Harman manual vs auto mode - pellet usage

[MikeNH]

I've been using my stove in Room Temp Auto mode since we got it, but I'm experimenting (my daughters call it "tinkering" and my wife calls it "screwing with stuff" but that doesn't matter right now). I noticed that this stove puts off some good radiant heat. I was curious - for those of you who run your Harman in manual mode - does it use an abundance of pellets compared to auto mode? Just wondering if anyone may have already figured out a rough idea. I know this is probably subjective and the best way to find out is to try it, but I figured I'd ask.

With the cold snap coming over the next 5 days in New England, I thought I'd give manual mode a try, and let the stove stay warm and produce radiant heat between cycles.

Thanks!

 

[silverfox103]

This is my 5th season of my Harman P68. At this time of year, I run Room Temp, Manual. I would say most Harman users do the same thing. Late Spring or early Fall, is when I would run it on automatic. Also set your feed rate to atleast 4.

In all honesty, I doubt whether it uses any more pellets.

Tom C.

 

[CT Pellet]

I have owned my Harman for seven years now. First season, I burned the stove on room temp. But I have run it on stove temp ever since and I will never go back. I am also a strong advocate for my customers doing the same thing. You see, when your stove is running nice and hot, it is burning as clean as Lance Armst....er....a whistle. (Damn....Can't use that expression anymore) But when the stove is constantly shutting down and starting up, it is not a nice long constant clean burn. This means more smoke, ash and creosote build up on the ESP as well as in the pipe, and your electric bill will jump from the constant re-starting because that ignitor is direct 110. Plus in cold weather, prolonged fluctuations of the inside temps as well. This advice that I give is based on my own opinion which is fueled by real-life experience. When I offer it to customers, some decide they like the "other way" better, but overwhelmingly, most people really dig it, and I end up looking like a frigging genius to them. Now, I know that the experts here on the forum outnumber me in opinion, and you are about to hear them tell you how dumb I am for saying this. But give it a try and see...you will not use more pellets, it will just be a more steady, clean burn. Now, I'm gunna go duck for cover...many Harman owners about to stone me here....Help!

 

[glenc0322]

I run my stove in Stove temp auto. I have the feed rate at 4 ant the stove and fan on low and a bag of pellets last me 22 hrs its 30 degrees out and my house is in the 70's this works for me I have not used room temp on the stove and I don't have a thermostat hooked up

 

[gbreda]

YUP, stove temp auto. Let her burn and give a constant heat. My pellet usage fluctuates directly with the outside temps, just as it should.

 

[subsailor]

I go both ways. When temps are in the high 20's and above. I run in room/manual. Low 20's and lower I'm in stove temp. Much more even heat. I liken it to a forced hot air furnace that never shuts off. On cloudy, windy or snowy days I usually run in stove mode no matter what the temp.

 

[tsmith]

Room temp manual will not shut down when room reaches temp, instead it will go to maint. burn until it needs to ramp up again. This will keep the temperature within 1 degree of what you have it set for. This will keep you from overshooting or undershooting the temp on days when the temp outside fluctuates.

 

[DOLLARBILL]

OK so CT and SubSailor when you guys run in Stove temp what are the other setting s if I may ask ?

 

[MikeNH]

OK so CT and SubSailor when you guys run in Stove temp what are the other setting s if I may ask ?

That was my next question as well, just to get an idea.

 

[fmsm]

when it's cold I prefer room manual. It doesn't really use more pellets for me.

 

[tsmith]

I had mine set to room temp manual with temp set at 72. It maintained 72 degrees and ramped up and down as needed, mostly burning low. I have since changed it to stove temp auto setting number 2. It is doing the same thing as room temp manual, burning mostly on low burn. Maintaining 72 degrees. So my question is what's the difference really? At least in room temp manual if the outside temps change, the stove will maintain my set temp within 1 degree, in stove temp, it could either overshoot my temp, wasting pellets, or possibly not heat enough. Is my thinking wrong here?

 

[MikeNH]

Thanks guys for all of your answers. Sounds as though whether I choose room temp manual or stove temp auto, I'm not going to use much more (if any) pellets than I am with room temp auto. I'm sure it will save some wear and tear on the ignitor and probably have a positive effect on the electric bill, which is always a good thing. I'll experiment with both modes and see which works better for us.

 

[will711]

Stove Temp guy. Feed rate 4 blower on as low as it will go , vary the temp setting from 1.5 [ warm days] to 4 [ cold days 20 and less] I avg. 24 to 30 hrs / 40 lb bag nice toasty house in the 70's . This works for me 3rd year now.

Tried room temp thing once didn't like it BIG flames, low flames ,no flames .

Bottom line is experiment see what works best for You . I really don't think this is a One Size fits all deal to many variables.

 

[P38X2]

I use room temp manual. I don't use Auto because...wait for it...its a P38 There's no doubt in my mind my houses heat loss is greater than my stove at idle, so there's no need for it to cycle. I couldn't care less about what temp the stove is at. My concern is the room temp.

I understand it works for some, (btw, funny post, CT Pellet) but what happens on day one when it's 30 outside and to achieve 70 inside you use a stove temp of 3. Now, day two is 10 below. You gotta make a stove adjustment right? Even if you had a chart showing outside temps and their corresponding stove settings, there's still an element of guessing and a large variable in that the outside temp is generally always changing to one extent or another. In room mode, its simply based on interior temps, which is what we're all concerned with, right? Assuming you find a good spot for the temp probe, you're golden. If it's 0 outside, you're all set. If it's 30 outside but sunny and you have a lot of solar gain, you're all set.

As far as pellet usage goes, I find it more efficient. The only time I can see it being less efficient is heating a larger space with multi floors and a large distance between the stove and the areas requiring heat. If the temp differential is 10 degrees, you're likely gonna overheat the first floor before the return air from the second floor satisfies the room temp setting on the stove.

I've tried room mode and always have issues. Maybe in a small space I can see it working...idk. Not to jack the thread but I wouldn't mind hearing peoples logic behind why stove temp works for them.

I know there's more science behind it and I'm not a scientist. This topic has been discussed before and I enjoy reading everyones "expert" opinion. Always makes for a good battle and all in fun.

Kinda like Miller Lite....Great taste!....Less filling!
Of course neither is right but that doesn't change the fact it's Miller time

 

[MikeNH]

Not to jack the thread but I wouldn't mind hearing peoples logic behind why stove temp works for them.

I don't have a problem with that. Would be some good information sharing.

 

[P38X2]

I also hear "stop screwing around with that thing" lol. They don't get it

 

[john193]

When I had my xxv I exclusively ran it on room temp. The stove would ramp up or down as needed and hardly turned off. If you want to make sure it doesn't turn off in room temp, flip the igniter switch to manual. In my experience heating a 1500 sq ft house with the xxv I got my most efficient pellet use in room temp mode. The few times I did try stove temp, the stove always ate more. My dealer also confirmed that the most frugal method is room temp.

 

[Mr. Spock]

I use room temp because it's not that cold and the house stays a constant temp. Heating a 1000 sq/ft. Stove temp makes the house volcanic. Better half wanted the XXV over my preference for something smaller. Eh what ya gona do...put it in room auto mode and forget about it.

 

[subsailor]

OK so CT and SubSailor when you guys run in Stove temp what are the other setting s if I may ask ?

I'm not sure what other settings you refer to as there isn't much to set. Feed rate I always leave on 4, heat setting anywhere from 2 to 4 depending on the outside temp. I have a thermometer on the side of the stove. When it's reads above 325 I run the blower on max, otherwise the dial ponts straight down, which is pretty close to max.

 

[subsailor]

I had mine set to room temp manual with temp set at 72. It maintained 72 degrees and ramped up and down as needed, mostly burning low. I have since changed it to stove temp auto setting number 2. It is doing the same thing as room temp manual, burning mostly on low burn. Maintaining 72 degrees. So my question is what's the difference really? At least in room temp manual if the outside temps change, the stove will maintain my set temp within 1 degree, in stove temp, it could either overshoot my temp, wasting pellets, or possibly not heat enough. Is my thinking wrong here?

In stove temp, the stove doesn't care what your room temp is. It's going to maintain the same heat output based on the what the ESP is telling it. If the ouside temp drops 20 degrees, your room temp will change accordingly, but the stove won't..

As for my logic for running this way, when outside temps get into the lower 20's, room temp doesn't maintain temp too well with my layout. Stove temp works much better.

 

[Northwoodneil]

Room temp auto, it's "almost" always cold enough here to keep running. The "almost" part comes in when the wind dies down and the sun gets a little more power as spring gets nearer. On stove temp I get bigger temp swings upstairs when the sun shines. As of right now -4 and the PC45 is running about 3/4 throttle, tonight, -15 and it will still be 74 upstairs with no or very little oil help. Pushing 3 ton but the cost of that wouldn't have filled the tank once (normally I'd be 3/4 the way through my second fill). Me and my check book love this Harman. The stove can rest a little tomorrow gonna' get all the way up to 6 above.

 

[will711]

Kinda like Miller Lite....Great taste!....Less filling! Of course neither is right but that doesn't change the fact it's Miller time

This works for me I'm warm, I have beer and I'm not going to over think this I only have 2 brain cells left and they are fight'in for dominance

 

[Mr. Spock]

Lets hope the one that's left likes beer!

 

[will711]

Lets hope the one that's left likes beer!

It's a fixed fight BEER wins

 

[Hoot23]

Always room temp manual. Doesn't seem to burn more pellets. When it's cold out she eats a bag and a half every 24 hours. Manual works better for me. Keeps the house at an even temp all day and all night.