P43 burn efficiency?

[Bill Pitman]

I installed a Harman P43 stove in February of 2018.
So this is the first full heat season of use. 2018/2019
I have a wired receiver/ wireless transmitter thermostat, wired in series, with the harman room temp
probe. Room temp pot is set high so that wireless thermostat controls on/off of stove.
Room Temp mode.
I typically have the feed rate at 4, & the blower at auto & full on.
Question/ statement- Logic tells me the only way to effect heat output temp is by feedrate and/ or blower speed..... True?
So, now I'm thinking.....when thermostat calls for heat, don't you want to get the temperature up as quickly as possible?
Again, logical thought tells me to turn up the feedrate, to get more & quicker heat?
Now, I do realize that this is only possible, so long as there is no overfeeding of pellets!
The only other negative to this....... Too much heat being created within the stove, and the blower NOT being able to extract or introduce that extra heat into the living area?!

So, what is the most efficent way of maintaining a linear heat output?

I would really like to see some technical discussion on my thinking.....
Regards,

Bill Pitman
Pennsylvania

 

[Mt Bob]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/how-your-harman-works-what-your-manual-doesnt-tell-you.91030/

 

[jpeterson2322]

I installed my p61a about the same time you did and from what I've read and experimented with here's how I have my settings. Winter: on startup I set feed limit at 4, ignitor on auto, blower to room temp high, and temp dial between 70-75. Once it's lit for about 10-15 min I turn the ignitor to disable and feed rate down just under 2. This keeps a constant small fire going and turns the blower on as needed. The bedrooms are at 70 and living room about 74. The house feels more consistent and I use less pellets compared to leaving the feed at 4 and ignitor on auto. My plan is to go back to using the auto setting come spring when I won't need the blower running during the day. There's a ton of variables from house size, layout, fuel that there is no perfect setting that works for everyone, but this is what works for me. My goal was to find consistent house temp with least amount of pellets.

 

[Mt Bob]

I installed my p61a about the same time you did and from what I've read and experimented with here's how I have my settings. Winter: on startup I set feed limit at 4, ignitor on auto, blower to room temp high, and temp dial between 70-75. Once it's lit for about 10-15 min I turn the ignitor to disable and feed rate down just under 2. This keeps a constant small fire going and turns the blower on as needed. The bedrooms are at 70 and living room about 74. The house feels more consistent and I use less pellets compared to leaving the feed at 4 and ignitor on auto. My plan is to go back to using the auto setting come spring when I won't need the blower running during the day. There's a ton of variables from house size, layout, fuel that there is no perfect setting that works for everyone, but this is what works for me. My goal was to find consistent house temp with least amount of pellets.

You should go read the first post on the link I posted.As per Harman and their technicians,keep running your feed rate low and you can burn off the end of the auger,and possibly damage the auger tube.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

Also see post #2 here:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/harman-stove-mode-blew-us-out.173189/#post-2323501
While the Feeder weldment & Auger can be damaged, it doesn't just happen overnight, see the pics from my P61 in the post linked above, took 19 years to get to this point, run the stove at what ever works for you.

 

[MCPO]

You should go read the first post on the link I posted.As per Harman and their technicians,keep running your feed rate low and you can burn off the end of the auger,and possibly damage the auger tube.

I use to burn mine on low. After about 4 years I did eventually burn the tip off my auger and had to replace it. I also had a hell of a time cleaning the auger tube.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

I use to burn mine on low. After about 4 years I did eventually burn the tip off my auger and had to replace it. I also had a hell of a time cleaning the auger tube.

How low did you burn? That sounds like a very short life, I hope my new feeder weldment lasts as long as the original, I noticed it did not look as thick as the one being replaced, but I just figured that was my imagination, maybe they are not making them from as heavy a tube any more. The original also had more steel overall and a heavy (cast Iron?) fines door that also had to be replaced with a plate steel one, from seeing this I must wonder if they are not as robust as the originals.
Did you ever clean the tube after burning for the year? I use a ball hone for small engines (chainsaw) attached to a drill motor through the feeder weldment (auger tube) once a year, clean the burn pot end of the auger really good while its out for the tube to be cleaned.

 

[MCPO]

How low did you burn? That sounds like a very short life, I hope my new feeder weldment lasts as long as the original, I noticed it did not look as thick as the one being replaced, but I just figured that was my imagination, maybe they are not making them from as heavy a tube any more. The original also had more steel overall and a heavy (cast Iron?) fines door that also had to be replaced with a plate steel one, from seeing this I must wonder if they are not as robust as the originals.
Did you ever clean the tube after burning for the year? I use a ball hone for small engines (chainsaw) attached to a drill motor through the feeder weldment (auger tube) once a year, clean the burn pot end of the auger really good while its out for the tube to be cleaned.

I bought the stove (2004 PP38 model) used but sparingly and only daytime hours during it`s 4 yrs prior to me burning it 24/7 for 4 more years before the tip burned off.
The tube was really gooey right up into the chute. I now remove the auger and clean the tube yearly and have not encountered any buildup since I stopped burning on 1 and 2. It might sound like overkill but I feel safer knowing the tube and auger is perfectly clean . The thought of a hopper fire or burn back scares me.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

When you say 1 and 2 are you talking about a feed rate of 1 and 2 or are you talking about the temp setting control dial which has the 50-90 degree number set and the 1-7 number set (bottom left). If you are talking about the feed rate, I do not adjust the feed rate that low, it stays on 3.5 to 4 depending on room temp or stove temp operation.

 

[MCPO]

When you say 1 and 2 are you talking about a feed rate of 1 and 2 or are you talking about the temp setting control dial which has the 50-90 degree number set and the 1-7 number set (bottom left). If you are talking about the feed rate, I do not adjust the feed rate that low, it stays on 3.5 to 4 depending on room temp or stove temp operation.

On the pp38 it would be the bottom left dial .