Harman PF100 Install

[Alain S. Prevost]

I'm finished with installing all the duct work!!

Pics later tonight.....I still have to adjust some hangers, tape a few duct work joints, patch some drywall, clean, etc....

I am pretty proud of the duct work install, quite the project the last two weeks.
I am highly impressed with the PF100 and extras (pelletexcel flue/vent, dayton blower, MWP)
I am very thankful and impressed with all of you and your help/encouragement and suggestions along the way Thanks guys...

I have about $400 worth of duct work to return...With the cash I get back I'll be getting another pallet or two to add to my two tons already. In November I'll be picking up 2 more tons after that.
Last night it went down to 45 here in town...I only went through half a bag in the hopper...house stayed 71-74 all night and day. Pretty impressive thus far of the systems (pf100 and ductwork) for the window sq. ft and tall ceilings in my house.



Question for ya:
What have people with the pf100 been seeing for electric use per month? I calculated increase of $15/month running 8hours/day with the amps it is drawing....I did not account for the combustion blower and the run time of that....
However my 6 circ pumps on the boiler and the feed pump/etc. on the boiler is probably $15/month when calculated......
So I personally shouldn't see an increase in power consumption.
How about you guys????

 

[Ejectr]

I can't pick out the cost of the furnace in the electric bill, but I do know my electric bill was less than the year before using my oil hot air system.

 

[mepellet]

You should be proud of all the work you have done with that system. I am pretty jealous. Would have taken me months.... looking forward to more pictures!

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

Here are some pics....If anyone wants a layout diagram, closeups or whatever...let me know..
Any other suggestions besides have a few beers and celebrate...or clean the basement...let me know. Thanks.

As I said, messy basement...Have to finish taping, straitening some runs/takeoffs/hangers....
Now its time to start framing in the duct work and the partitions in the basement for the theater room ... ahhh that'll be nice, tax return fund project.
The garage, side storage room off the garage (started to drywall and install an electric fireplace in the corner)..won't be needing that...and basement.

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

and more...

 

[DexterDay]

To not be an HVAC guy. That is amazing. I installed my Pellet Furnace last year. All I did, was duct it into the existing. Ductwork.

BTW- Thanks again mepellet for all your assistance.

 

[mepellet]

To not be an HVAC guy. That is amazing. I installed my Pellet Furnace last year. All I did, was duct it into the existing. Ductwork.

BTW- Thanks again mepellet for all your assistance.

Still thanking me? All I did was a calculation. You and others have helped me out a lot more than that! So thank you dexterday

Alain, you may have already answered this but are you planning on insulating the ductwork?

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

I won't be able to insulate for another few weeks...have some other projects and my real job to do.

What do you suggest for insulation? I'd only be doing the plenum, the long trunk runs (three of them) and the 10" pipe......(everything but the takeoffs)

What do you suggest? I'm assuming this type:


Just use foil tape to seal the seams...probably get 2' width for easier handling..maybe 4' but more cutting.
I believe they also make like a bubble wrap that has foil tape on it already that sticks right on...more flame retardant...
Any suggestions?

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

Also....
what are the settings on your PF100???

Feed rate and Temp knob...along with wall mount thermostat? If I dial up or down on the temp dial on the pf100 controller, will that calibrate the wall mount +/- 1 2 or 3 degrees/steps? Or keep in the normal settings and adjust temp dial only for servicing?

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

Got another pallet of pellets..MWP this time......3 tons so far....Ill be getting 4 pallets delivered late November.

here's some pics of a furniture dolly - from the bed of the truck to the dolly in the garage, through a few doors and into the basement to be stacked.
Some more pics of the full hopper and the hopper lid opened near the plenum.
Unit runs for about 45 minutes around 4am...blower runs for about 2 hours hot air....House feels great @73...only use about 1/4 of a bag each morning thus far....im sure it'll start chewing

 

[Ejectr]

Also....
what are the settings on your PF100???

Feed rate and Temp knob...along with wall mount thermostat? If I dial up or down on the temp dial on the pf100 controller, will that calibrate the wall mount +/- 1 2 or 3 degrees/steps? Or keep in the normal settings and adjust temp dial only for servicing?

When I started out, I put all the settings on the recommended settings in the manual and the thermostat on 70. I found that the thermostat was 3 degrees off (low) from the room temp. I mounted the thermostat on a couple of spoungey styrofoam stand offs to get it away from the wall and that made the thermostat setting about 1 degree off from the room temp.

I called Harman and talked to a guy in their tech department about how this furnace works, because theory of operation wise, the manual leaves everything to be desired. Basically, it sucks. He told me to adjust the temp knob on the furnace to trim the thermostat temp to agree with the room temp. The temp knob operates in auto mode as well as manual. The feedrate adjustment just adjusts how high/hot the furnace runs on a call for heat. Once it reaches temp, the ESP takes over the feed regardless of what it is set on.

He also told me do NOT slip the thermostat knob to agree with the room temp. Leave it where it is and use the temp knob to trim it.

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

When I started out, I put all the settings on the recommended settings in the manual and the thermostat on 70. I found that the thermostat was 3 degrees off (low) from the room temp. I mounted the thermostat on a couple of spoungey styrofoam stand offs to get it away from the wall and that made the thermostat setting about 1 degree off from the room temp.

I called Harman and talked to a guy in their tech department about how this furnace works, because theory of operation wise, the manual leaves everything to be desired. Basically, it sucks. He told me to adjust the temp knob on the furnace to trim the thermostat temp to agree with the room temp. The temp knob operates in auto mode as well as manual. The feedrate adjustment just adjusts how high/hot the furnace runs on a call for heat. Once it reaches temp, the ESP takes over the feed regardless of what it is set on.

He also told me do NOT slip the thermostat knob to agree with the room temp. Leave it where it is and use the temp knob to trim it.

Thanks, much appreciated...I'll keep feed on 4.5 or 5 for the current pellets I'm using...trying not to overshoot the process too much, and I'll need to guess and check the temp dial...probably move it to 5.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Ejectr]

Thanks, much appreciated...I'll keep feed on 4.5 or 5 for the current pellets I'm using...trying not to overshoot the process too much, and I'll need to guess and check the temp dial...probably move it to 5.

Thanks for your help.

Any time. Where are you in Maine? My son lives in Lincoln and my sister lives in Brunswick. Couple of nieces around the Portland area.

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

i'll be researching a humidification system for the pf100...a whole house install (right in the plenum) to be on when blower is running.

I'm also going to be looking into wiring a "Status" led light upstairs next to or on the Harman thermostat....I want to be able to see if it is igniting/process starting when I turn the thermostat up or down. I cant hear the auger or anything when the pf100 starts...unlike my oil boiler...cha-ching cha-ching$$

 

[bill3rail]

Damn! Without PICs, everyone would be stating...

I guess it definitely happened!

Congratulations and best of luck on your house and newest addition of a pellet boiler the baby!

Bill

 

[scra99tch]

Nice Guzzi in those pics! Have a couple myself (obviously 1 needs to be in pieces all the time though). Good job on install. I am looking into getting a PF100 here soon but the is a 30% rebate for NH on bulk fed systems but a clause that is in the rebate says everything should be installed by professional which I am not.

 

[Alain S. Prevost]

Nice Guzzi in those pics! Have a couple myself (obviously 1 needs to be in pieces all the time though). Good job on install. I am looking into getting a PF100 here soon but the is a 30% rebate for NH on bulk fed systems but a clause that is in the rebate says everything should be installed by professional which I am not.

There are a good handful of installers on here that will toss it in for you. There is a lot of prep work you can do in the meantime saving huge money ... get friendly with the local place you purchase the pf100 from and tag team the install with him ... more than likely he'll take 50% off the install bill for you being his helper.
NH is great for the rebates....Need help with the pf100 give me - or any of the other Harman guys a shout. the pf100 is a great unit...very happy. Thanks for the Guzzi thumbs up, my Dad is a big fan. are you on the wildguzzi forum??? Glad to see similar interests. Enjoy.

 

[Dgbgraphix]

A few more pics of the duct work. Ended up using mostly 26 and 28 gauge, some 30 gauge such as the floor boots. Today I just cut through all the wood and tile floors in the house (and 2 toe-space/kick-space) areas for the floor registers.

Not as extensive as yours but I'm half way through install on mine and also had to start with no duct work.

 

[pen]

Since this thread is a toddler now, I'm going to shut it down.

If there is reason to open it back up versus starting a new thread, let me know and I'll do so.

pen