Harman p43 pellet feed rate/hopper fire concerns

[Eco45]

I just got a p43 and find that I'm using just under a half hopper in 8 hours, I use to have a drolet eco45 that would use less for about the same amount of heat, I tried feed 4 and now on 3, still too much being used, but I'm worried about the fire and embers getting into the auger when running on lower settings, the book only says to decrease feed if embers are too close to the edge, less then 1", but does say if flame goes out, increase feed, am I worrying too much about a hopper fire or is there some risk when running on lowersettings.

I have run on stove temp but the lowest sitting uses too much pellets while running hotter then I need, so my settings are...
ignition: auto
mode: room temp
feed limit: 3
75f, which keeps the large room above 20c, which is where I like it, but would like too read about the effects of running on 2 or 1 feed before trying, worried about hopper fire.

 

[Washed-Up]

I run my P61A on 1 and 2 with no issues…4 and 4 are my go to

 

[Eco45]

I w run my P61A on 1 and 2 with no issues…4 and 4 are my go to

idk the difference between p61 and p43, but the feeder assembly's are the same by design.

 

[Washed-Up]

Yes they are, P43 just smaller scale…running a stove on a lower setting will eventually carbon it up and build creosote…at least once a week I’ll run mine on 4 and 4 in stove temp for a half hour or so to heat it up and clean any bad build up out

 

[bogieb]

I run my P43 on feed rate 2 (or when in constant burn, feed rate 1 or .05). Ihave a small place and either the stove would short cycle becuase it got warm too fast (room temp mode), or heat me out of the house (constant burn).

As for hopper fire concerns - that is very unlikely to happen. The feed system is two parts:

• The pre feeder that fills a small chamber with pellets (that small chamber is behind the fines clean-out). If you look down into an empty hopper, you can see where the slide plate closes the hopper off. I believe the tinkle you hear from pellets falling is when that slide gate opens and pellets are falling into the smaller feeding chamber.
• Then the feeder auger that brings the pellets out of that small feeding chamber into the fire pot.

Even should the fire somehow back up into the small chamber, the slide plate under the hopper keeps the main body of pellets isolated. I've had the fire sitting right at the tip of the auger and never had an issue on either stove.

 

[Eco45]

I run my P43 on feed rate 2 (or when in constant burn, feed rate 1 or .05). Ihave a small place and either the stove would short cycle becuase it got warm too fast (room temp mode), or heat me out of the house (constant burn).

As for hopper fire concerns - that is very unlikely to happen. The feed system is two parts:

• The pre feeder that fills a small chamber with pellets (that small chamber is behind the fines clean-out). If you look down into an empty hopper, you can see where the slide plate closes the hopper off. I believe the tinkle you hear from pellets falling is when that slide gate opens and pellets are falling into the smaller feeding chamber.
• Then the feeder auger that brings the pellets out of that small feeding chamber into the fire pot.

Even should the fire somehow back up into the small chamber, the slide plate under the hopper keeps the main body of pellets isolated. I've had the fire sitting right at the tip of the auger and never had an issue on either stove.

I've heard a slaming noise both loud and not, is that the slide plate slaming shut or what makes that noise, running on 2 feed after running on 3 to get thing warmed it, still set to 75f, keeps the heat well.