Pioneer Bay Igniter Keeps Dying

[hobbit]

So I've got this same dang Pioneer Bay pellet stove insert, and after replacing the control board I've gone through two aftermarket igniters that eventually blew (in the span of a couple months), taking the fuse on the control board with them. I just replaced it (again) with a "real" one from StoverParts4Less, but is there something that could be causing the igniters to short/blow that I should be looking at?

Yes, I use it on thermostat mode but isn't it made to do that? Even with the many startup/shutdowns, wouldn't I get more time out of an igniter than a month or two at most?

Not sure when I should consider replacing the stove itself, given how many pieces I've had to replace on it.

 

[Ssyko]

sorry to say but aftermarket igniters are sourced buy those that want to get rich quick. They buy them cheap and sell for ignorant $$$. most OEM are designed and made to meat certain standards and aftermarket are not. from my experiments over the last 2 burn seasons you are about the same time the china igniters go bad for me. i have gotten OEM that didn't make it 2 months and fried. go with a good OEM and save the $$ over time is the best advice i have to offer.

 

[Washed-Up]

Have to agree Ssyko…I tried one aftermarket igniter and back to OEM

 

[hobbit]

How long should an OEM igniter last running on auto/thermostat?

 

[Ssyko]

I’ve had an OEM last about 11years then was replaced with another OEM that lasted around 3.5-4 months. Thus my Chinese experiment started. I’ve bought 5 from every store on Ali Express and now there is an OEM back in the stove, been there all of this burn season so far😆. 100% thermostate

 

[Ricks]

Could the stove be shirt cycling? Have you changed anything in the house. New thermostat, more insulation, upgraded windows, etc?

 

[hobbit]

Could the stove be shirt cycling? Have you changed anything in the house. New thermostat, more insulation, upgraded windows, etc?

Define short cycling? It runs until it hits the thermostat set temperature then does the shutdown cycle, and starts again as the temp dips

 

[johneh]

How long (time) is the stove off before it fires up again

 

[hobbit]

It fires up again if the thermostat is calling for heat. So, once the shutdown cycle completes it starts up again if it's already cooled down below the threshold.

 

[johneh]

So then the restart is about every hour, say 12 times in a 24 hour peroid.
My stove, which does not have a stat, gets cleaned once a week, so it is turned off
which means that the igniter is used about 50 times in a heating season, and
The igniter is original to this 24-year-old stove. Your igniter is used as much
as mine in a year, but it takes yours only 3 weeks to equal a year (All numbers are rounded )
In conclusion, your ignitor lasts about 2 years of restarts. Using it the way you do shows that
you are getting about the life expectancy of an aftermarket igniter You would most likely
get more from an OME unit. Just my 2 cents worth and real life experiance

 

[hobbit]

That's fair. I may switch to running it on manual for periods, and auto for others. It's convenient (thermostat) but replacing the igniter is NOT on this thing.

 

[Whitenuckler]

That's fair. I may switch to running it on manual for periods, and auto for others. It's convenient (thermostat) but replacing the igniter is NOT on this thing.

On mine I have it on thermostat mode(called Room mode), but I can flick a switch and it will just shut the blower off and idle once it gets to the setpoint. Maintains the room temp within 1 def F. Has to be a bit colder out though. Late fall to early spring for me as it's in the basement and it stays cool down there. In the off months I don't run it until late in the afternoon to take the chill off.

 

[hobbit]

Mine isn't that smart. It just runs based on the thermostat turning on or off.

 

[ABusWrench]

12 years and running on the original igniter. I run room temp/manual. Most of my restarts are because I forgot to put pellets in it! With 2 or 3 major cleanings a season and warm temps when I kick over to heat pump, it probably restarts 25 times a season. I've got a spare igniter. It's oem,

 

[hobbit]

I'd love to run it on manual, low, but it eventually puts itself out from blowing the embers out of the pot. It'll run forever on medium, though, but then it gets too hot in the room.

 

[Ssyko]

close the restrictor to run on low. Manual see pg 12