Harman Question

[Tonyray]

in Room auto/ or manual, the temp is dictated by the probe wire,
but does the ESP in the exhaust tunnel come into play at all in room mode or is it
exclusive to Stove temp mode...?
reason I asked is haven't cleaned it in a while but I never use stove temp anyways.
seems to eat up the pellets quicker.

 

[F4jock]

in Room auto/ or manual, the temp is dictated by the probe wire,
but does the ESP in the exhaust tunnel come into play at all in room mode or is it
exclusive to Stove temp mode...?
reason I asked is haven't cleaned it in a while but I never use stove temp anyways.
seems to eat up the pellets quicker.

Yes. It controls fan and feed in concert with the room temp sensor.

 

[Bioburner]

Room temp manual, the ESP will feed extra pellets even if idling to maintain proper exhaust temp. I can tell when the ESP is getting dirty when the stove starts eating more fuel than average on my setup.

 

[F4jock]

In short: clean it.

 

[alternativeheat]

Room temp manual, the ESP will feed extra pellets even if idling to maintain proper exhaust temp. I can tell when the ESP is getting dirty when the stove starts eating more fuel than average on my setup.

A hah ! And tomorrow is supposed to be fairly warm, good time to do it. What size socket is that now ?

 

[Tonyray]

In short: clean it.

I used to use a tappered bristled bottle washer and slowly run it over the probe top and bottom but carefull not to go back and forth on it. I could see the metal get clean... but,
I was cleaning out the fines box today and saw where the probe is from the back.
there is a small screw next to it.. is that what holds the probe in from the back?
my stove is in a corner so little tight area back there..

 

[alternativeheat]

Also in any mode the ESP will not allow the stove to produce over 500 deg stack temp.

 

[Bioburner]

A hah ! And tomorrow is supposed to be fairly warm, good time to do it. What size socket is that now ?

1/4 inch nut driver I believe.

 

[Tonyray]

Does the sheetmetal screw stay in the bracket when it comes out so as not to drop the screw?
as I said, in a corner and very tight area..

 

[Bioburner]

Probably not. I usually stick the screw threw a piece of tape then insert into the driver and bend the tape over so it sticks to the driver for inserting. I put a bit of tension on the wire while removing so the screw stays with the probe. Good luck

 

[mikesj]

It's one of those jobs where a headlamp is extremely helpful. Like Bio said, just put a little tension on the wires as you unscrew it and it should stay with the probe.

I clean mine off whenever I do a full cleaning of the stove.

 

[dhall28]

If you want to remove it for cleaning you can, wont hurt anything. However with the P series stoves as others have already said, I just use a long skinny paint brush to just wipe it down. The idea is to get the big stuff off it and away. There is a point of fairly large diminishing return for getting it totally clean imo.

 

[alternativeheat]

If you want to remove it for cleaning you can, wont hurt anything. However with the P series stoves as others have already said, I just use a long skinny paint brush to just wipe it down. The idea is to get the big stuff off it and away. There is a point of fairly large diminishing return for getting it totally clean imo.

I do this as well but in nearly a year of ownership have not had the ESP out for a full cleaning with something soapy.. I think that maybe some film or residue could form and that now and then it should come out to make sure it is working with clean metal... In between I just dust it off as well. Besides I'm retired and it's going to be 57 out today !

 

[Tonyray]

I will get around to removing the ESP.. Thanks for the tips guys.
In the meantime, this is what I carefully use to clean the Probe..
Long enough that I don't have to go back/forth on it. just go same direction about 5-6 times.

 

[Bioburner]

Looks close to what I use when I feel its not needing a real good cleaning.

 

[alternativeheat]

Looks close to what I use when I feel its not needing a real good cleaning.

Well my P61 has definitely started mowing pellets. I mean it was nearly 50 out last night, the stove did not run continuously all night but lit up and shut down and it used just over a half a bag of pellets, maybe 2/3 overnight.. I've been using two bags a day lately with 20's at night and 30's in the day time. That's up as well. So I intend to pull the probe later today and clean it. Any particular solvent or such thing to use on it ?

Course too I'm burning the Energex hardwood right now after coming off hot Maine woods and Hot low ash White pine pellets.

 

[Bioburner]

Unless your burning something really ugly, a little something wet is usually all that's needed but if really ugly glass cleaner should do it.

 

[alternativeheat]

Unless your burning something really ugly, a little something wet is usually all that's needed but if really ugly glass cleaner should do it.

I pulled my ESP just now. There is a 1/16" of ash, sticky resinous ash at that, on the back side of the probe where my paint brush I use can't reach it. It's insulated all right because that resin tapers to the top and bottom of the circumference. And it was due to be cleaned in general anyway besides that. I'm expecting full restoration to normal pellet use tonight ! It's cleaning right up nice and shiny.

Fines box was full too, that took two weeks. I did run some really dusty pellets through a week ago..

3/4 full ash pan in the same two weeks. Not pretty.

 

[Tonyray]

I pulled my ESP just now. There is a 1/16" of ash, sticky resinous ash at that, on the back side of the probe where my paint brush I use can't reach it. It's insulated all right because that resin tapers to the top and bottom of the circumference. And it was due to be cleaned in general anyway besides that. I'm expecting full restoration to normal pellet use tonight ! It's cleaning right up nice and shiny.

Fines box was full too, that took two weeks. I did run some really dusty pellets through a week ago..

3/4 full ash pan in the same two weeks. Not pretty.

let us know if the burning time is better.
Using Energex also right now... 2 tons to burn up...

 

[alternativeheat]

let us know if the burning time is better.
Using Energex also right now... 2 tons to burn up...

And Tony, the screw just came right along with the probe, I never removed it from the probes holder when I pulled the probe out.. The screw is fairly long so while it looks tiny it really isn't all that small.

 

[Tonyray]

And Tony, the screw just came right along with the probe, I never removed it from the probes holder when I pulled the probe out.. The screw is fairly long so while it looks tiny it really isn't all that small.

Thank God!! Although i am a former auto mechanic and Apt Maint supervisor, I was having nightmares about losing that screw in the back Inards of my Tight area corner stove.
looks to me like a 1/4 nut driver will get it..

 

[alternativeheat]

Thank God!! Although i am a former auto mechanic and Apt Maint supervisor, I was having nightmares about losing that screw in the back Inards of my Tight area corner stove.
looks to me like a 1/4 nut driver will get it..

No worries there really are no innards right there. A heat shield of some sort and a drop off the convection fan housing at most, then the floor. Any X mechanic worth his salt can handle it !! And hasn't anyone ever told you, once a mechanic always a mechanic

 

[Tonyray]

No worries there really are no innards right there. A heat shield of some sort and a drop off the convection fan housing at most, then the floor. Any X mechanic worth his salt can handle it !! And hasn't anyone ever told you, once a mechanic always a mechanic

yeah.. your right...
don't know what got into me....must be retirement...
although I just put in a new Kitchen faucet and Garbage disposal yesterday.... didn't scare me one Bit..

 

[alternativeheat]

yeah.. your right...
don't know what got into me....must be retirement...
although I just put in a new Kitchen faucet and Garbage disposal yesterday.... didn't scare me one Bit..

Seems since cleaning the stove and the probe it is using a bit less fuel. Lower ramp ups of flame in Room Temp Auto but still good heat output. Consequently it's building ash more slowly too. The day isn't the greatest test bed, it's mid upper thirties and cloudy today, though pretty breezy. It's raw out there but not bitter. But the stove was starting to eat pellets even on these days recently.

 

[Tonyray]

Seems since cleaning the stove and the probe it is using a bit less fuel. Lower ramp ups of flame in Room Temp Auto but still good heat output. Consequently it's building ash more slowly too. The day isn't the greatest test bed, it's mid upper thirties and cloudy today, though pretty breezy. It's raw out there but not bitter. But the stove was starting to eat pellets even on these days recently.

I would have thought that the ESP would have to have been pretty cruddy to affect temperature.
I have seen some pictures of 1/2" crud on some.........but,
if u end up getting better mileage after cleaning, then you convinced me to Actually remove it once in a while as opposed to just using a bristle bottle cleaner.