New to the pellet stove life

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Slimz_toy

New Member
Oct 8, 2017
2
44883
I just have a few questions

I have an American harvest 6039, fired it up for the first time and am on hour 18 of it running. I have the control board that I can adjust all the settings, not just the A,B,C buttons. I noticed that my auger doesn't change no matter what setting I have it on. The manual kinda sucks on the whole explaining what the buttons and different settings do. Any help would and is always appreciated.
 
I also have the 6039, and my control board looks like the one on the 6041, I am kinda clueless also on pellet stoves in general, I dont think my blower is turning on, was told that the top of the stove should get hot, but if I put my hand on it, it most certainly does get hot enough I cant keep my hand on it, was hoping the control board had a self diagnosis like the 6041 to run each component so I know the blower works.
 

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I also have the 6039, and my control board looks like the one on the 6041, I am kinda clueless also on pellet stoves in general, I dont think my blower is turning on, was told that the top of the stove should get hot, but if I put my hand on it, it most certainly does get hot enough I cant keep my hand on it, was hoping the control board had a self diagnosis like the 6041 to run each component so I know the blower works.
 
Hello...
My 5502m has same control board...and i can set the heat range up and the bugger def feeds more pellets per min...and more important...way more heat on number 3 than on 2 or one...just a little noisy...but what exactly is your question?
 
Hi, well I figured out how to do the diagnosis on the control board, all checked out, but didnt seem like the blower was working, the top of the stove seemed hotter than what I thought, so I checked out the blower, and the bearings are bad, bad enough the squirrel cage wont move on it's own, so, I ended up ordering a new blower, so till it comes in on Friday, I may have more questions, since I already figured this one out, but thank you for replying, this is a great forum.
 
Hi, well I figured out how to do the diagnosis on the control board, all checked out, but didnt seem like the blower was working, the top of the stove seemed hotter than what I thought, so I checked out the blower, and the bearings are bad, bad enough the squirrel cage wont move on it's own, so, I ended up ordering a new blower, so till it comes in on Friday, I may have more questions, since I already figured this one out, but thank you for replying, this is a great forum.

While you have the side panel off check that the jumper is on the "t-stat" pins or your feed rate will not change no matter what you set it at. If the jumper is missing the board is looking for an external thermostat to tell it to close and ramp up the stove. Also make sure to discharge any static you have in your body before touching that control board, a grounding strap is best, or you can make one just with some wire and wrap it around your wrist and ground it to metal.
 
Some info about feed range settings:
Feed range setting change: Heat range button down and Aux button down at same time and you get the lowest feed per pound set right now shown in display...aux up and down can change the setting...
Pellet should be at about 2.00 for lowest setting but everyone can play with it to get best values for their pellets/stove config
Pressing on button safes setting
Doing same with with the up buttons shows and enables to change the max feed range in pounds per hour...for pellets should be 4.8-5.00 but happy testing...changing again with aux up and down and saving with on button
To change to Cherry pits or other fuel, these changes are needed to get a real fire going.
 
Some info about feed range settings:
Feed range setting change: Heat range button down and Aux button down at same time and you get the lowest feed per pound set right now shown in display...aux up and down can change the setting...
Pellet should be at about 2.00 for lowest setting but everyone can play with it to get best values for their pellets/stove config
Pressing on button safes setting
Doing same with with the up buttons shows and enables to change the max feed range in pounds per hour...for pellets should be 4.8-5.00 but happy testing...changing again with aux up and down and saving with on button
To change to Cherry pits or other fuel, these changes are needed to get a real fire going.

More than likely if anyone is changing from pellets to corn or cherry pits you will also have to adjust the DF setting on the high and low end. I know I did years ago and I keep notes so I can swap back if need be. Make sure to let the adjustments take for an hour or so to see how the stove burns.
 
One quick question about the settings/flame behavior in general
If i may kidnap this subject here...
How should my flame look like...i normally have stove on setting one in auto mode...and the flame goes to somewhat nothing including pop corning to high and back...like a constant up and down...is that the plan or should i change settings?
Since i am new to this as well...i would like to know what IS wrong...in addition the window blackens like no tomorrow...so do i have to much draft fan air, or to little? to much pellets or to little?
Thx!!
And why is this controller board settings changing not in a sticky threat?
 
One quick question about the settings/flame behavior in general
If i may kidnap this subject here...
How should my flame look like...i normally have stove on setting one in auto mode...and the flame goes to somewhat nothing including pop corning to high and back...like a constant up and down...is that the plan or should i change settings?
Since i am new to this as well...i would like to know what IS wrong...in addition the window blackens like no tomorrow...so do i have to much draft fan air, or to little? to much pellets or to little?
Thx!!
And why is this controller board settings changing not in a sticky threat?
On low these stove will blacken the glass faster than on a high setting. All you can do is adjust the HR (pph) to the lowest that you still get a burn, then adjust the DF up or down. If you lose flame adjust up if still burning good try adjusting down. You have to let the stove run for a while, one hour at least to see the changes. Keep notes, it took me almost a full season to dial it in for corn. I run at 1.5pph on HR1, DF is 230 on low, 260 on high and the HR high is 5pph. I run full auto with the manual draft completely close once the stove reaches running temp.

The flame should look lively but not like a blow torch and yes on the lowest setting it will ramp up and down some, it's normal.

Why it's not a sticky, well a few years ago the mod here started the trouble shooting thread with info from myself and others. I was writing up a subject of how to adjust these proportional controllers when our mod stopped posting. She was a very good mod and all here have wondered several times what happened and hope the best for her.

Another issue is that once people start changing the settings and something goes haywire we've seen why to many people just drop off the site and never return to either say it worked or they just gave up.

With all of the negative remarks about USSC one thing that cannot be argued, these control boards are some of the finest to ever be installed for a true bio-burner type of stove. It just takes a little knowledge as to how they work and why and they are great.

Ask questions about the board I can answer just about anything about them along with pictures if needed.
 
Thx for the honest reply.
I got all my knowledge about this stove from an old dude in Youtube, so i was wondering why it is all spread here and not sticky...
Here is the dude and his series about the stove controls is very valuable
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So...questions...Aux and heat range button down...shows me the feed range...right? and aux up and down adjusts that...
But that is the Mode and Aux pressed together C mode thing in comparison than?
And which one should be used for the adjustments?
And is corn cheaper than pellets? or do you have your own corn?
And would you first start with feed range or draft blower speed when tuning stove?
Thx in advance...
 
Thx for the honest reply.
I got all my knowledge about this stove from an old dude in Youtube, so i was wondering why it is all spread here and not sticky...
Here is the dude and his series about the stove controls is very valuable
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

So...questions...Aux and heat range button down...shows me the feed range...right? and aux up and down adjusts that...
But that is the Mode and Aux pressed together C mode thing in comparison than?
And which one should be used for the adjustments?
And is corn cheaper than pellets? or do you have your own corn?
And would you first start with feed range or draft blower speed when tuning stove?
Thx in advance...

Just to let you know I'm chasing my 9 month old granddaughter around and will answer most of this over the next few minutes/hours, she a busy one for sure!
 
no panic...i am at work myself, so cant play with stove right now either...just using lunch break to gather more info about it.
And still try to get ideas how to get the noisy fan less loud
 
no panic...i am at work myself, so cant play with stove right now either...just using lunch break to gather more info about it.
And still try to get ideas how to get the noisy fan less loud
Just a couple of points about the 4 button control boards. While they all look alike and pretty much physically are, depending on the stove model and use the control boards are programed differently with more functions in some cases, or less functions from a previous version.

The original 6039 had a three button A-B-C control board. Later models had the four button board with heat ranges (HR) 1 through 9. The 6041 and many other USSC stoves or branded as other names have that same board with different programing, such as the 6041 has HR's 1-5 and they are set at Pr or Cr (Pr for pellets, Cr for corn). They also allow an ignitor, while my board on my 6039hf has the ignitor pins on the board it is not programed for that function so even if I added one it would not work.

C-mode, I've seen some boards that had to use the C-mode to adjust the feed rates and exhaust rates, I've also seen some that you could just adjust them by using the standard UP or DOWN buttons with the AUX UP or DOWN. You will have to try it on your stove to know if you can adjust it that way or use only the C-mode.

As far as the You Tube video. Some I agree with some I do not.

First what I do not agree with. He has his manual draft running at I think he said 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" open. If you have an outside air kit (OAK) there is absolutely no reason to have that manual draft open at all if you get the stove adjusted properly.

Using thermometers for keeping records and helping trouble shoot your stove. I agree 100% with using them just do not agree about the accuracy issue. Using a magnetic TI (temp indicator) on the face, another on the exhaust pipe and one on the plenum or in my case in one of the room fan holes (I use an old stemmed grill TI mounted into the hole).

The accuracy should not be an issue as all you are looking for is a bench mark to go by, something that°will tell you the stove is operating the way it normally has or not. So if on say HR 3 my stove face normally shows 250°F, the exhaust is showing 110°F and the room fan is blowing out 220°F. I make notes, HR setting, outside temps, etc. If during running the stove I see any of those numbers change while on HR3 that might indicate a problem. Let's say the room fan output temp drops, stove face stays the same and the exhaust rises. My room fan blower might be dirty, the stove might need a deep cleaning or in the worse case the blower motor is going out.

So you see you don't need to go buy an expensive TI to monitor these stoves. I guess now and then a TI could go bad but I've been using the same ones for 13 years now and my readings and notes stay just about perfect from year to year. One word of caution would be when changing brands or type of pellets you might see changes, don't freak, write them down and observe the stove for a day or two. Also corn from season to season will be more dense or less and that will change some of the output temps.

Corn. Yes, here in WI corn is only $110-$120 per ton and is a lot cheaper than running pellets. The way I have my stove setup corn would have to go well above the price of pellets for me to switch back. I have also burned other fuels, including cherry pits and have not found any worth the price even compared to pellets, but would depend on your location and availability of the fuel.
 
Hello and thx for the time and answers...
I tried yesterday after work and seem not to have the c values...i do have the aux + what ever down or up button...
And it looks like, that my draft fan was constantly on to high...since when i have it on the manual setting and it sits on the same value as the heat range, i get a great nice and hot fire...no popcorning, and no almost stalling fire...
Trying to upload video of auto setting and manual setting with heat range 2
Also a lot more heat...
Going to test some more before i save the values...but so far...great news and so valuable info here...
There is a King 5510 review thread...that should be sticky...its little bit older but it really nails it over the 6 pages of reading...
Corn is way more expensive here in North New Jersey...and pellets are 4,90 a bag and a ton does not have much discount...
But compared to heating oil...a great saving...and hey...its a fire in the living room...that alone is a big plus
 

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Hello and thx for the time and answers...
I tried yesterday after work and seem not to have the c values...i do have the aux + what ever down or up button...
And it looks like, that my draft fan was constantly on to high...since when i have it on the manual setting and it sits on the same value as the heat range, i get a great nice and hot fire...no popcorning, and no almost stalling fire...
Trying to upload video of auto setting and manual setting with heat range 2
Also a lot more heat...
Going to test some more before i save the values...but so far...great news and so valuable info here...
There is a King 5510 review thread...that should be sticky...its little bit older but it really nails it over the 6 pages of reading...
Corn is way more expensive here in North New Jersey...and pellets are 4,90 a bag and a ton does not have much discount...
But compared to heating oil...a great saving...and hey...its a fire in the living room...that alone is a big plus
You really will want to get the stove running in auto. You need to check the DF high number and drop it down say ten numbers at a time and wait 30 minutes to see the results. Once you getting it running like it does in manual then you should be able to run in auto all the time and the board will adjust accordingly.

Make notes of the numbers where you start so if it goes bad you can quickly return to the other settings without losing a day of heat.
 
Contacted US Stove in hope they will provide documentation for preset changes...lets see...
Today is first adventure day...stove is alone at home AND running...but two cams are watching the show, so that i dont have to freak out if there will be a house left when i come home or not hahaha
 
Aaaand they dont...just got the news...
 
Contacted US Stove in hope they will provide documentation for preset changes...lets see...
Today is first adventure day...stove is alone at home AND running...but two cams are watching the show, so that i dont have to freak out if there will be a house left when i come home or not hahaha

I don't understand what you are referring to as "preset changes"? What are you looking for?
 
Hello...i was looking to get a official documentation of these aux plus button down/up or C settings presets the stoves come with...
They probably have that documented and in written from...
But they dont give it out...
 
Hello...i was looking to get a official documentation of these aux plus button down/up or C settings presets the stoves come with...
They probably have that documented and in written from...
But they dont give it out...
If you think your stove is running okay but not perfect, write down those numbers so you can return to them fast if need be and then the easiest way to find for sure what those settings are is to do a factory reset. That will return the board to the settings from the factory.

I know there were some differences between stoves, even the same models when shipped out but they are usually pretty close to each other.
 
Ok...feedback...
My upper draft fan setting was 300 and is now 290 and stove does what he should...
Nice flame, low ash lots of heat...
Pellets are sat to 1.75lb per hour in min
Thx for all these great info here
 
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