Harman PC 45 ignitor questions.

[motto55]

Good day All

I have an older PC45 (probably 15+yrs) Anyway I bought it from a neighbor and got it installed and working around January of 2021. The neighbor said the auto lighting function was working when they had it. Since I have it installed I have not been able to use the auto function. Since it was January I didn't worry about it. Now that we are starting a new heating season I would like to have that working for the days that it doesn't need to run constantly. If I try to use the auto function I hear a lot of growling noise from the back of the unit. Eventually the fuse will blow. In reading a few other posts I may have a bad ignitor and the air pump may need repair/replacement. However I didn't see or I missed it in the manual where the ignitor is actually located. I googled ignitor replacements but all I ever find is the finned ignitor. Looking for some more info on how this system works.

Thanks.

Matt

 

[Washed-Up]

Unplug the stove….The igniter is inside the burnpot, there are 2 wing nuts underneath that hold a small access plate on, when you do check it(my guess is that it’s packed with ash). Also check the fines box, it’s up under the left side of your stove, you may have to take the rear skirt off….it’s been known to create auger squeal when packed…also be careful not to move the horizontal plate about 2/3 the way up. I just vacuum mine with out touching it after the plate is removed

 

[jzm2cc]

The igniter is a 450 watt pencil type that needs air blown through it for cooling. If the air pump is not working the igniter will burn out quickly. The air pump can make quite a bit of noise when running if mounts are loose or rear sheet metal panels are loose. If you remove top rear panel the air pump is on the left side and a large clear hose connects to the igniter which goes into the auger feeder assembly.

 

[motto55]

Thanks guys. I’ll check it out. I think I missed that panel on the bottom of the burn pot the last time I was looking for the igniter

 

[jzm2cc]

The PC45 doesn't use that P43, P61, P68 etc type of burnpot, there isn't a panel to remove plus no visible igniter. Remove top panel at rear and look for air pump and pressurized igniter.

 

[Washed-Up]

Oh good eye jzm2cc, not sure how I missed that!

Please disregard the photos of the burnpot on mine previous post. Maybe this video will help.

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[motto55]

Thanks for the video.

Anyway I finally got a bit of time to look at the stove. I located the igniter and took it out. It looks good visually. I ohmed it and got a reading of 11.8 Mega ohms. That anywhere near correct?

 

[motto55]

I got the stove back together. I made sure the end of the tube for the igniter was open. There was a little bit of soot cakes there. My air pump is also moving air.
Anyway I tried it again for getting it to self light. I took a short video of the stove running during the self light. I had it running 45-60 seconds and I did not see any smoke or what looked like an attempt to light. I’ll wait to hear from someone on the ohm reading of the igniter before I try it again

Matt

 

[johneh]

Does a Harman ignitor work that fast "within a minute"
Dam that must be one hot rod

 

[Tonyray]

P61A here... large burnpot that takes lot of pellets on initial burn.
sometimes around 5 minutes till ignition which is normal [from beginning of pellet feed]..

 

[motto55]

P61A here... large burnpot that takes lot of pellets on initial burn.
sometimes around 5 minutes till ignition which is normal [from beginning of pellet feed]..

Thanks. I’ll let it go longer the next time I try the auto light function. I guess I wasn’t patient enough with it before

Matt

 

[johneh]

Don't have a Harman. I have an Enviro and it takes 5 to 8 min
for fire to start depends on how many pellets are in the pot and what brand

 

[motto55]

I believe my igniter is bad. I tried to let the stove light itself again this evening. I set a timer and walked away for a bit. I let the thing run 15min. It did not light. I don’t see any discoloration of the pellets around the igniter port. The igniter light is “on” on the control panel as well

 

[Mt Bob]

Don't remember exactly, but the ohm reading on your igniter should be around 40 to 50 ohms.It is bad.

 

[motto55]

So Amazon must be monitoring me… Anyway a recommendation popped up for an igniter at $211. Is that normal price or a rip off

 

[Mt Bob]

Yes,unfortunatly Amazon and others do track our stuff,also happens to me.That looks like a good price,they are expensive for that unit,not like the cheaper igniters other Harmans use.

 

[Mt Bob]

I have dealt with these people,they are pretty big--ESES. And they have it cheaper,and they also sell an aftermarket one, which I would not be afraid of.
(broken link removed to https://www.ebay.com/itm/265022772813?hash=item3db496964d:g:gzIAAOSwwPhWlBAO)

Harman & Heatilator Pressure Ignition 450 Watt Igniter Element, 1-00-10450 | eBay

Top Quality Harman & Heatilator Eco-Choice pressure igniter, replacing part numbers 3-20-00450, 1-00-10450. Correct for the Harman HydroFlex 60 (HF60), PB105, PC45, PF100, and PF120 models with pressure ignition.

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