Harman Accentra Insert ignites but stops feeding

[dccampli]

Have been burning Energex pellets for almost 1 ton without any issues. Had 2 bags of ACP(FRAM) that I decided to try. Woke up this morning and stove was out and hopper seemed empty. After adding pellets, the feed light turned on but the auger did not turn. Shutdown, removed all pellets, vacuumed, spun auger by hand, seemed ok in test mode. This is the scenario(have repeated it twice after waiting for cool down in between):
0)insert with 4 inch pipe up existing chimney to the roof. no oak. room-temp mode. 2 months old.
1)start stove in auto-igniter mode. pellets feed into burn pot.
2)igniter on
3)see flames in burn pot
4)feed light turns on along with auger spinning. more pellets feed into burn pot
5)the cycle starts for feeding pellets to grow the fire
6)after few minutes(~2) feed light turns on and auger does not turn
7)feed light cycles on/off but no pellets feed. fire eventually goes out
8)even if turning stove off then on, auger will not feed. must wait for stove to cool down.

Could this be a cleaning issue? Anything else to check? I know the ACP pellets have lots of ash but can't believe enough to break the thing. My guess is over heating feed/auger motor. Since this is new stove, dealer is coming Wednesday. No stove for at least 3 days during the coldest week. I am sad that I have to burn oil.

Thanks,
-DC

 

[Souzafone]

When the stove goes out do you get blinking lights on the control panel? Do your pellets have a lot of fines? Have you cleaned fines out fron around the slide plate area behind the rear covers?

 

[LIpelletpig]

Hey dccampli fellow long islander with Accentra Insert as well. I also got mine a few months ago. Have you checked your exaust pipe up the chimney. I pulled my stove out of the fireplace last week and was presently surprised on how much ash build-up was around the gasket that is between the stove and the pipe. You might have a blockage that could be restricting air flow and the auger won't run. I also would check the lid on the insert to make sure there is a good seal between the top of the stove and the lid. Keep us updated. VERY Really interested to see how you make out with your service call.

 

[thibs53]

You say the feed light turns on with no auger movement? Sounds like the controls are working properly, does this machine allow a digital meter to be easily connected to the auger motor leads without removal of stove? There may be something by the controls that allows this, I am not sure? If so, connect a digital meter to test for 110 volts to the auger motor when feed light is on. If you have 110 volts A.C. when light is on then you probably have a bad motor or a stuck auger or plugged auger feed port. If you do not have the 110 volts then you may be looking at something in the control scheme, but, I believe if it was a control problem, like bad draft or something like that, then the feed light would not go on. Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[GVA]

Output light on board means power is going to auger, usually...........(unless board is bad)
the vacuum switch (senses draft or airflow through the stove and out the flue) will break the neutral to the auger motor (and ignitor)....
Most likley cause dirty stove or faulty gaskets........
When was the last full cleaning done?
cleaning guide ------------ (broken link removed to http://www.harmanstoves.com/maintenance/accentrainsertcleaninginstructions.pdf)

 

[dccampli]

When the stove goes out do you get blinking lights on the control panel? Do your pellets have a lot of fines? Have you cleaned fines out fron around the slide plate area behind the rear covers?

6 blining lights. pellet fines are normal compared to previous 45 bags I put in. just did the 1 ton maintenance.

 

[dccampli]

With advice here and dealer saying almost all Harman issues are customer caused, I did some more tinkering. Vacuum trick on the sensor in the hopper pointed to vacuum break.

Problem solved. I jiggled, pushed, banged, twisted the hopper lid and then I see 1 tiny pellet piece next to the lid gasket. Wife loaded the pellets this morning and must have got 1 stuck in the back hidden behind the lid or on the side. Lid makes a good seal now and flames are shooting high. First I shut the oil burner off, then had some words with wife. Not so bad, was good to have a day off and the stove needed the 1 ton cleaning anyway.

Thanks for everyones quick replies.
-DC