Which burns fewer pellets: Maintenance Flame or Constant Burn #1?

[jackhammer]

This I think is a good example of being the generic Harman crowd consensus. I guess many just revert to the old ways because that's just the way it is, has been, and should be ideology. Fine, but I disagree with what you were told by both the shop and installer. I think many realize that feed rate 3 - 4 is a general cover all mode to run so they recommend that for a cover the butt type general rule of thumb. Sure it works pretty well but is it the best case at all times? Nope. Not here anyway.

Ask your dealer and / or tech, Then why does my stove have lower settings? I bet you get a weird look along with a blank stare while they try to think of some BS that seems to sound half way logical to them. They will be talking in circles or not have any good explanation other than 'this is what Harman recommends.' OK, with that said doctors like to hit the go to solve all antibiotics for many bacteria type ailments. Kind of a general solve it all remedy.

Now if you are not sick and have no baterial infection etc; are you going to take them. No, and not everyone is running the same fever per se.

Yeah, I never got a good answer as to why, so I disregarded that advise to leave feed rate around 3-4. I run it there when it is colder, but with the mild start to winter, 3-4 makes it too warm in the house.

 

[Tonyray]

The Renegade steers the ship....

Sam, I run my stove 24/7 and do not think twice about it. Even when I am gone all day or take off for a long while. I will set the feed down accordingly if it isn't already as low as I can go during the day when I am gone. It is much easier and better here that way.

The stove off during the day vs. stove running has been discussed many times here. It is all what works for you and one's preferences. I feel that by running it that the homes core temp is kept up better and it is more efficient. It doesn't have to burn wildly to get things back up where I like it.

I also feel that takes more pellets / fuel to get things back up there because you are reheating EVERYTHING vs. just bringing everything back up a bit. Cruise and steady throttle seems to me to be the best answer. Driving around heavy footed and hot rodding sucks the fuel.

This can be highly debated but my buck fifties worth is that I have found what I like and that's it. Done. I pay for my own pellets. Besides, who likes waking up or coming home to a cold place?

yep..
the Rinse/lather/repeat of room/auto doesn't work well for me...
no sooner warms up then it dies down...
for me it's only good on days the sun will be out and warm things up a bit..
then I don't mind the stove shutting off for the afternoon but we're talkin high 40's or above..
not below the 40's..

 

[bags]

Tony, I am running about the same thru the night. I think I was at 1.5 to 1.75 and the house was nice and warm this morning. About 11 AM I kicked the feed down to .75 and the stat is reading 75* now and has been all day.

This has been my bag of tricks since about Dec.1st of last season. I really do not think about it much. I just see what the house stat is reading and adjust my feed to what it needs vs. outside temps. Or if say it reads 70* i'll run it at 3 - 4 until it hits the 74-75* mark and then roll the feed back down to anywhere from 2 on down depending how cold it is.

 

[bags]

On warmer days while I'm gone or home many times I just turn mine to OFF. Then when the stat drops to 68 -70* I flip to auto ignite, Feed 3-4, let it fire, flip immediately into manual, and run up to my temp and then bump the feed down.

Some days it is really just too warm to run it all day. Even with the brick under the pedal. I just check what the temps are supposed to hit daily.

 

[Tonyray]

Tony, I am running about the same thru the night. I think I was at 1.5 to 1.75 and the house was nice and warm this morning. About 11 AM I kicked the feed down to .75 and the stat is reading 75* now and has been all day.

This has been my bag of tricks since about Dec.1st of last season. I really do not think about it much. I just see what the house stat is reading and adjust my feed to what it needs vs. outside temps. Or if say it reads 70* i'll run it at 3 - 4 until it hits the 74-75* mark and then roll the feed back down to anywhere from 2 on down depending how cold it is.

don't think I have read where you keep your fan speed overnite or during the day......??

 

[Cory S]

I burn in constant mode all the time. Switch set to auto, and feed rate between 1-2... For some reason, my temperature dial does not change the auger cycle time at all ... My stove output BTU only changes with changes to the feed rate. With the feed rate on 1.25-1.50, my P61A consumes almost exactly 1 bag per day....

I am on bag 42 here in central NH, and I have been burning since late September.

 

[bags]

where you keep your fan speed overnite or during the day......??

I run mine on max almost always. Sometimes I'll turn it down in the shoulder to somewhat control heat output, but 90% of the time it is all the way up. I want as much heat pushed out as I can get for the pellets burned. Wife and kids notice when I down size it too. I will roll all of the knobs occasionally to keep them in tune or from stagnating at one place non stop.

 

[Tonyray]

I burn in constant mode all the time. Switch set to auto, and feed rate between 1-2... For some reason, my temperature dial does not change the auger cycle time at all ... My stove output BTU only changes with changes to the feed rate. With the feed rate on 1.25-1.50, my P61A consumes almost exactly 1 bag per day....

I am on bag 42 here in central NH, and I have been burning since late September.

I don't think the temp knob will change the auger cycles.
in renegade mode, you would have the temp set at at least #5 with a 1-2 feed rate to keep the dist blower on all the time since it can't catch which is the main reason for..[In Room/Auto]...
I realize that in stove or constant the blower stays on also which for some of us it's too warm [depending on floor plan, insulation or lack of etc...]

 

[bags]

in renegade mode,

That cracks me up. Hey somebody has to be the bad guy............... Guess Cory is rolling along in Rebel Mode.

 

[Tonyray]

That cracks me up. Hey somebody has to be the bad guy............... Guess Cory is rolling along in Rebel Mode.

YEAH...
but can't be a renegade or rebel if your only doing # 1-2 feedrate to save pellets, don't know any better, or both..

 

[Cory S]

Not doing it to save pellets. Anything over feed rate 2, over heats my 1900sq ft home lol.....

 

[Tonyray]

Not doing it to save pellets. Anything over feed rate 2, over heats my 1900sq ft home lol.....

I know...
Stove or constant mode here even on 2 is too much..
I come downstairs in the AM and it's over 80 degrees and climbing...
but that was in shoulder season which kinda looks like is over here in the mid-Atlantic region.

 

[Cory S]

I know...
Stove or constant mode here even on 2 is too much..
I come downstairs in the AM and it's over 80 degrees and climbing...
but that was in shoulder season which kinda looks like is over here in the mid-Atlantic region.

80... Ouch... We die if it gets over 70-71 upstairs. Feed 2 will hold it at 67-68* with an outside ambient of 20*F

 

[Tonyray]

80... Ouch... We die if it gets over 70-71 upstairs. Feed 2 will hold it at 67-68* with an outside ambient of 20*F

My upstairs gets around 67 at night.... 3 bedrooms are not well insulated.. good sleeping weather so forget the Insulation..lol

 

[Tonyray]

That cracks me up. Hey somebody has to be the bad guy............... Guess Cory is rolling along in Rebel Mode.

Bags,
we had low 20's last night and I didn't change anything... #2 feed/75 degrees..room/manual/ fan was at middle range.
the whole house was approx 7 degrees cooler than the past shoulder season nights.
no biggie as I will adjust a bit tonight.
plenty of Un-Tapped HorsePower left under the P61A hood.
and as a last resort, Stove or Constant mode... The KILLER HEAT OF ALL for P Series Harmans.

 

[scajjr2]

Been running in "renegade" mode for 2 weeks now. Pellet use seems to be about the same as when running room/manual w/wireless thermostat, about 1 bag a day. House is staying a more constant temp with the room blower on. I adjust the feed and fan for temp&comfort.
Our house is well insulated and I shrink film the windows every season which really helps.

Sam

 

[Tonyray]

Been running in "renegade" mode for 2 weeks now. Pellet use seems to be about the same as when running room/manual w/wireless thermostat, about 1 bag a day. House is staying a more constant temp with the room blower on. I adjust the feed and fan for temp&comfort.
Our house is well insulated and I shrink film the windows every season which really helps.

Sam

yes.. the continuous blower is key in my house where the hear loss is fairly quick...feed rate#2/ temp set at 75...room manual.
Stove or constant works but seems to use more pellets and gets waaay to hot in renegade mode..

 

[frankfoward]

Thanks for this post. I really helped me out a lot.