BURNING PELLETS QUESTION

[HOGG0494]

hi everyone.have a question.my 5th year with my harman xxv.i have always used stove temp mode but a friend told me room temp mode will save pellets and energy.i have had stove in room temp mode and have the sensor in a spot that is exact with my thermostat.so 70 on my stove setting matches my room temp of 70.my problem is at night when it gets colder out the stove is ramping up my pellet feed faster.i wake up to a ash pan of half burnt pellets.since in room temp mode the stove controls my pellet feed speed how do i stop this from happening?help appreciated

 

[jackman]

Turn down the feed rate. While I don't have the same model as you I find that a feed rate of 3 is all I need. It keeps the pellets burning hotter and in the back of the pot. I run all the time in room temp mode.

 

[HOGG0494]

thanks for reply.when the stove is in room temp mode it does not matter where i have the feed rate set.the stove controls it.i can put it on 1 or 5 the stove controls where it wants it.kinda like a override

 

[Tonyray]

agree...
i use feed rate #3 when burning small kernel sized pellets, and
feed rate#4 when using standard sized pellets..

 

[Tonyray]

thanks for reply.when the stove is in room temp mode it does not matter where i have the feed rate set.the stove controls it.i can put it on 1 or 5 the stove controls where it wants it.kinda like a override

depends what temperature you have it set for...
lower set temperature like 65-70 will feed less pellets since demand is lower..

 

[alternativeheat]

Well actually it shouldn't be happening, the overflowing pellets that is. The ramping up is natural, it's how you can keep your house at 70 24/7, when it's colder out it automatically ups the output. What is your feed rate set at ?

 

[jzm2cc]

Could be an air flow problem also causing incomplete pellet burning. Check for plugged up exhaust channels or within pipe or air inlet, blocked holes in burn pot, ash build up within burn pot, etc.

 

[bags]

Have you cleaned your ESP lately? It could be sending sloppy signals giving you issues. I have never had pellets wanting to push of the pot before they were burned no matter what feed rate I am running. I could probably make it happen but I never run above feed rate 4. Usually 2-3. I have ramped up the feed rate when my stove was new just to see what it would do. It got too hot for what I needed in the house so I dialed it down in a short time. The P68 was BLAZING!

Also as for saving pellets and energy that is somewhat irrelevant. More heat with colder temps = more pellets burned regardless of stove or room temp mode. I would venture to say running stove mode or room temp mode that the amount of pellets burned with matching temps would be the same.

Another words, To keep you place at 74* it will need to burn the same amount or pellets either way. I never burn in stove temp mode. Your friend may be referring to saving pellets if you set the temp and the stove ramps down once that temp is reached thus saving some pellets while it isn't calling for as much heat. But bottom line to reach temperature "X" you need to produce "X" BTUs and it would take the same amount of pellets to reach that "X" BTUs being burned. If you burned 1/2 of "X" then it would not produce the same amount of heat as 1 "X". (1/2 "X" < 1 "X")

 

[GeHmTS]

It's important to scrap the burn pot daily so that fresh pellets can move easily. I generally turn down the temp when I go to bed in order to conserve pellets.

 

[Pete Zahria]

It's important to scrap the burn pot daily

Do you buy them in bulk?

 

[Tonyray]

Have you cleaned your ESP lately? It could be sending sloppy signals giving you issues. I have never had pellets wanting to push of the pot before they were burned no matter what feed rate I am running. I could probably make it happen but I never run above feed rate 4. Usually 2-3. I have ramped up the feed rate when my stove was new just to see what it would do. It got too hot for what I needed in the house so I dialed it down in a short time. The P68 was BLAZING!

Also as for saving pellets and energy that is somewhat irrelevant. More heat with colder temps = more pellets burned regardless of stove or room temp mode. I would venture to say running stove mode or room temp mode that the amount of pellets burned with matching temps would be the same.

Another words, To keep you place at 74* it will need to burn the same amount or pellets either way. I never burn in stove temp mode. Your friend may be referring to saving pellets if you set the temp and the stove ramps down once that temp is reached thus saving some pellets while it isn't calling for as much heat. But bottom line to reach temperature "X" you need to produce "X" BTUs and it would take the same amount of pellets to reach that "X" BTUs being burned. If you burned 1/2 of "X" then it would not produce the same amount of heat as 1 "X". (1/2 "X" < 1 "X")

stove or constant mode for me uses way more pellets..
not to keen on keeping the stove at the stove's ESP temperature as opposed to the living space temps which is what we all try to do i suppose...besides, my stove hasn't shut down in past week with this cold snap going on in room auto 24/7. bag/half on room mode.. at least 2 bags on stove mode.
but that's me..

 

[bags]

stove or constant mode for me uses way more pellets..
not to keen on keeping the stove at the stove's ESP temperature as opposed to the living space temps which is what we all try to do i suppose...besides, my stove hasn't shut down in past week with this cold snap going on in room auto 24/7. bag/half on room mode.. at least 2 bags on stove mode.
but that's me..

I suppose you could use more and not get as much heat if you have the stove temp mode set higher than needed and more is going out the exhaust which is a pointless waste. My argument is that if set correctly you can get the same amount of heat produced using around the same amount of pellets running either way with things being equal. This is why I always run the room blower on high to push out as much heat as possible. If that gets too warm then I adjust the temp down or the feed rate down.

I never run on stove temp mode anymore. No need here. I messed with it a few times the first couple of winters to see what it is all about. I get all the heat I need running in room temp all the time with the fan on high. I sometimes run auto ignite and sometimes manual. When in manual would be a situation where I would roll the feed rate down and just keep a constant low and slow burn to maintain a temp inside when it is not real cold out but it has to be a bit colder to justify it. Otherwise, auto and set it and forget it. I'm not worried about the stove and igniter cycling.

The saving the igniter or worrying about that went out the window long ago. Igniters are cheap and quick and easy to do. I have a new back up waiting for the if or when. That said, you don't even need the igniter since "if" or "when" happens you can still light the stove and heat with it until you want to take the time to replace it. You would only have to give up the room auto mode for a bit until you decide to replace the igniter.

 

[Tonyray]

I suppose you could use more and not get as much heat if you have the stove temp mode set higher than needed and more is going out the exhaust which is a pointless waste. My argument is that if set correctly you can get the same amount of heat produced using around the same amount of pellets running either way with things being equal. This is why I always run the room blower on high to push out as much heat as possible. If that gets too warm then I adjust the temp down or the feed rate down.

I never run on stove temp mode anymore. No need here. I messed with it a few times the first couple of winters to see what it is all about. I get all the heat I need running in room temp all the time with the fan on high. I sometimes run auto ignite and sometimes manual. When in manual would be a situation where I would roll the feed rate down and just keep a constant low and slow burn to maintain a temp inside when it is not real cold out but it has to be a bit colder to justify it. Otherwise, auto and set it and forget it. I'm not worried about the stove and igniter cycling.

The saving the igniter or worrying about that went out the window long ago. Igniters are cheap and quick and easy to do. I have a new back up waiting for the if or when. That said, you don't even need the igniter since "if" or "when" happens you can still light the stove and heat with it until you want to take the time to replace it. You would only have to give up the room auto mode for a bit until you decide to replace the igniter.

never ran the blower on high as i always assumed the stove naturally used more pellets to keep up but you seem to feel different../? that last line is a question....