Run Harman without igniter?

[Pellet_Pete]

Since I burn solely in MANUAL mode, is there any negative consequence to removing the igniter completely? I've noticed that the igniter assembly really takes up a lot of room in the burn pot interior and jams up with ash/grit very quickly, thus affecting the air flow pattern. I'd like to just remove the whole thing to remove the obstacle, and make cleaning out the burn pot more efficient. As long as I'm running in MANUAL, I would think the stove won't even know the igniter is missing, will it? Thanks.

 

[TimfromMA]

You'd actually prefer lighting your stove manually? That's a new one on me.

 

[Bioburner]

Probably not. Would be curious to compare the pot to a p38 that's a manual light stove. Sometimes faster to do a manual light and if close to other homes will not smoke hardly at all to upset anyone.

 

[MountainSean]

No problem at all for removing the igniter. As long as you continue running the stove in manual mode there shouldn't be any negative consequences at all. I would probably wrap the leads going to the igniter in electrical tape as well to prevent any shorting if the plugs got too close to something metal.

 

[Pellet_Pete]

Thanks for the quick replies! Everyone must be quite at their leisure on this Labor Day, doing what they love best - thinking about their stoves!

Tim - To be honest, I've never even used the igniter! The first time I lit it up I did it with gel starter - quick, brainless, fail-safe - I can't imagine it being any easier with the igniter. Don't have any use for AUTO anyway - I'm either running the stove for heat, or I'm shutting it down for the day during shoulder season. Otherwise the stove is running and only need to relight after cleaning. I've put 14 tons through without an igniter, not likely to convert anytime soon, so may as well get it out of the way.

 

[TimfromMA]

I've never manually lit a pellet stove. I'm not entirely certain I know how. It would be a handy skill to have if my igniter ever fails.

 

[johninwi]

I've used my igniter once or twice, the cost of replacing it was one factor and the amount of smoke was another, i'm a city dweller. I've never tried the gel, i use mapp gas, propane would work but mapp is hotter.
Simple routine, scrape out the burn pot, a fistful of pellets in the pot, switch stove to test and back to current run setting and hit it with the gas for about 30 seconds. It has failed on occasion if the fire isn't enough to heat the esp and satisfy all the sensors, just hit it again with the gas. I may try the gel but it looks pricier than the bottle gas and i've used the same bottle for 3+ years and it handy for other things.
This is with a pc45, routine may vary with other stoves but a buddy has a garage install of an unknown brand and it works for him, he's stopped buying gel.
I've also heard of others using hand sanitizer, it is mostly alcohol, guess it would work.

 

[jackman]

My better half would not like that.

 

[Don2222]

Hello
I would put an inexpensive 5 amp inline fuse on the yellow igniter line so after the igniter is pulled if the harness clips ever touch metal your circuit board would be ProTected.

 

[Tonyray]

I.m not sure that removing the Igniter from a Harman P Series stove will improve Air flow.
someone want to chime in on this?
Although the compartment does fill up with dry Ash Grit,
I usually remove the plate an use my fingers to pull lot of it out regularly anyways.. But,
the point of the OP is avoiding the accumulation by removing the Ignitor so back to question of Better Airflow.

btw: I use Manual mode also[ Room/Manual or Stove/Auto] to burn but never concidered removing the Ignitor..

 

[Pellet_Pete]

I.m not sure that removing the Igniter from a Harman P Series stove will improve Air flow.

I guess I wasn't explicit, but I was mostly thinking of my XXV, which does the bulk of the heating in my house, and which has a noticeably smaller burn pot (inside and out). I don't know if I'll get "better" airflow, but at least I won't get irregular airflow as soon. Depends on the pellet quality too, of course.

 

[Pellet_Pete]

Hello
I would put an inexpensive 5 amp inline fuse on the yellow igniter line so after the igniter is pulled if the harness clips ever touch metal your circuit board would be ProTected.

Thanks - can't hurt.

 

[TimfromMA]

I guess I wasn't explicit, but I was mostly thinking of my XXV, which does the bulk of the heating in my house, and which has a noticeably smaller burn pot (inside and out). I don't know if I'll get "better" airflow, but at least I won't get irregular airflow as soon. Depends on the pellet quality too, of course.

I'm no expert but I would think that the engineers who designed it would have taken the igniter into account.

 

[Pellet_Pete]

I'm no expert but I would think that the engineers who designed it would have taken the igniter into account.

Accounted for it, sure, to an acceptable level. But more than likely it was a compromise to accommodate the igniter, since it is such a popular feature. Won't be long before it gets fired up and I can see if it makes any difference at all.

 

[ducker]

my Harman P38 loves running in "manual mode" Hello propane blowtorch

 

[Bioburner]

my Harman P38 loves running in "manual mode" Hello propane blowtorch

Do you have any choice?

 

[Boomer Sailor]

I've never manually lit a pellet stove. I'm not entirely certain I know how. It would be a handy skill to have if my igniter ever fails.

I saw someone on youtube take a handfull of pellets and squirt in a bit of hand sanitizer and mix it around.... place the coated pellets into the burn pot and light with a match. Or as someone else just mentioned... a propane torch

 

[Rock Crusher]

One reason I usually don't use the igniter is the smoke that it puts out before ignition. The propane torch method produces much less smoke, soaking about 8 oz. of pellets in isopropyly alcohol for about 2 minutes-totally smokeless.

 

[TimfromMA]

To light my stove, I walk over to the wall and push a button.

 

[Bioburner]

To light my stove, I walk over to the wall and push a button.

Till one cold night you wake up and $@&? Igniter shot, now how did they say to start without one?!

 

[Pellet_Pete]

Why are you not doing it today, these things cannot wait you know.

Weather's a bit thick for lighting fires at the moment. I'll consider firing it up when I am no longer sticking to my chair and sweating while sitting still.

 

[TimfromMA]

Till one cold night you wake up and $@&? Igniter shot, now how did they say to start without one?!

Oil furnace just long enough to replace the igniter with the spare I keep on hand.

 

[Pellet-King]

Smoke using gel?, there's more smoke using a igniter as the pellets start smouldering first creating smoke, using gel just grab a handfull of pellets and drop some gel, light with a stick lighter and slowly close the door.....never had a igniter maybe never will, Bought a Breckwell P23i for a buddy for $300, I showed him how to light with gel, next day his wife turns the stove on and it lit itself, didnt look to see if it had a igniter, If I knew it did I would of kept that stove.......

 

[Tonyray]

Smoke using gel?, there's more smoke using a igniter as the pellets start smouldering first creating smoke, using gel just grab a handfull of pellets and drop some gel, light with a stick lighter and slowly close the door.....never had a igniter maybe never will, Bought a Breckwell P23i for a buddy for $300, I showed him how to light with gel, next day his wife turns the stove on and it lit itself, didnt look to see if it had a igniter, If I knew it did I would of kept that stove.......

I don't see the Problem of Ignitor.. More smoke?... it all goes out the exhaust either way...
am I missing something here?

 

[TimfromMA]

I think they are concerned with the smoke bothering their neighbors.