Hampton gci60 (m55) owners

[Burnbaby]

First off I love the stove, it looks great and put out heat. My experiences so far, I think my flame is what it should be on heat level 4 and 5, but on 1 and 2 it's barely visible. I have my slide damper almost all the way out, if I were to gauge it on a 1-10 scale it would be out at a 8. I heard that to much air causes a blowtorch flame I can pull my damper out all the way and not get that. Having said that the flame is still aggressive. Is this a OAK situation? My main concern though is the pellet consumption. Yesterday with mild temps here in NH I ran the stove between 3 and 4 on heat settings, with the feed trim set at 1. I'm guessing I'd go though about 2 bags of pellets, seems like a lot . I was burning Geneva "super premium" if that matters. This is just the third firing of the stove so I think it's not a not clean thing. What are you guys going though with pellets as far as consumption. What setting do you typically use? Thanks for any input. I'm just learning how this stove burns the best, I thinking about having a tech come by and really dial in the stove for me.

 

[Wachusett]

Burnbaby, My stove is the free standing M55. I typically run the stove at similar settings as you. 3 or 4 heat setting, 1 on the feed trim in hi/lo mode. I also have the OAK hooked up. My vent pipe is straight out the back 3 feet. When I set the stove up with a mag. gauge I ended up with the damper at the halfway point (5 on your scale). Typically with temps like we have had this past week I'll burn about a 1 1/2 bags a day on average. I find it depends on alot of variables. Pellet length in particular
for me. Short pellets feed faster which does create more heat, however distributing this heat quickly/evenly is my problem. Slow and steady wins most races.

 

[corkman]

i have the vf55 and my numbers are pretty similar to Wachusett.im running on stat set to hi/lo, heat level 3 with feed trim set to 2.i use about 1 1/2 bags a day.colder days will use up 2.these stoves can really produce the heat but they can also eat a lot of pellets

 

[jtakeman]

Pretty sure peek efficiency was tested by the factory and setting the damper with the magnehelic is key.

 

[Burnbaby]

My next step is to set it with a mag gauge. One more question. If I have it set on feed trim 1 does it dispense the same amount of pellets no matter what heat setting I have it on? Thanks

 

[jtakeman]

My next step is to set it with a mag gauge. One more question. If I have it set on feed trim 1 does it dispense the same amount of pellets no matter what heat setting I have it on? Thanks

No, It will still add more fuel for each heat level you raise it. It will just be at the lowest rate possible for that heat setting.

 

[jgrz0610]

On heat setting 1 or 2 I just have a sort of "glow" coming from my burnpot while the stove idles. I burn about 2 bags per day in the M55 on hi/lo with the hi at 3 or 4. Hi at 4 I go through pretty much exactly 2 bags, at 3 it's like 1.75. I had my damper set the first season way too far open because I made the mistake of thinking I could set it by eye. With the mag gauge it's closed down a lot more than I thought it should be but I get the right heat, the right burn, and the right performance that I wish I had last year. Your usage is right but I bet you that you're giving it way too much air.

 

[Brokenwing]

My damper is open almost the whole way. The dealer checked with the mag gauge and it is right on target. I burn on setting 2 90 percent of the time, and the fire stays below the burn pot. The only time on setting 2 that i get a aggresive flame is when the burn pot agitator kicks in. So I think you are okay. I also have a oak installed. The exhaust coming out of the pipe is clear, just the heat vapor, so I know im burning clean. I have not changed my feed or air, and Im burning about a bag and half a day on setting 2.

 

[Eatonpcat]

On level 1 my flame is below the top of the burnpot, but on level 2 it is above the pot!

Mild temperatures and running on heat level 3 and 4 does not sound correct to me. I usually keep my feed trim at level 3 and air level at three and if I burn on heat level three, I will use at least 2 bags per day (probably more). But yesterday burning on level 2 I had to open a couple windows to cool off!

 

[Burnbaby]

On level 1 my flame is below the top of the burnpot, but on level 2 it is above the pot!

Mild temperatures and running on heat level 3 and 4 does not sound correct to me. I usually keep my feed trim at level 3 and air level at three and if I burn on heat level three, I will use at least 2 bags per day (probably more). But yesterday burning on level 2 I had to open a couple windows to cool off!

Everyone in the house was wearing shorts and t-shirts, and we were still hot. I'm still playing around with the stove. It's not in a central location so I burn it hot to get the house up in temp , and then bring it back down. Fans booing into hot room seem to be working good.

 

[Eatonpcat]

Everyone in the house was wearing shorts and t-shirts, and we were still hot. I'm still playing around with the stove. It's not in a central location so I burn it hot to get the house up in temp , and then bring it back down. Fans booing into hot room seem to be working good.

I put my Booing fans away after Halloween!!

This is my second year burning and I'm still playing around with mine too!!

 

[Aquion]

I run mine on level 2 most of the time. Today it's on level one because its so warm outside. I keep the feed trim on level 1 or 2. The flame on lvl 1 is more of a glow, 2 is a little bigger but doesn't come higher than the burn pot all that often, and level 3 is where the nice flame starts.

I'm heating about 1600 square feet on one level, so the stove doesn't have to work that hard. It hasn't been above level 3 so far this heating season except for a couple of times when I wanted some quick heat.

I need to set mine up with a mag gauge. I'm just looking for a good deal on one. I also have to get a screw for the hole where you test the stove. I think the stove was supposed to come with one, but mine is missing.

 

[Wags]

I have had the GCI60 for three years now and going into the fourth. NOT impressed at all. I can't run it at anything over setting 3 or the flame gets huge and starts to soot. I have all the test equipment and have tried every possible scenario. This thing chews pellets like a mother and is labor intensive to run. The heavy metal shroud above the burn pot is disintegrating (burning away/breaking down) and the agitator is now doing the same. I just installed an OAK straight out the back, so we will see if this helps. I just think this is a piss poor design and I should have gone with the Harmon. I have also tried many different pellets too, but it doesn't change much. I have settled with running it at level 2 all season long and this gives me the cleanest running scenario and longest times in between cleanings. BTW, this is my second GCI60, as the first one had a bad seam in the hopper that was allowing pellet fines to be blown into the living space. I ran the first one for a year and the current unit does the same exact things that the original did. It is a real bummer when you invest $3500 plus and this is what you end up with. I have tried everything I can think of, so if anyone sees anything I have missed, please let me know.

 

[Bill L]

A thermostat will help a lot with pellet consumption, particularly if you leave it unattended for any length of time. My stove will chug the pellets on 4 or 5, but it only needs to run a bit before the thermostat will kick it down to low. If I didn't have the thermostat I would be constantly turning it up or down to maintain a uniform temp.

 

[jtakeman]

I have had the GCI60 for three years now and going into the fourth. NOT impressed at all. I can't run it at anything over setting 3 or the flame gets huge and starts to soot. I have all the test equipment and have tried every possible scenario. This thing chews pellets like a mother and is labor intensive to run. The heavy metal shroud above the burn pot is disintegrating (burning away/breaking down) and the agitator is now doing the same. I just installed an OAK straight out the back, so we will see if this helps. I just think this is a piss poor design and I should have gone with the Harmon. I have also tried many different pellets too, but it doesn't change much. I have settled with running it at level 2 all season long and this gives me the cleanest running scenario and longest times in between cleanings. BTW, this is my second GCI60, as the first one had a bad seam in the hopper that was allowing pellet fines to be blown into the living space. I ran the first one for a year and the current unit does the same exact things that the original did. It is a real bummer when you invest $3500 plus and this is what you end up with. I have tried everything I can think of, so if anyone sees anything I have missed, please let me know.

The first of these to hit the market were actually producing closer to 70K BTU's with certain pellet fuel. The factory made a few updates to help some of these issues you listed. First was an adjustable auger cover to allow fuel feed adjustment. And also a larger convection blower to help cool the stove. Over firing will eat at the burnpot components.

I would suggest you contact the dealer where you purchased if you haven't had the updates done.

 

[Wags]

The first of these to hit the market were actually producing closer to 70K BTU's with certain pellet fuel. The factory made a few updates to help some of these issues you listed. First was an adjustable auger cover to allow fuel feed adjustment. And also a larger convection blower to help cool the stove. Over firing will eat at the burnpot components.

I would suggest you contact the dealer where you purchased if you haven't had the updates done.

Do you happen to know what the cutoff date was for the updates being installed at the factory??

 

[Wags]

The first of these to hit the market were actually producing closer to 70K BTU's with certain pellet fuel. The factory made a few updates to help some of these issues you listed. First was an adjustable auger cover to allow fuel feed adjustment. And also a larger convection blower to help cool the stove. Over firing will eat at the burnpot components.

I would suggest you contact the dealer where you purchased if you haven't had the updates done.[/quot

A thermostat will help a lot with pellet consumption, particularly if you leave it unattended for any length of time. My stove will chug the pellets on 4 or 5, but it only needs to run a bit before the thermostat will kick it down to low. If I didn't have the thermostat I would be constantly turning it up or down to maintain a uniform temp.

Yes, I did end up installing the thermostat on the second year. I am hoping the updates were done before I got it.

 

[jtakeman]

Do you happen to know what the cutoff date was for the updates being installed at the factory??

Should be no cut off date AFAIK. Your dealer should be able to get you the parts and or do the repair.......

 

[Wags]

Should be no cut off date AFAIK. Your dealer should be able to get you the parts and or do the repair.......

What I meant to say was, there must have been a point when the factory started installing the update kits at the factory before shipment. I was trying to see if anyone knew what date the updated units started being distributed to determine if I bought mine before the problem was known. I seem to remember hearing about this update and I want to say the updated units started shipping quite some time ago. I got this one in Nov. 2012. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Wags]

A thermostat will help a lot with pellet consumption, particularly if you leave it unattended for any length of time. My stove will chug the pellets on 4 or 5, but it only needs to run a bit before the thermostat will kick it down to low. If I didn't have the thermostat I would be constantly turning it up or down to maintain a uniform temp.

I actually did install the thermostat (the Lux brand that came in the kit) and it does help with temp control, but obviously has no impact on the flame/combustion mixture. I never went above setting 2 all last winter, just to avoid chewing pellets and sooting up the stove, which would then require the PITA cleanout. It is running as we speak, at about 45 deg f OAT, and the newly installed outside air inlet is showing some initial promise. I will update the thread when I know more, for those who are considering the OAK install. It was a bit of a job, as I chose to use a 3.5 inch core drill and go straight through the chimney, directed by a pilot hole for centering. To locate the hole, I put a 24 inch piece of rigid pipe on the stove and then slid the stove into the tracks. I put a thin line of grease on the end of the pipe and then pushed the stove in until the pipe hit the back wall. When I pulled the stove back out, I had a nice outline of the pipe on the brick. I then found dead center of this and drilled a 1/4 inch pilot straight through to the outside. Then I mounted the big heavy core drill on the outside and went to town. It was dead nuts on. Figured I would explain the process, just in case it can help someone who is reading that may be considering doing it.

 

[jtakeman]

What I meant to say was, there must have been a point when the factory started installing the update kits at the factory before shipment. I was trying to see if anyone knew what date the updated units started being distributed to determine if I bought mine before the problem was known. I seem to remember hearing about this update and I want to say the updated units started shipping quite some time ago. I got this one in Nov. 2012. Thanks for the help guys.

Yours should be pretty close(IIRC fall of 2012 or early spring 2013?, But don't quote me on it!!). One way to tell is look inside the hopper. If the auger cover plate has an adjustment? You have at least some of the updates. Lowering this plate will reduce pellet feed rate and help with the big fire issue. Drop it about a 1/4 inch at a time. Run it about an hour or so and repeat until you think its good. You might need to re-adjust for each pellet brand used?

I asked a dealer friend and he stated the blower would probably only have a 1 year warranty. But depending on the dealers mood, They might still warrantee it. especially if the stove is over heating and hitting the high limit safety switch.