Whitfield Combustion Issues

Hello to the Forum, my first post.

I've owned an Advantage + for about 14 years and for the most part, it has worked pretty well. I replaced the controller (all button type) about five years ago. Two years ago, I did a fix on the infamous leaking pellet drive which has fixed a real design problem between the auger and the gear box. Now, I have a new problem and need some advice. I searched the archives and found some great information about the control and combustion motor in general.

We usually run on heat setting 2 or 3 for several days at a time and after a cool down, vacuum out anything we can get to. Presently the stove starts up and runs normally for some period of time, usually an hour or so. Then, the flame goes wonky, the combustion fan slows, and all the controller lights blink for a minute or so. The system then comes out of its torpor, and resumes normal operation for a few minutes or more, then repeats with the sag routine. If I crank the pellet rate up to 4-5, things run normally with no weirdness.

When this started recently, I did a very thorough cleaning and combustion motor lube, and the symptoms disappeared for a few days, but have now returned. I am going to lube the motor one more time and futz about before I consider replacement of either the motor or controller.

Obviously there is a voltage drop from the controller, or the motor is dragging. What are the blinking controller lights telling me if anything? Is there troubleshooting info on the blinking lights?

Is there a resistance reading for the combustion motor?

What is running voltage range for the combustion motor? I assume if the motor is failing, that a low voltage condition would exist due to increased draw, so would read lower than normal?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom on this.

Grant

Bump. I posted this on Christmas Eve, so it may have been passed over. Would appreciate any input on this.

Thanks,
Grant

No, never have used a surge protector, and I probably should. Good advice. I am beginning to think it is the board also. However, as of now, the problem is intermittent so a bit perplexing. Just lit the stove off an hour ago and turned the combustion fan pot up a bit. Presently getting 88v on setting 3 and 80v on setting two. The burn looks much more healthy. Haven't had a torpor incident yet today, but of course I am watching so the stove is afraid to misbehave....

thanks,
Grant

When the torpor incidents occur, the fan(s) drag and the controller lights all blink in unison for a few moments. haven't noticed the auger situation yet. Then, it heals itself for a few minutes and repeat. If I switch to a higher heat setting, like 4, it doesn't seem to happen = higher motor voltage. As much as this would seem to be a controller issue, if the combustion motor were failing and drawing extra current, it might make the controller go wonky. If the motor is fed extra voltage, like since I upped the combustion pot, maybe the motor doesn't drag as much. Just thinking out loud here. I used to be a Webasto dealer and we were always trouble shooting weird stuff like this. In the last five years, most of the micro processor controls are so much better, giving error codes and the like.

Grant

Yes I found Snowy's post about the mod for the combustion fan; seems pretty easy and I would probably go that route before buying a new controller.

I have always had the touchpad controller with adjustable pots for fan and pellet feed.

Thanks,
Grant

Thanks Snowy,

That's is about where I was at in my own diagnostic. I gave the motor a pretty good blast of turbine oil after a thorough cleaning. After cranking up the combustion pot a few volts, my burn is improved and I haven't had a incident since. Thought I would go AC direct to the combustion fan next. I did a static ohm test on the motor and it was 18ohms, which matches the notes I found on a marked up schematic. If that diagnostic is correct, then if there is a problem with the motor, it would likely be failing bushings. There isn't much to go wrong with a little induction motor.

Question: Any idea about the "in unison" blinking lights on the controller when the incidents occured? Is the controller giving me a diagnostic error message, or is it having a meltdown?

Thanks,
Grant

yup. Though since turning up the voltage a bit, and another shot of turbine oil, all is well in pellet land. I wish I hadn't said that....

Thanks for all the input.
Grant

tempting fate with such a statement has been a lifelong problem for me.

Grant