Pellet Stove power backup? What do you use?

[kenora]

Honda hasn't got a choke. Nor does ryobi.. Just the push to prime things

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[Tonyray]

My generators both have chokes, I never heard of a generator with no choke unless maybe if it was LP fueled, but what ever.. Somebody says they have one with no choke, I'll just have to assume that I wouldn't want what ever unit that is, he must know his generator well enough to be correct.

i have a lawn mower without a choke but that's it..
guess they do make some gennys without chokes. interesting..

 

[maple1]

Mine has a choke, but no choke lever. Some sort of auto thing, controlled by a thermister.

 

[Tonyray]

Mine has a choke, but no choke lever. Some sort of auto thing, controlled by a thermister.

yeah.. that's how the mower is. no lever.

 

[alternativeheat]

yeah.. that's how the mower is. no lever.

Exactly, my garden tractor is like that. It's some eco thing so the choke comes off faster than you might do by hand. I hate it, cause now it goes lean till it warms up.

 

[kenora]

I NEED to be able to set the choke...not some automatic POS

A friend has a walmart inverter generator (2kw) with the auto choke and it is horrible to start below about 50f...

 

[chken]

I have a Harman absolute63. It has been fantastic. However, we recently lost power for 8 hours during a windstorm and the house got down to 55degrees. We typically only lose power a few times a year (mostly during summer) and this is the first time it was during cold weather (20F outside). I have decided to invest in some sort of backup to run our pellet stove. unfortunately our budget is not very large ~$500. We can typically find decently used generators in the 5000watt range for 200-400$ locally. I have read there could be issues with using generators with Harman pellet stoves but I have no idea what these issues are. I have heard of using some sort of battery backup but I am not sure what that means and how expensive it is. The plus of using a generator would be we can then also run some other things such as some lights and maybe the refrigerator. I welcome all ideas on this subject. Thanks!

Lots of possible solutions, but only you know which one suits you. Of course, your Harman will shutdown if it senses a square wave, so, you need to go with a pure sine wave, thus, inverter generators. You don't need much, but inexpensive 2000 watt ones are under $400, if you don't buy Honda/Yamaha. I have a Wen 2000, sold at HD, which works great for me. I like it that it has an Eco mode so that the power output varies based upon load, so that under light loads it can run over 14hrs on a single gallon. Also, most of these digital inverters are very quiet, even more quiet under Eco mode.

I made a dedicated outlet in my kitchen, which might be an idea for you, since you want to run the pellet stove, fridge and some lights. That outlet is connected to an outdoor inlet plug. The weatherproof outdoor inlet plug, 12-2 wire, indoor box, don't cost too much, and should keep you under your $500 budget. Personally, I think the transfer switch is overkill for your application, since the box itself is quit pricey.

 

[alternativeheat]

Let me just put this out there. Has anyone reading this ever had their Harman shut down on a modern portable generator because of the kind of power ( wave form) the generator puts out (IE it didn't just run out of gas or something)? I can answer no for myself, my Harman is a 2013 P61A though. The electronic control on my boiler is about 2014, and other electronic items that go on gen power when needed are older and been on gen power many times but all run fine on either of my generators. So I can't speak for the newest iteration Harman or other extra smart devised that are out today..

I've said it enough times but today's generators have automatic voltage regulators on them that are digital themselves and digital displays and controls, one might get the idea they are safe for electronics. Perhaps Harman has their stoves rigged so you have to buy their proprietary backup power, or think you do at least.

 

[kenora]

I just checked out the WEN 56200i at Amazon..looks like the answer for me... at $480.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SMNLF4M/?tag=hearthamazon-20

 

[alternativeheat]

I just checked out the WEN 56200i at Amazon..looks like the answer for me... at $480.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SMNLF4M/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Cute little bugger, good on gas, if that's all you need go for it. Also be good for remote camping.
FWIW, the Generac 2200i looks like pretty much the same unit on special now for $428.

 

[chken]

I just checked out the WEN 56200i at Amazon..looks like the answer for me... at $480.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SMNLF4M/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Yep, that's the one I have. I may have paid a bit less on Amazon's subsidiary site, Woot.com, but it's worked great for me. Quiet, uses very little gas, and has an eco mode, which is even more fuelish. Plus, it only weighs about 60lbs full of fuel, so easy to lug around. Easy to pull-start. What's not to like? I put in a magnetic dipstick, which reminds me, taking off the cover to access the oil is what I didn't like.

 

[chken]

I just checked out the WEN 56200i at Amazon..looks like the answer for me... at $480.99

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SMNLF4M/?tag=hearthamazon-20

Well, it's on sale today, only today for $359, including shipping from Home Depot:
(broken link removed)