Started with "bad TC firepot", so replaced Thermocouple with no luck. Resorted to calling a Quadrafire tech who didn't seem to know anything. Finally decided we needed to replace control board at a cost of $700 plus labor which also did not work. Now they are researching possible solutions with Quadrafire. Anyone got any ideas? This stove is only 8 years old and has given me no trouble until now, other than replacing one igniter.
Need help with Quadrafire Mt Vernon AE pellet insert
- Thread starter Loveshorse
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heat seeker
Minister of Fire
Goes thru autoclean starts up just fine, although has some smoke out of the front of it, which I have never had before. After only a minute or so to goes into shutdown and again displays "bad TC firepot". Thermocouple and control board are now brand new.
heat seeker
Minister of Fire
If smoke is coming out of the stove, I would say that the exhaust fan (combustion blower) is not doing its job. Bad motor, clogged stove, clogged venting. The combustion chamber of the stove should be under negative pressure, so no smoke should be able to escape into the room.
When did you last do a THOROUGH cleaning?
Despite the message you're getting, the vacuum switch is probably not being satisfied. You could try temporarily jumping it to see what happens (unplug the stove first!).
When did you last do a THOROUGH cleaning?
Despite the message you're getting, the vacuum switch is probably not being satisfied. You could try temporarily jumping it to see what happens (unplug the stove first!).
I would check and make sure the firepot thermocouple wires, and the droptube thermocouple wires are not switched on the control board. I would also check and make sure the plugin end of the firepot thermocouple wire is not reversed on the board. You can also test the new thermocouple to make sure it is good. It don't take much bending of the braided wire to break or crack the wire causing it to be bad. And exactly what revision control board do you have in it now? kap
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kilbury
Balls of fire
If the combustion blower is not running, you should be getting "comb blower jammed" error. I would still verify that it is turning though. Like heat seeker said, when's the last time it was cleaned. Did the tech at least perform the basics (full cleaning) before swapping parts? The combustion blower needs to be removed yearly at the least (more depending on how much you burn in a season).
The first time he plugged in the thermocouple and it didn't work, he came back the next day and said he thought he had the thermocouple plugged in upside down. So he reversed it but still got the same message. How do I check the new thermocouple to see if it is still good? Not sure about the revision of the control board, how do I tell that? I do need to clean it, have never taken the blower apart and cleaned it and the tech did not do any cleaning. The combustion blower is running, it starts up as soon as you turn the stove on. This tech doesn't seem to know what he is doing, my insert has a surround and when he first saw it he told me to call a stone mason so he could cut the stove out! That was the first clue he didn't know what he was talking about. He left, I unscrewed the surround, pulled the stove out and called him back. I don't have any choice, there are no other dealers in our area. I'll try taking it apart tomorrow and cleaning the whole thing. I don't think my original control board was bad but they have already put a new one in. He also tried to get me to unplug the wires on the right side of the stove that go to the igniter. I said no we hadn't messed with those wires at all, he thought those wires went to the thermocouple.
kilbury
Balls of fire
Sounds like you might as well forget your tech, first thing he should of done is verified it was clean, totally clean. Either he doesn't have a clue about these or just doesn't want to be of any help. If you've owned this unit 8 years and never had the combustion blower off, you definitely have build up in there. That is if you have burned more then 4 ton through it. You're going to need a new gasket for the combustion blower, part # SRV7000-714. Let us know what you find in the blower cavity and if that fixes your issue. If not then we can work from there. There should be a whire sticker on your control board indicating the part. Should be SRV7000-xxx Rev x. Did they leave your old control board? My customers would not be happy if I replaced a control board and it was not needed.
Ok, I have cleaned the combustion blower and yes it was dirty but not horrible. Didn't change anything, still am getting the same error message. They did leave the old control board, but not sure it is any good anymore. When the TC was unplugged the plastic piece it plugs into came off the board and he tried to super glue it back on, now the contacts are all covered in super glue. I was wondering on the plug end of the TC it has a clip you have to squeeze to get it off the board. Does it go up or down? Right now it is up and I have tried to unplug it and plug it in the other way around but it doesn't seem to fit that way so put it back. He said he has tested the new TC and it is good. Any ideas from here?
You still need to check and make sure that both thermocouples are plugged into the right places. Check diagram of control board in your manaual for their postions. I would also make sure the tcouple is touching the inside end of the cover or it won't read right. Stay in touch. kap
Yep, I did check on the location of both thermocouples and they are in the right places. I also took the cover off the TC again and made sure it was touching the inside end of the cover.
One question that comes up in your post is that "he said he checked the tcouple and it was good." WIth everything else he didn't do right, I would have to question this. And if he destroyed the old control board, I am nervous on how he did installing the new one. There are only two issues to do with this error code. The firepot thermocouple, and the control board. kap
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Lake Girl
Moderator
kap, sounds like there may be superglue on the new connectors - possible they are interferring with the conductivity?
Too bad he used super glue. All you have to do is just push it back on. kap
QuadraFire
New Member
Hey Loveshorse, if you want, can you send me an email with the serial number and your contact information so I can look further into your case and see what work has been done? [email protected]
kilbury
Balls of fire
That would be great! But there are no other ones around here.And find them a knowledgeable dealer
Well that makes me sick, seeing that board cost me $700. I still have it, the contacts are all super glue but I wonder if I could clean them.
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
Superglue has one weakness, acetone, however this is a very nasty chemical to work with. I have no idea what effects that it will have on the control board, use it outside only, and don't get it on your skin. Wash with soap and water after using it http://www.supergluecorp.com/removingsuperglue.html
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