Cab50 Vacuum Switch

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DenisB

Member
Jan 12, 2013
14
Moonbeam, Ontario, Canada
Installed cab50 3 weeks ago and this my second vacuum switch. With vacuum switch not working the auger does not turn so no feed = no heat. Auger will work if I bypass the switch with a wire between the two connectors. Has anyone seen this before? Are these just defective parts or could something be causing the switch to malfunction? I assume that running the stove without the vacuum switch working is not recommended. Will order another switch on Monday but no stove for a week..
Thanks
 
Yep. I agree with Smokey.

A leaky gasket will take away from the negative pressure in the firebox, therefore not satisfying the switch.

Do the dollar bill test on the door and get back to us

Also, be sure to blow through the Vac line (remove from switch and blow through hose towards stove to remove fines from nipple near auger chute)
 
Hi guys

Problem fixed. Gasket is fine and vac line is clean. Was able to have auger turn by by-passing switch but noticed nothing was coming our of the chute. In the end the vacuum switch worked as designed as chute was obstructed. Inserted pot cleaning tool in chute....5-6 pellets came out and started feeding normally. The first vacuum switch was defective as auger would turn coming out of dealer showroom. Something to keep an eye on in the future and nice wood heat is back.

Thanks for the advice.
 
We have sold a lot of heatilators and quads (same switch). None have been ever found bad. Just saying. Homeowners have messed a few up.

Eric
 
I'm sure they have. How would you mess it up? Based on comments from dealer, I suspect my oginal defective one came from another stove that had a problem. They would have taken the good one for the stove in the show room (my stove) and replaced it with defective one. When we first got the stove one end of vacuum tube was not even connected. The dealer vaguely remembers a former sale staff saying he took part from another stove to give to a client. Dealer was good enought to take the switch from their own stove in the shop so that I could use my stove until the new switch arrived (the one have now).

Has been a learning experience :)

Thanks
 
I'm sure they have. How would you mess it up? Based on comments from dealer, I suspect my oginal defective one came from another stove that had a problem. They would have taken the good one for the stove in the show room (my stove) and replaced it with defective one. When we first got the stove one end of vacuum tube was not even connected. The dealer vaguely remembers a former sale staff saying he took part from another stove to give to a client. Dealer was good enought to take the switch from their own stove in the shop so that I could use my stove until the new switch arrived (the one have now).

Has been a learning experience :)

Thanks

I think the weather in Moonbeam Ontario will create another problem associated with your vacuum switch...unless you heat your garage 24/7 there is a good chance humidity will cause problems in your fuel supply chain...the Cab 50 pellet hopper(and auger feed tube) is susceptible to humidity problems as it warms up and drives latent moisture out of the pellets. Pellets still in the auger tube when the unit shuts down will send some moisture up the feed tube to where the vacuum sensor tube is located. Also , the softwood pellets from Hearst contain lots of dust that settle at the bottom of the auger tube which quickly pack,freeze( if the unit cools) and then reduces the pickup area that the auger draws from. Frequent dust cleaning of the auger tube is required with the Hearst pellets...currently experimenting with 100 % hardwood pellets from Quebec.
Burt Miller
 
I'm sure they have. How would you mess it up? Based on comments from dealer, I suspect my oginal defective one came from another stove that had a problem. They would have taken the good one for the stove in the show room (my stove) and replaced it with defective one. When we first got the stove one end of vacuum tube was not even connected. The dealer vaguely remembers a former sale staff saying he took part from another stove to give to a client. Dealer was good enought to take the switch from their own stove in the shop so that I could use my stove until the new switch arrived (the one have now).

Has been a learning experience :)

Thanks

YES! Another Cab50 guy. We are taking over the pellet world!!
 
I think the weather in Moonbeam Ontario will create another problem associated with your vacuum switch...unless you heat your garage 24/7 there is a good chance humidity will cause problems in your fuel supply chain...the Cab 50 pellet hopper(and auger feed tube) is susceptible to humidity problems as it warms up and drives latent moisture out of the pellets. Pellets still in the auger tube when the unit shuts down will send some moisture up the feed tube to where the vacuum sensor tube is located. Also , the softwood pellets from Hearst contain lots of dust that settle at the bottom of the auger tube which quickly pack,freeze( if the unit cools) and then reduces the pickup area that the auger draws from. Frequent dust cleaning of the auger tube is required with the Hearst pellets...currently experimenting with 100 % hardwood pellets from Quebec.
Burt Miller
Hi Burt

This is great info. I do heat the garage 24/7 but have experienced problems with the stove not kicking back in after cycling for a while. I have been burning the Lacwood pellets from Hearst and people around here swear by them because of the low ash content. Burt....would you be living at Rémi Lake by any chance?
 
Hi Burt

This is great info. I do heat the garage 24/7 but have experienced problems with the stove not kicking back in after cycling for a while. I have been burning the Lacwood pellets from Hearst and people around here swear by them because of the low ash content. Burt....would you be living at Rémi Lake by any chance?
Look at your thermostat when not coming back on.
 
Look for a new thermostat.
 
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New thermostat installed and so far so good. Stove will stop and start again 9 times out of 10.
Good to hear. Make sure the burn pot is clear by pulling the rod once or twice a day. Ash will keep the fire from starting.

eric
 
Hi Eric

Good advice. Pot is always free of ash. I pull the cleaning rod once a day and might get a clinker now and then..that's it.

On another note. I am thinking of installing an OAK and am wondering what effect extremely cold air (-30 to -40) might have on the stove or how it operates.

Thanks

Denis
 
You will be the first to know. The coldest it has been here is 5 degrees and I do not have an OAK on the CAB50 in the store.
 
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