Wiring for feed motor on Quadrafire Castile Pellet Stove

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

quigleybmd

Member
Dec 31, 2007
27
MidHudson NY
The feed motor went on my Quadrafire Castile. The original part number was 812-4420. The replacement part number is supposedly 812-4421. That's what I bought. It seems to be same size, etc.. But the wiring is different in the molex connector.

On the old motor, there were 4 connections in the connector with this wiring:
1: 2-white 2: 1-black 3: 1-red 4: nothing.

In the new motor connector, there is this wiring:
1: 2-white 2: 1-black w/ jumper black coming out 3: nothing 4. 1-red with jumper black
going in from 2.

The connector that they plug into has this wiring:
1: 2-white 2: 1-red 3: 1-red 4: nothing

I'm worried about the mismatch in position 3. Does anyone know if that's supposed to work?
When I replaced it and powered on/reset the stove, I got no feed motor/auger movement.

Thanks very much.
 
When was your stove made? Is it an insert?
 
I'm wondering if you need to change the harness as well to get the right wiring configuration. Take a look at this link and see if this offers any help. Their part number is different than what you have listed for the Castile. I know some of the Quads had an issue with reversing direction which was solved with a capacitor in line which may explain the different wiring. I have the CB1200I which is a bit different. Hopefully someone that has that stove will chime in.

http://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/Quadra-Fire-Feed-Assembly-p/812-4760.htm
 
I'm wondering if you need to change the harness as well to get the right wiring configuration. Take a look at this link and see if this offers any help. Their part number is different than what you have listed for the Castile. I know some of the Quads had an issue with reversing direction which was solved with a capacitor in line which may explain the different wiring. I have the CB1200I which is a bit different. Hopefully someone that has that stove will chime in.

http://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/Quadra-Fire-Feed-Assembly-p/812-4760.htm
That links shows the entire feed assembly. The text says 'Includes auger motor 812-4421', which is the part I ordered. It also says it fits a 'Castile FS', which
I'm guessing means 'Free Standing', which is what I have. I've seen other websites that said that 812-4421 was the replacement motor for 812-4420, so I assumed this
was going to work. Maybe that was a bad assumption???
 
I think you have the right motor, I'm just wondering about the different wiring if it has to do with the age of your stove and the capacitor issue. Can you post some pics of the old verses the new? It might help figure this out. Also are you sure the old one is bad and if so how did you check it?
 
Last edited:
I'll try to get some pictures out tonight. The motor was gradually dying. The auger was trying to turn, but having trouble. There were no jams. I cleaned it out thoroughly
several times. Then the motor started making grinding noises, and eventually the auger stopped all together (even though the control box was calling for pellets). I didn't do
any specific tests, but after talking to some others with pellet stoves, it seemed like it was a good bet that it was the feed motor.
 
Check the vacuum switch and line as well. If that is clogged the auger will not feed. The snap disk as well. I assume you have done all this but then again, every time I assume...ahh you know the rest. I'm thinking reference your first post that you tried it and nothing happened. But also posts pics so the wiring can be looked at.
 
I believe you need to buy the rest of the upgrade kit,not just motor.You need harness and adapter.Will post link. http://www.pellet-stove-parts-4less.com/Auger_Feed_Motor_by_Quadra_fire_812_4421_p/812-4421.htm

That would be a bummer. Anyone know if I can buy the upgrade kit separately?

Here's a link that shows the new motor with the connector on it:
http://www.stoveworld.com/Quadrafire-Auger-Feed-Motor-812-4421-p/2rpala603.htm


What if I just moved the red wire from position 4 to position 3 on the new motor connector?




Here are some pictures of the connector on the old motor: motor1.jpgmotor2.jpgmotor4.jpgmotor5.jpg


Sorry for the quality.
 
I think Bob Bare is right. The new one has the capacitor I spoke of and the new harness should solve the wiring issue.

Here's a link that shows the new motor with the connector on it:
http://www.stoveworld.com/Quadrafire-Auger-Feed-Motor-812-4421-p/2rpala603.htm
Did you buy it here because it was suppose to come with the adapter according to the link.

As far as moving the wire I could not tell you as none of the images give a good enough view to make a comparison.
 
If you move the red wire, move the capacitor lead along with it since the capacitor is across the two input leads to the motor.
 
I am 99% sure the harness/adapter set is so if people splice wires they do not accidently disconnect capacitor,and adapts it to many stoves.You would probably be fine,but it is your money.
 
I am 99% sure the harness/adapter set is so if people splice wires they do not accidently disconnect capacitor,and adapts it to many stoves.You would probably be fine,but it is your money.
That sounds reasonable (about the harness/adapter set). I'd rather have that than move the wires. Does anyone know if I can buy that separately? I haven't been able to find it online.
 
The kit is put together by quad,you will prob. have to call them or a dealer,hence a1 or other dealer.
 
The kit is put together by quad,you will prob. have to call them or a dealer,hence a1 or other dealer.
I finally got ahold of my dealer, and he had the adapter kit, but it wasn't for my situation. I was connecting molex to moxex. That adapter connects molex off the motor to spade connectors inside the stove. But he was also able to confirm that the molex-to-molex connection would work as is. Ie. the 3rd and 4th positions in the connectors don't have to match up. Apparently they re-did how/where the capacitor works, which I think was mentioned in an earlier post. So I connected it to the old molex connector, and tried to fire it up - and nothing!

Then I jumped the wires on the vaccuum switch and it did work! So I thought the hose was plugged, or the vaccuum switch was bad, etc.. After thinking and reading some more, I finally figured out the new problem - no pellets!!!! I had done that deliberately. I wanted to see the auger move when I connected the new motor, to make it it was really moving freely (no jams,...). So after I have sucked out all the pellets, I deliberately left it empty, and didn't think that would cause a vaccuum problem. It does!!! After I added pellets, it started right up and now it's working fine. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
 
Unless they have internally in the plug jumped the capacitor lead over to the other terminal, I can't see how that could possibly work! Be ready for some backwards auger rotations with the resultant lack of feed from time to time and seeing the flame die way down or go out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.