. Burning Fireside Ultra's cleanly with minimal deposits left over - and cleaning weekly, if not more frequently when I come inside and find it off/cold.

Do I need to have the installers come back out and check the wiring?

Thanks!
 
You running in room temperature or stove temperature mode?

If room temperature mode.

Where is your room temperature probe located?

If that probe is on the floor or in a draft the stove will over shoot because the probe isn't where you are measuring the temperature at and won't see even close to the temperature you are seeing.

The cold air and drafts are going to be at floor level.
 
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I would try running it on a "stove temp" setting. Pick a number on your dial & leave it there.
You won't get the hi/lo temperature peaks, just a steady burn. Might use more pellets, but it
may do what you want as far as heating goes.
I ran my P43 on Room Temp for the first winter & never it seemed to get our kitchen warm.
Once I switched it over to Stove Temp, I was happier with the result, but I ended up getting a P61A.
The P43 was just too small for the area & I moved it to my garage so it could heat the smaller area.
It's working well in that environment on Room Temp.
 
I believe it is set on Room Temperature Mode (dial up to the top, not down bottom). The probe has been moved around from time to time but I still get the same results. They installed it in the back of the insert in the firebox. I moved it below the stove to where they installed it on my parents (whose works perfectly) as well as put it above the mantle where it is hotttt. Still no change.

The house we are heating is a 1600 SF 1950s cape (openish floor plan - not the best insulation). The stove it definitely more than we need for the house size.
 
Mine has worked fine on room temp for almost seven seasons. What I found is that room sensor placement is critical. Mine is located approximately three feet above and slightly to the left of my insert. Stove maintains temp to within two degrees, fan comes on as needed and if it gets too warm it cycles off and restarts just as I want it to. As Smokey said above though, the probe may be damaged. You can check this quick and dirty like by setting the stove to room temp and 70 degrees and, when it's firing, grabbing the probe in your fist and holding it until the stove goes into shutdown mode. Should take about two minutes max. Then hold an ice cube to it and see if the stove restarts. If that doesn't work you need a new probe.
 
I suggest pulling the probe out from under/behind the unit and run out along the side of the surround. run it out of the notch on the lower corner of the surround (meant for the power cord). At least then you know where its getting its measurement from.
 
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Delta-T said:
I suggest pulling the probe out from under/behind the unit and run out along the side of the surround. run it out of the notch on the lower corner of the surround (meant for the power cord). At least then you know where its getting its measurement from.
Click to expand...
X 2

And while you're at it, check the terminals to see it's landed OK and the wire for damage.
 
Have you moved the stove out since the installation? I did for the first time last weekend and I pulled out one of the solder less terminals (there are 2). I caught it just before moving it back.
 
Do you have cats? If yes, check to see if they have been chewing. If not, know anyone with a Harman that can let you borrow their probe for a day?

I had opposite problem, installer left probe under stove at the back on corner install. To much heat so stove never threw much heat. Sounds to me your probe is damaged or not fully connected (this would flash an error though) if the stove is not coming on when room is 55.
 
Is this a new unit? I saw it was just installed in November. I'd be giving the dealer and installer a call if so. Warranty? Sounds like it's not reading the room probe right a all.
 
AbsolutPolack said:
I believe it is set on Room Temperature Mode (dial up to the top, not down bottom). The probe has been moved around from time to time but I still get the same results. They installed it in the back of the insert in the firebox. I moved it below the stove to where they installed it on my parents (whose works perfectly) as well as put it above the mantle where it is hotttt. Still no change.

The house we are heating is a 1600 SF 1950s cape (openish floor plan - not the best insulation). The stove it definitely more than we need for the house size.
Click to expand...
Yes you need to get the probe out from under the stove what happens is the fans are sucking in cool air from the floor across the probe making it think it's cooler in the room than it actually is then when it turns off the bottom of the stove stays warm and the probe thinks the room is still warm.thats why your having the temp swings.after I found a good location for my probe I was amazed to find that it will hold that 1degree temp your looking for.
 
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