What Harman P68 settings will minimize heat output and pellet consumption, during shoulder seasons?

[Orson_Yancey]

I purchased a Harman P68 in June 2014. During the shoulder seasons, I want to run it on minimal heat output and
pellet consumption. I have been running it on Constant Burn setting #1. I was wondering if there is some setting even of lower heat output than Constant Burn #1 and still to keep the flame so as not to put wear on the igniter going through numerous fire-up cycles. I tried Room Temperature setting 50* with the igniter switch set set to manual, to keep a maintenance fire. From what I can tell; the flame size, heat output, and pellet consumption seems about the same as Constant Burn setting #1. What settings would produce the minimal heat output and pellet consumption? And while maintaining a maintenance flame?

 

[Luv2burnPellets]

You are needlessly concerned about igniter wear and tear on auto mode. My advice: Keep the igniter box clean, (weekly ), keep the burn pot clean (daily ) , set to automatic room temp, feed rate 4 ( all season long ), fan speed to medium, and enjoy your Harman and its comfort features. For peace of mind, buy a spare igniter. I am always puzzled why people invest in arguably one of the very best pellet stoves on the market, pay top dollar, and then try cheapen your enjoyment of the features it provides by " saving the igniter" in the shoulder season. Just use the manual setting when the temps are below freezing.

 

[boo boo]

You will have to find what is best for your setup
This time of year on sunny mornings / days I get a lot of sun from the slider and that is the room the stove is in.
It will shut down for hours when it is about 45 outside because of the sun heat through the door. It will cycle back on when needed.
Like luv said don't worry to much about the igniter wear

 

[alternativeheat]

My P61 has been in room temp auto since it's last cleaning two weeks ago. To which it is due for another cleaning tomorrow. In shoulder season that's how I run it. So far two full seasons of burning, 3 shoulder seasons and start ups after cleaning , the igniter is still alive and well. I'm not going to burn pellets all day long when the stove could be off for the sake of an igniter that might not burn out in 6 years. How idiotic is that ? If it burns out I'll change it. Much like the igniter in my wife's oven, hot water heater, gas dryer etc. We don't leave the oven running till the next time we need it ! If you waste 15-20 bags of pellets during combined shoulder seasons you paid for an igniter. Might as well use the igniter, it's probably less expensive than the wasted pellets at todays pellet prices..

 

[bags]

What you have mentioned is about as low as it will go. I put mine on 1 constant burn on temperate days just to keep some heat going as it is now. The auto room temp set to desired temp works well also. I also agree not to worry too much about igniterphobia as F4 calls it. It is all if you want the stove cycling up and down for temp or not. I can maintain a nice temp both ways. Use the search bar and look at the igniter phobia thread F4 started a ways back.

I see many people here worrying about pointless stuff. It's an appliance that is designed to be used. Many get quite a few years out of an $80 part without issues. Nothing much to worry about in my opinion. It's like not using 5th or 6th gear in your car for fears of wearing it out prematurely and buzzing down the freeway in 4th all the time.

I use constant burn a lot on the lowest settings in shoulder season just to still have a fire and kick a bit of heat out to take the edge off of the cool. I have found I can maintain a comfy constant temp in the house running this way. It all boils down to what you like and works for you really.

The igniter use debate gets almost as entertaining as the OAK debate. I know what I like and will run accordingly and suffer the consequences. The igniter debacle is like not using you cruise control on road trips for fear of wearing it out. All parts eventually wear out. As long as things are maintained and not abused it will last awhile without any troubles.

I was sucked into the caring too much about cleaning and everything. I am on a much more relaxed regiment now. Sure I clean it regularly but Anal Andy hit the trail. After the P68 worked flawlessly all season and while I was out of town for work I no longer have concerns like I once did. You have a very good and reliable bullet proof stove. Throw pellets at it and let it do its thing. Show it some occasional love and drive on.

 

[bags]

BTW Welcome! You should have been here long ago. There is a lot of good stuff and info here. You bought your P68 a few months before I bought mine. I am very happy with mine. The wife loves it! Win-win.

 

[Bioburner]

Don't fret the igniter Orson. I got a stove from the neighbor and its igniter is ten years old, but its a PC45. Harman seems to have figured out the igniter issue. Looks like we may have skipped most of spring here. Couple days ago was 13 and tomorrow is to be in the 60's. Ah the silence of no stoves running.
Welcome

 

[Tonyray]

the Igniter is probably the cheapest part you will replace on your stove..
I saw 2 for 130.00 on ebay,,,'maunfactured to Harman exact specs right down to the exact length of wires.
doesn't make any kind of sense to save it...save it for what?

 

[railfanron]

Listen to the other guys and run the stove on automatic. I have mine on a set back thermostat set at 70 day and 65 night and it works fine. When it's warm out it may run only twice all day for about 25 minutes each time. My stove is on automatic all the time except when the temperature drops below zero then it runs on room temp manual. The pellets you save will more than pay for an igniter.
Ron

 

[Orson_Yancey]

Folks, Thanks for the helpful replies. I discovered this forum only a few days ago.
I plan to be a regular reader and contributor.

 

[HP52NOVA]

I have a 51i with and was dealing with the same question. What I found to work best is to just leave it on auto and room temp. I have the temp set on 75. if you have the sensor well located, the stove does a good job on maintaining that and will shutdown and come up as needed. Mine will maybe do it twice a day in average with this setting, so its not too bad on the igniter. I have had it running on manual for a while, but the stove just shots down distribution and then just sits there idling on a maint flame basically heating itself. So I agree with my peers here, auto and room temp for the shoulder season...

That said, when I know a warm day is to be expected , I will just shut it down in the morning before work and then light it up for the evening and night.

 

[Tonyray]

I have a 51i with and was dealing with the same question. What I found to work best is to just leave it on auto and room temp. I have the temp set on 75. if you have the sensor well located, the stove does a good job on maintaining that and will shutdown and come up as needed. Mine will maybe do it twice a day in average with this setting, so its not too bad on the igniter. I have had it running on manual for a while, but the stove just shots down distribution and then just sits there idling on a maint flame basically heating itself. So I agree with my peers here, auto and room temp for the shoulder season...

That said, when I know a warm day is to be expected , I will just shut it down in the morning before work and then light it up for the evening and night.

Yes...
that's another 'fly in the ointmen't about using Manual during shoulder times is the distribution blower shutting down for Longer periods of time now while the flame keeps on eating pellets.
Not alot per minute but all day it adds up/
During heart of winter when the stove will not come close to shutting down, then room Manual
or Stove temp is a decent alternative..

 

[bags]

I have a 51i with and was dealing with the same question. What I found to work best is to just leave it on auto and room temp. I have the temp set on 75. if you have the sensor well located, the stove does a good job on maintaining that and will shutdown and come up as needed. Mine will maybe do it twice a day in average with this setting, so its not too bad on the igniter. I have had it running on manual for a while, but the stove just shots down distribution and then just sits there idling on a maint flame basically heating itself. So I agree with my peers here, auto and room temp for the shoulder season...

That said, when I know a warm day is to be expected , I will just shut it down in the morning before work and then light it up for the evening and night.

When you run in that mode flip the igniter to auto. The stove will continue to run a low maintenance flame but also the distribution blower runs the whole time at whatever speed you have it set at from low to high. The igniter does not keep cycling because you already have a flame. Ran mine like that a bunch this season. Try it out.

I think there is a misconception that the igniter continuously cycles when in auto mode. Once there is a flame burning (constant burn mode) the igniter has already done its job. Why would it just come on periodically for fun? Don't think it does because the stove has a maintenance flame already going.

Now IF you are in room temp auto it will cycle as needed. I do not believe this is so in constant burn / stove temp with the igniter flipped up to auto. When in constant burn and with the igniter switch in auto it will run the distribution blower. Where the igniter works is lighting the fire when you first start the stove up say after a cleaning OR when in room temp auto after the fire has gone out and the room temp probe calls for heat to get you back to set desired temperature.

 

[Tonyray]

When you run in that mode flip the igniter to auto. The stove will continue to run a low maintenance flame but also the distribution blower runs the whole time at whatever speed you have it set at from low to high. The igniter does not keep cycling because you already have a flame. Ran mine like that a bunch this season. Try it out.

I think there is a misconception that the igniter continuously cycles when in auto mode. Once there is a flame burning (constant burn mode) the igniter has already done its job. Why would it just come on periodically for fun? Don't think it does because the stove has a maintenance flame already going.

Now IF you are in room temp auto it will cycle as needed. I do not believe this is so in constant burn / stove temp with the igniter flipped up to auto. When in constant burn and with the igniter switch in auto it will run the distribution blower. Where the igniter works is lighting the fire when you first start the stove up say after a cleaning OR when in room temp auto after the fire has gone out and the room temp probe calls for heat to get you back to set desired temperature.

"I think there is a misconception that the igniter continuously cycles when in auto"..

This is probably one of if Not The top reason that many will Pamper or barely use the Igniter...
I can understand a person thinking this is what takes place.

 

[bags]

Agreed Tony. It is like thinking the glow plugs continuously cycle in a diesel truck. They do at start up to preheat the engine and cylinders to start the engine. Once the engine is started and running the flow plugs are dormant. Just like those igniters after they have done their job of starting the fire.