Harman P35i not feeding pellets

[articcatbill]

My sister in-law purchased a used Harman P35i 2010 pellet insert. She had her son in-law install it, they ran flex pipe up the entire way through the flue. I stopped in and showed her how to use it, it worked great for about a week and then it didn't seem to be feeding pellets, so she cleaned it, still not working. I stopped to look at it last evening what I observed was:

It will not feed pellets, auger is not turning, either in test, room temp or stove mode. In test the combustion blower, distribution blower will come on but not the feed motor/light. After the test completes the combustion blower will stay on and will not shut down until you unplug the stove. Similar results in room temp and stove mode, additionally the ignitor will not ignite. I am not getting any blink codes from the stove.

What I have found if I reach down in the hopper and move pellets around in the bottom chute then sometimes the feed motor will start on test, it will run for awhile and then stop. I emptied the hopper and re-added some pellets and emptied the fines box, which was packed full, but neither helped. It doesn't seem to be the hopper lid switch since it will sometimes feed and one time I manually pushed it down and they started feeding.

I was hoping to get some ideas of what to try in order to fix it for her and/or troubleshoot.

I did find a similar thread with an exhaust blockage issue, but since this was installed and only run a week I am not leaning in this direction. The other thing I find odd is if I reach through the hopper moving pellets around seems to trigger it to start. At one point it even seemed to be working, ran for a bit, only to stop again.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[jackman]

You should test the feed motor by hooking it up directly to an outlet. You may need to make a test cable. It certainly sounds like the feed motor has died.

 

[rickwai]

I would jump the vac switch and test again. I have replaced 2 vac switches on inserts this year so far. Just make a jumper wire with 2 male ends on it to hook wires together going to vac switch, Vac switch is cheap less than $30

 

[articcatbill]

You should test the feed motor by hooking it up directly to an outlet. You may need to make a test cable. It certainly sounds like the feed motor has died.

Thanks jackman, I will look at the feed motor, I think I will start by giving it a good cleaning and pull all the pellets from the hopper and vacuum it out good. If I can get it to work empty but not full then it sounds like the motor is gone/weak and I will have to test it further, thanks for the suggestion.

I would jump the vac switch and test again. I have replaced 2 vac switches on inserts this year so far. Just make a jumper wire with 2 male ends on it to hook wires together going to vac switch, Vac switch is cheap less than $30

Thanks rickwai, that sound like something pretty easy to try. I have some jumpers in the basement somewhere I will take with me, or just make new ones haha sometimes easier than finding the ones I have. Do you know where the vac switch is located on this stove? Thanks!

 

[Mt Bob]

Really sounds like control board is crap.

 

[fmsm]

Don’t discount an exhaust blockage. Could an animal or bird have crawled in?

 

[rickwai]

vac switch is on the left side in the back

 

[articcatbill]

I would jump the vac switch and test again. I have replaced 2 vac switches on inserts this year so far. Just make a jumper wire with 2 male ends on it to hook wires together going to vac switch, Vac switch is cheap less than $30

Got a chance to check the stove today, gave it a real good cleaning, checked everything looked good, but still no luck. I jumped the vac switch and everything seemed to work fine, feed motor started and fed pellets just fine. Of course didn't try running it like that.

So found the switch for $25 shipped so thought I would try replacing the switch, it is ordered. Hoping it is just the switch and not an air leak or blocked exhaust.

I did check the door gasket (dollar bill test) seemed fine, visually it looked good as well.

I tried test mode with the stove pulled out and had the same issue, so I am thinking not a blocked exhaust since I could easily inspect the stove exhaust path and it was clear.

Visually the hopper gasket looked good. As well as the fine box gasket.

So I will give the switch a try and go from there, thanks for all the help!! Any other suggestions welcome.

 

[Mt Bob]

You can jump the switch and run it for a while.Just never leave the stove/house unattended with one of the safetys bypassed

 

[ManitobaSky]

When the pressure switch on my p45 was acting up I hooked a small hose to the switch and sucked on it like a crazy person. If the switch isn’t the issue the feed will work and then you have to track down the leak, if it still doesn’t work the switch is done and needs replaced.

 

[articcatbill]

Wanted to update this thread, I ordered the switch from Earth Sense Energy Systems, Inc (esesstoves), shout out for very quick ship. Ordered late Friday, they shipped it Saturday and we had it on Tuesday. With the New Years holiday in there I was impressed.

So I stopped in tonight before the big freeze and put the new one in my sister in-laws stove. Fired right up, everything now seem to be working well. Was burning great when we left. So hoping this was the only issue with her stove.

Thanks to everyone for all your help, much appreciated.

 

[rickwai]

It is strange. I had only replaced 1 vac switch in 10 yrs. This year I have replaced 2...