American Energy Systems Harvester - Manual (Page 11)

11
SAFETY FEATURES
The Harvester comes standard with a number of advanced safety features; however, the first step in ensuring
maximum safety is to install the stove properly according to all national and local codes. The Harvester
requires a fresh air supply. This fresh air is used in the combustion process to achieve thorough burn of all
fuel. The Harvester needs a sealed and properly designed “all fuel” vent system. This vent system will be
used to remove combustion gasses from the combustion chamber to outside the home.
REMEMBER: one
of the leading causes of house fires is due to improper installation or improper operation of a stove product.
Proper installation and operation of the Harvester is required to obtain homeowner insurance coverage. And,
the Harvester needs a reliable source of electrical power. Without reliable utility power or a means to ensure
reliability, the Harvester operation will be problematic.
The second step to safe operation is for the homeowner to thoroughly understand the operating characteristics
of the Harvester. More importantly, the operator needs to know how to control each one of the stove’s
operations. The Harvester has an electronic control system whose “brain” is constantly monitoring stove
operations in order to optimize the fuel efficiency and heat output of this product. The Harvester’s electronic
control provides a simple one stop location for the homeowner to control Harvester performance and heat
output. In order to ensure the safest operation, the Harvester’s electronic control is constantly monitoring
pressure and heat activated switches, and input power to ensure proper operation. Additional features include
an enclosed firebox, high temperature ceramic glass, optional thermostatic control, a high temperature wiring
harness, making the Harvester an extremely safe stove.
BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS
The Country Flame Harvester Model HR-01, like all pellet or biomass fuel stoves, relies on electrical energy
(wall power outlet) to properly operate. Without electrical energy or with interruptions to the source of
electrical energy, the Harvester stove’s operation will be erratic at best. Is power quality, power reliability, or
routine winter storm conditions a cause of power problems in a specific locale? If it is, the homeowner will
need to provide backup power to ensure stable operation of the Harvester. Fortunately, there are simple and
reliable power backup solutions readily available. Today, a homeowner can choose from a variety of cost
effective power conditioning systems from a number of reliable outlets today. For example, Home Depot,
Best Buy, WalMart, or many other stores carry standard power conditioning equipment. Two good quality
power conditioning equipment manufacturers are APC and TrippLite. Their uninterruptible power supplies
(UPS) include the capability to handle power failures, brown outs, power surges, and line noise. UPS system
cost is largely defined by the features included in the system. The amount of time (battery size) the system
must operate before recharging occurs directly relates to cost. UPS systems are usually sold by the number of
electrical outlets and the volt-amperes (watts, you need a minimum of 550) the system is rated to provide.
FIGURE 2 provides a description of the major electrical and operational components.
What does the Harvester stove require from a UPS system in order to sustain proper operation during a power
outage? To answer that question, the homeowner has to decide how long they want the Harvester to operate
in the absence of utility power. At the same time, an inexpensive solution that will handle a large percentage
of the issues would cost less than $100 or more depending on model and features. This UPS product will
operate a Harvester for close to an hour. This same UPS system should provide an audible, as well as visual
alarm, to alert the homeowner to local utility interruptions or power outages. The homeowner can then make
the decision to continue to operate the Harvester or shut it down until the local utility restores local power.
Further, this UPS system will ensure that minor utility glitches do not cause “nuisance” shutdowns or faults in
a Harvester stove. If a homeowner wants specific information concerning the size and quality of a specific
battery backup system for their Harvester stove, contact American Energy Systems Inc. or one of its local
authorized dealers who will assist in providing a specific solution.