Harman "new-one month old" Igniter not working

[Don2222]

Once or twice a season the ignitor in my XXV will not heat up. When starting up the sequence seems to be a feed-wait sequence for about 6 minutes, followed by 2-3 minutes of no auger action (by now the burn pot has a lot of pellets in it if burning hasn't commenced). It will then start a feed-wait sequence again if it's not stopped. If it gets to the no auger action phase I always turn it off, clean out the burn pot and restart, and it always starts up okay the second time. I always thought there was a software glitch or a problem with the board and a tech sort of confirmed the glitch theory when he told me that sometimes the stove gets "confused" during start up and thinks that ignition has already occurred. That may be true but what is the door gasket theory? That may be a better explanation. BTW it hasn't done it at all yet this season. I clean the firebox every 7-10 bags and clean the ignitor housing and the burn pot ignitor surface thoroughly. When it doesn't start the burn pot surface is cool to the touch.

X2
I worked on a P68 and after changing the igniter it started only for 2-3 days. In this case the stove had no surge protector on a town famous for power fluctuations. After changing the circuit board and installing an isoblok surge protector, it started right up with the same Ignitor!

 

[Don2222]

Once or twice a season the ignitor in my XXV will not heat up. When starting up the sequence seems to be a feed-wait sequence for about 6 minutes, followed by 2-3 minutes of no auger action (by now the burn pot has a lot of pellets in it if burning hasn't commenced). It will then start a feed-wait sequence again if it's not stopped. If it gets to the no auger action phase I always turn it off, clean out the burn pot and restart, and it always starts up okay the second time. I always thought there was a software glitch or a problem with the board and a tech sort of confirmed the glitch theory when he told me that sometimes the stove gets "confused" during start up and thinks that ignition has already occurred. That may be true but what is the door gasket theory? That may be a better explanation. BTW it hasn't done it at all yet this season. I clean the firebox every 7-10 bags and clean the ignitor housing and the burn pot ignitor surface thoroughly. When it doesn't start the burn pot surface is cool to the touch.

X2
I worked on a P68 and after changing the igniter it started only for 2-3 days. In this case the stove had no surge protector in a town famous for power fluctuations! After changing the circuit board with the damaged igniter Triac and installing an isoblok surge protector, it started right up with the same Ignitor! The electrician is also installing 2 whole house surge protector breakers in the circuit panel for approx $75 each. They also had problems with kitchen appliances!

 

[tiger]

I use compressed air also...
1st time I did it I had my head real close and learned quickly to keep my Mouth shut when pulling the trigger..

Those two posts might be the most informative I've read on the internet in a while. I have a compressor. I also have a mouth.

 

[scajjr2]

The igniter on our 2 yr old P43 wouldn't work after the stoves monthly cleaning Sunday. The area under the burnpot gets vac'd out every cleaning. It's seemed that when we started using the stove this season it's taken a lot longer to ignite the pellets after any shutdown. Got the stove going with a torch and it runs 24/7 so I ordered a igniter and will swap it out when it gets it's next cleaning in 3 weeks. Ordered this one (broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harman-Pellet-Igniter-Hot-Rod-XP3520-3-20-677200-USA-NOT-MADE-in-CHINA-/161886015216?)

Sam

 

[nhdblfan]

The igniter on our 2 yr old P43 wouldn't work after the stoves monthly cleaning Sunday. The area under the burnpot gets vac'd out every cleaning. It's seemed that when we started using the stove this season it's taken a lot longer to ignite the pellets after any shutdown. Got the stove going with a torch and it runs 24/7 so I ordered a igniter and will swap it out when it gets it's next cleaning in 3 weeks. Ordered this one (broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harman-Pellet-Igniter-Hot-Rod-XP3520-3-20-677200-USA-NOT-MADE-in-CHINA-/161886015216?)

Sam

Thats the one I ordered-no more Harman $100 POS igniters for me!, its strange he has several of the same igniters one there with different prices,

on the plus side, I just turned up the cheaper heat-oil and will hook the now igniter up next week.

 

[Tonyray]

And its out again !,
This time I am not buying OEM will give one of the aftermarket ones a try,anyone heard of these ?
He does mention "high failure rate" with Harman igniters.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement...155027?hash=item27ee627753:g:qn0AAOSwR0JUPwUC

hey...
for 39.00 I would give it a shot...
could have sworn last year when I was looking at them on ebay the prices we're around 60 bucks or so...

 

[heat seeker]

hey...
for 39.00 I would give it a shot...
could have sworn last year when I was looking at them on ebay the prices we're around 60 bucks or so...

The igniter price for my stove went from $95 to $65 in less than a year. Same seller, too.

 

[nhdblfan]

Yep same seller, mine was 39 (+3.95 for USPS Priority),came today, threw it in-I have it down now to less then 15 mins start to finish !
Fired it up and it lit in less then 4 mins,never ever again will I buy a POS Harman igniter-or I suspect any other part from them when you can get these for less then 1/2 price in a couple days and they work great !

 

[David M]

Every ton you should back out the two 5/16" machine screws (by three turns) that hold the ignitor cage in place. Stick your fingers inside the burn pot and rattle the cage. This will knock off the fly ash. Since I been having my customers do this my ignitor replacements dropped off to zero. ****Legal disclaimer**** Do this while there is no fire in the stove and it is cold.

Eric

I never thought of that. I will add this to my cleaning routine.

 

[nhdblfan]

I never thought of that. I will add this to my cleaning routine.

Hope it works better for you then mine did.There is a known issue with faulty (overpriced) igniters that were/are coming from Harman.I suspect i have a had at least 2 that were bad ones.One went within a month and the last one in 3 months. I have had the stove for many years and the first two lasted many seasons-even before the cleaning "trick" was used.

 

[David M]

Hope it works better for you then mine did.There is a known issue with faulty (overpriced) igniters that were/are coming from Harman.I suspect i have a had at least 2 that were bad ones.One went within a month and the last one in 3 months. I have had the stove for many years and the first two lasted many seasons-even before the cleaning "trick" was used.

I have had the stove for seven years, and had to replace mine once so far.

 

[nhdblfan]

I have had the stove for seven years, and had to replace mine once so far.

Thats great, still has fast start up ? You can tell,at least I can as it takes longer to light its going,then nothing.Will see how long this ebay one lasts,at least I have changing them out down to a science-one tool 5/16 nut driver and 15 mins and it done.

 

[David M]

Thats great, still has fast start up ? You can tell,at least I can as it takes longer to light its going,then nothing.Will see how long this ebay one lasts,at least I have changing them out down to a science-one tool 5/16 nut driver and 15 mins and it done.

The start up time is not too bad. If it has been down for a while it takes like 10 minutes to light.

 

[Tonyray]

I never thought of that. I will add this to my cleaning routine.

or, you can use a can of Compressed air to blow ash out of the Igniter..