Harman Pellet Stove wont feed

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youngguy426

New Member
Oct 29, 2015
10
Sandy Lake, Pa
Hi all,

I am struggling with a my Harman Accentra Fireplace Insert. I have tried starting my pellet stove for my first time this year and have been unsuccessful. The combustion fan was stuck so after i freed it the stove would do an initial startup. Meaning the stove would distribute pellets into the burn pot, light, burn and then run out of pellets and would not feed. I had this issue last year and it was the ESP probe. So i took it out and cleaned it again like i did last year. This time it did not fix the issue. Today i bought a new ESP probe and installed hoping this would fix the issue. With luck not in my favor this didn't correct the issue and i am out of ideas. I am in need of help with winter starting soon and nights dropping into the 20's. Would like to try and fix this myself so turning to everyone on here for help.
 
Surprised that no one has chimed in to help:(
Last seasons pellets in the hopper?
Any codes flashing?
 
Last time I helped with Harman stove feed issue the stove had a kids bracelet stuck in the feed chute. Thankfully it had not got into the auger. Its issue was it would start, then would not have a very large fire. I am thinking along the same line. Something could be impeding the feed during normal operation and you may not like what you find.
 
Bioburner said:
Last time I helped with Harman stove feed issue the stove had a kids bracelet stuck in the feed chute. Thankfully it had not got into the auger. Its issue was it would start, then would not have a very large fire. I am thinking along the same line. Something could be impeding the feed during normal operation and you may not like what you find.
Click to expand...

Well at this point I'm hopefully for anything. But I'm 23 and my girlfriend is 25 and no kids are around so I'm not sure but willing to look in to that theory
 
Have you checked and clean the fines box lately?
I burn corn etc and have seen vermin etc. Reason for asking about old pellets is they may have absorbed some moisture and swelled.
 
The ESP has to get hot enough to start feeding pellets. Is the fire on start up long/hot enough? Did you unplug/shut off power and plug the stove back in ?
 
After the combustion fan was stuck i went through and did a thorough cleaning on the stove. So the fines were cleaned. I pulled the cover off for the feeder and everything looked fine but i did not tear it apart. As for the moisture the pellets looked fine the bag wasn't swelled nor were the pellets. But i will empty it out tonight and try a new bag i bought this year. As for the ESP getting hot enough i believe so it will fill the burn pot up with pellets and burn through them all. When it first start it blows cold air and then before it runs out of pellets the air is warm coming out of it. Yes, i have unplugged and plugged back in. When installing the ESP probe i unplugged and after it was installed plugged back in. But have not unplugged since the new probe was installed.
 
I was more concerned about bad pellets in the auger flights. What you can't see can be the problem
 
When you replaced the ESP, did you replace it with the same color? Old was red wire, replaced with red wire, etc.? If old was black wire and new was red, you need to change a dip switch setting on the control board I think.

I have had a similar issue and it was an air leak not allowing the vacuum switch to close. Make sure the fines box lid is hooded and in place properly. Make sure the hopper lid is sealed tightly. How are your door gaskets? Do the Dollar Bill test and see if they are still tight.
I found out I was chasing a Vacuum issue when I jumped out the vacuum switch and the stove started feeding pellets. I was able to trace mine back to some fines that were blocking the small silicone hose connected to the vacuum switch.
 
Is there a short, or loose wire/connection somewhere between the ESP and the control board so it can't tell the ESP is being satisfied?
 
Correct Esp had black wire and i put a new black wire in. As far as my seals i am unsure but the door gasket is fairly new. Something i can look into is the vacuum line.
As for the short or loose wire, i do not believe so. The ESP probe is new and just plugs into the circuit board so unless something is wrong with the circuit board i don't see a loose wire on the ESP probe being my issue.
 
I have had the same problem in the past. It was my feed motor assembly. The motor would run, but it would only feed for a short period of time. There was a broken gear in the attached gear box. I replaced the whole assembly.
 
Just some more details for thought. The stove acts the same way whether it is on the stove temp or the thermostat. I put the stove on test mode and it feeds pellets and blowers kick on. When first starting the stove if it is set at a lower temp the fans are low and if i turn the temp up the blowers kick on higher. However the light on the panel kicks on for the feeder motor but it does not feed. I do not hear any whining or grinding like it is bound up. I know the auger works because it feeds pellets for the initial start up.
 
Update for everyone. I got home took all the pellets out of the hopper. Swept the hopper out. I pulled the insert out cleaned the fines, pulled the plate for the auger swept that as well, opened the side plate to the combustion chamber and double check cleaning. Double check wire for ESP probe all looked good. Cleaned the chimney as well. Took the vacuum line off the pressure switch blew into it and was clear. Put back together and slide into fire place and put new pellets in hopper. Turned the switch to room temp and pellets feed and lit like always. Prior to lighting filled the chamber with smoke and then lit. But still will not feed after the initial feeding.
 
The smoke isn't a concern AFAIK, both mine does that too. Still seems to me that somehow the ESP temp isn't getting transmitted to the control panel, so it is quitting, as it should. Don't know if that means control board or something else though - sorry I'm not more help.
 
Did you do anything that MtDew suggested with regards the gaskets? How old of unit? Could try and jump the vacuum switch and see if the stove continues past startup. That could give us a clue to your issue.
 
youngguy426 said:
Update for everyone. I got home took all the pellets out of the hopper. Swept the hopper out. I pulled the insert out cleaned the fines, pulled the plate for the auger swept that as well, opened the side plate to the combustion chamber and double check cleaning. Double check wire for ESP probe all looked good. Cleaned the chimney as well. Took the vacuum line off the pressure switch blew into it and was clear. Put back together and slide into fire place and put new pellets in hopper. Turned the switch to room temp and pellets feed and lit like always. Prior to lighting filled the chamber with smoke and then lit. But still will not feed after the initial feeding.
Click to expand...
You could try and jump out the vacuum pressure switch. Should be a wiring connector on the pressure switch, remove it and use a paperclip across the wires on the connector. With this jumper in place, try and start the stove as you normally would.
 
Door gaskets are good. Along with the hopper lid. But if the gasket was bad wouldn't that cause it to never start? I am going to try and jump the vacuum switch today
 
Possible for the cold stove to start but as the stove warms and the metal expands the seals no longer hold
 
Well another update for everyone. I pulled the stove out again and triple checked everything. Spun everything by hand all is free. Check the tube off the pressure switch again. I pulled the pigtails off the pressure switch and put them back on. Unplugged the stove while doing all this. I plugged it in and it kinda worked. It did the same Intail start then the pellets burnt down and thought it was going to go out and fed. So I pulled it out again and then I used a small air compressor and blew off everything In the back. I started it again and the same issue it'll burn nearly all pellets in the pot then feed more not a constant burn.

I have still not jumped the pressure switch yet.
 
youngguy426 said:
Also forgot one off the times it went out the status light blinked 6 times.
Click to expand...

6 blinks is a low draft. When I have seen this on my stove it's time for a cleaning including all of the vent pipe.
 
With the exhaust motor having been stuck and you have cleaned the chimney and stove workings again, I think your combustion fan motor may have lost its umph:( Not a fun project to replace. New motor off Amazon is $100 and need to get new fan as the removal usually destroys it too.
 
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