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FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
I cannot keep the fire going. What should I do?
If you are having problems keeping your grain fire burning, chances are you have one of three problems. The first is that your stove may simply need to be cleaned. The vast majority of problems with grain and pellet stoves are the result of improper cleaning. To solve this problem please see our cleaning section. If cleaning is not the issue then you may have a problem with the feed rate or with the moisture content of your grain. You may have the “Feed Adjuster” control set too high so the grain is feeding too fast and smothering the fire. To solve this problem you need to set the feed rate to the proper level for the particular batch of grain you are burning.
The final possibility is, of course, that you may also be trying to burn grain that is too moist or tough. You will have difficulty burning grain with a moisture content above 14% and probably will not be able to burn grain with a moisture content of 16% or higher. The solution in these cases is to mix the tough grain with a batch of canola, oats, or other readily combustible grain. For example, if you are having trouble burning wheat, try burning a mixture that includes 10% canola/flax or 20% oats/barley. You can also try a mix that includes 10% wood pellets, which many be necessary to burn moldy product. If mixing the grain does not solve the problem or if you do have any other grain on hand, you can try to alter the burn pot to keep the heat from escaping. First, you should put the cap on the burn pot, and secondly, you can remove one of the bricks from the back of the PC-45 and place it on top of the burn pot. What you are trying to do is keep the temperature above 1100º, so the volatiles can burn. Unless you are able to maintain this temperature, the grain will not burn. Placing the brick on top of the burn pot may allow you to burn tough grain that you would not otherwise be able to burn.
What “Feed Rate Adjustor” setting should I set my stove to?
The “Feed Rate Adjustor” setting needs to be changed or adjusted for each batch of grain. Read Grain Burning 101 for a complete discussion on how to set the feed adjuster rate. However, to aid you in the setting the feed adjuster rate, we will give some approximate setting for different types of grain. Wheat will be approximately 2.8 or 2.9, Barley will be around 3.5 and Oats will be around 4.5. Again these are just ballpark figures that will need to be adjusted according to the moisture content of the grain.
Can I burn pellets in the PC-45?
Yes. With only a few adjustments, the Harman PC-45 can be switched from a grain-burning appliance – to an efficient pellet-burning stove. Many of our customers find this flexibility comforting because regardless of what happens to their grain supply, they will always be able to buy pellet fuel and heat their homes efficiently.
To switch the Harman PC-45 from a grain burning to a pellet burning appliance, set dip switches 1, 7 and 8 to the “on” position (all other switches should be off). If you are unsure how to set the dip switches, please see “ Chapter 10” under the “Grainburning 101” section of this website. If you are still unclear after reading this section, or if you are unsure about setting the dip switches at any point, please contact your local Harman dealer.
You should also use the big hole burn-pot that came with the stove to burn pellets. If the big hole burn-pot does not work well, you can order the pellet grate option for roughly $53.57 MSRP (part # 1-00-724112). We also recommend setting the “Feed Rate Adjuster” to 4 as you start burning pellets; however, as you become more experienced burning pellets, you will get a better feel for the best setting for your stove.
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Warning, J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. is not the manufacturer of the Harman PC-45 or any other product. J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. is not responsible for any loss or damage caused by the Harman PC-45 or any other product. J.A. Mitchell Marketing Ltd. provides no representations or warranties. If you are confused or unsure at any point, contact your local Harman dealer.