Harman Ignitor

[derbydude]

Question about Harman Accentra insert Ignitor:
I've noticed that after my "Ignitor" switch lights up (red ligh), it takes a long time (5-10mins) before I actially see sparks and the pellets lighting up.
Is that normal? Or sign of any trouble with the ignitor?
Its a new stove - barely 2months.

 

[jackman]

That's about right, 5 to 10 minutes and sometimes as long as 15. If it doesn't light in 20 minutes you might need to clean the ash from the igniter below the burn pot.

 

[bogieb]

My Harman takes much longer to light up than my St. Croix does. Has taken a while since new.

 

[derbydude]

That's about right, 5 to 10 minutes and sometimes as long as 15. If it doesn't light in 20 minutes you might need to clean the ash from the igniter below the burn pot.

Thats good, thanks - as long as its normal.

 

[F4jock]

My Harman Accentra insert only takes about three minutes to light. I'd recommend you clean the ignigter chamber (I vacuum mine with a Lint Lizzard. If you don't have one use the crevasse tool.). If this doesn't help, unscrew and clean the igniter with a dry toothbrush. UNPLUG THE STOVE FIRST!

 

[GeHmTS]

I would recommend checking the power outlet and make sure you're getting 120V as prescribed. This will cause the ignitor not to work if it's lower than that.

 

[tonyd]

Three to five minutes here. Ten to fifteen is a bit long. everything clean? With the igniter cover removed, tap the burn pot until it stops dropping ash. vacuum. Holes in the burnpot clear?

 

[Havilcek stole the ball]

I find that if turn the pellet feed down to about 2 the igniter works better because it is not working against so many pellets.

 

[Bigjim]

That's about right, 5 to 10 minutes and sometimes as long as 15. If it doesn't light in 20 minutes you might need to clean the ash from the igniter below the burn pot.

I agree with the guy from Oregon. If i've just cleaned everything out i'm looking right at 6 minutes. Good point about keeping the igniter chamber clean. If it fills with ash is just acts like an insulator between it and the pellets in the fire pot. Not a bad idea to take a pipe cleaner or sharp object to the holes in the fire pot as well.

 

[tonyd]

I have found when I try to help it along and adding pellets to the pot, I does take a bit longer. Fewer pellets ignite sooner.

 

[jackman]

Fewer pellets ignite sooner.

That's been my experience as well. If the burn pot gets loaded up it takes longer especially if the pellets have too much moisture. YMMV.

 

[Husky]

My takes 3 to 5 minutes also. When it starts to take longer I clean out the ignition box under burn pot.

 

[derbydude]

My takes 3 to 5 minutes also. When it starts to take longer I clean out the ignition box under burn pot.

I did unscrew that panel under the burn pot and vacuum - just 3 days ago.
And Ive been scraping the burn pot everyday.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Take a 1/4" drive socket wrench with a 5/16" socket. Back off the two screws on the front of the burn pot 3-5 turns ONLY. Remove the cover plate, insert your fingers into the burnpot and tap the ignitor in it's cradle. Watch the magic happen. **** RELAX MAGIC DOES NOT EXIST you will see a lot of fly ash work lose.***** make sure you tighten the 5/16 screws without pinching the wires. Replace the cover plate and see if this helps.

Eric

 

[Tonyray]

Take a 1/4" drive socket wrench with a 5/16" socket. Back off the two screws on the front of the burn pot 3-5 turns ONLY. Remove the cover plate, insert your fingers into the burnpot and tap the ignitor in it's cradle. Watch the magic happen. **** RELAX MAGIC DOES NOT EXIST you will see a lot of fly ash work lose.***** make sure you tighten the 5/16 screws without pinching the wires. Replace the cover plate and see if this helps.

Eric

u have me a bit confused... I loosen the 2 wing-nut type fastners, remove the cover plate, and use fingers to remove the dried black ash..
why do u remove the 5/16 bolts? or does your rig have different attach hardware...
BTW: good idea about lower feed rate to Ignite...
I know sometimes mine takes a good 10 minutes or more..

 

[NHcpa]

Little tip, don't start the igniter and then decide to fill the pellet bin... I'm learning that any break in the vacuum switch and you will have pellets runneth over into the ash bucket. anybody else experiance this?

 

[Tonyray]

Little tip, don't start the igniter and then decide to fill the pellet bin... I'm learning that any break in the vacuum switch and you will have pellets runneth over into the ash bucket. anybody else experiance this?

yes... happened to me once.. my bad... never again..
once the engine starts, I'm hands Off,

 

[RhodyPelletRook]

Question about Harman Accentra insert Ignitor:
I've noticed that after my "Ignitor" switch lights up (red ligh), it takes a long time (5-10mins) before I actially see sparks and the pellets lighting up.
Is that normal? Or sign of any trouble with the ignitor?
Its a new stove - barely 2months.

Absolutely NORMAL.

 

[Peterfield]

Little tip, don't start the igniter and then decide to fill the pellet bin... I'm learning that any break in the vacuum switch and you will have pellets runneth over into the ash bucket. anybody else experiance this?

Opening mine has no effect. Installer said no longer an issue with the newest 52i's but was true with earlier models. I run it open occasionally while getting ready to load pellets and there is no effect whatsoever on its operation.

 

[NHcpa]

I have a March 2014 install, opening the lid while the ignitor is on will delay the burn. The igniter shuts off and the auger continues to spin pellets out in to the ash bin. YUP.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

u have me a bit confused... I loosen the 2 wing-nut type fastners, remove the cover plate, and use fingers to remove the dried black ash..
why do u remove the 5/16 bolts? or does your rig have different attach hardware...
BTW: good idea about lower feed rate to Ignite...
I know sometimes mine takes a good 10 minutes or more..

Eric didn't say remove the screws, he said loosen the screws. Those screws hold the igniter cradle. Fly ash gets trapped in the cradle and fins and that is the best way to remove it.

 

[F4jock]

Eric didn't say remove the screws, he said loosen the screws. Those screws hold the igniter cradle. Fly ash gets trapped in the cradle and fins and that is the best way to remove it.

I totally remove mine at year's end and clean it as I said. You can also rap your Harman tool on the firepot to clean the holes and knock ash out of the igniter. Have to admit the long start times puzzle me. Mine takes three minutes. One minute to push the pellets and two to start. Heck, it even does that if there's ash in the pot and I've never had to run anything through the holes in the seven seasons I've had the stove. Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[Tonyray]

Eric didn't say remove the screws, he said loosen the screws. Those screws hold the igniter cradle. Fly ash gets trapped in the cradle and fins and that is the best way to remove it.

removing was the wrong word even though I read " loosen"...
does the Igniter and shield both come off or down when you do it that way?:

 

[GeHmTS]

Have you check to make sure you're getting 120V out of the outlet?

 

[Tonyray]

I totally remove mine at year's end and clean it as I said. You can also rap your Harman tool on the firepot to clean the holes and knock ash out of the igniter. Have to admit the long start times puzzle me. Mine takes three minutes. One minute to push the pellets and two to start. Heck, it even does that if there's ash in the pot and I've never had to run anything through the holes in the seven seasons I've had the stove. Maybe I'm just lucky.

3 minutes? my feedrate is 3.5 and it takes longer than that just till fill the burn pot from cold start..then couple minutes till sparks or fly ash,
[I still feel this is the norm for my rig. since it has been since day 1...]