mt vernon error code "min firepot temp"

The first thing to check is if the stove is feeding pellets. The stove actually feeds quite a bit during the start-up process.
I have only gotten that error code on my stove when the hopper has run dry or on the first ignition after refilling an empty hopper.

sounds like its not reading "proof of fire" temp within its allotted time limit , bad sensor or a late ignition not alowing enough time to heat the sensor to the required temp. have you tried a "hot restart"? let it error out then hit on again see if it errors out again , if it does you have a bad temp sensor, if not then the stove simply aint getting hot enough quick enough to satisfy the sensor

http://www.iburnpellets.com/pelletForum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5935

"Sounds like the firepot thermocouple. if you have a digital volt meter you can test it. put the meter on millivolts. remove the cover off the thermocouple. unhook the other end from the control board. use a lighter to heat the end of the thermocouple tip. put each probe in connector end. a good thermostat will read 15 mV or higher. kap"

http://www.quadrafire.com/downloads/installManuals/man_mtvernonAE.pdf

The owners manual has a nice table for the error also....


-G

Make sure the thermocouple is pushed into the ceramic holder, it has a tendency to back out. I had to wire mine to the bracket with stainless steel wire.

I can't understand why Quad does not secure the thermocouple so it would not back out, a common problem.

what fuel are you burning, and what fuel table are you burning at? what is the flame hight set at? does the convection blower come on? what is the manufacture date on the stove?

As others said, make sure the thermocouple is touching the end of the porcelain sleeve. Otherwise it will not read the temps correctly. If the screen has displayed SS-Med that tell me the thermocouple is working, but not getting hot enough to kick the stove into the normal burn mode. How big does the flame get?

slls said:

I can't understand why Quad does not secure the thermocouple so it would not back out, a common problem.

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That's good info for me since I just got two Quads installed. Again this website is great! Now for some SS wire!

jamesbrad said:

fluemasterjr said:

what fuel are you burning, and what fuel table are you burning at? what is the flame hight set at? does the convection blower come on? what is the manufacture date on the stove?

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pellet type- softwood
fuel table- ???
flamw hight- 2,3 (new stove just ansxios to see it going)
convection blower does come on
manufacture date ?? ill find out but the purchase date was only a weel ago

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Did you set the thermostat/controller to the softwood fuel setting? It might be set on hardwood from the factory and therefore not getting hot enough.

you have a bad TC change it

Gweeper64 said:

jamesbrad said:

fluemasterjr said:

what fuel are you burning, and what fuel table are you burning at? what is the flame hight set at? does the convection blower come on? what is the manufacture date on the stove?

Click to expand...

pellet type- softwood
fuel table- ???
flamw hight- 2,3 (new stove just ansxios to see it going)
convection blower does come on
manufacture date ?? ill find out but the purchase date was only a weel ago

Click to expand...

Did you set the thermostat/controller to the softwood fuel setting? It might be set on hardwood from the factory and therefore not getting hot enough.

Click to expand...

I'm new to this whole thing, but doesn't the softwood pellets put out MORE heat so the thermocouple should be getting plenty of heat?

jamesbrad said:

jtp10181 said:

As others said, make sure the thermocouple is touching the end of the porcelain sleeve. Otherwise it will not read the temps correctly. If the screen has displayed SS-Med that tell me the thermocouple is working, but not getting hot enough to kick the stove into the normal burn mode. How big does the flame get?

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i get a good high flame .... but only 1 in 3 does the screen show ss-med... other times the stove just reads start up for approx 10min and than goes in to auto clean...


dealer is coming out to look at the stove tomorrow,

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So what did they find out?

tjnamtiw said:

I'm new to this whole thing, but doesn't the softwood pellets put out MORE heat so the thermocouple should be getting plenty of heat?

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pine 16mil btu cord
oak 26mil btu cord

approximate from memory, so no, soft wood puts out 30% less btu by volume +/-

Wood Heat Stoves said:

tjnamtiw said:

I'm new to this whole thing, but doesn't the softwood pellets put out MORE heat so the thermocouple should be getting plenty of heat?

Click to expand...

pine 16mil btu cord
oak 26mil btu cord

approximate from memory, so no, soft wood puts out 30% less btu by volume +/-

Click to expand...

No, we're talking pellets, I believe, so the ratio is opposite.

The Quadra Fire AE is a different breed of stove. I had one for close to two years and when it is working it is a very good unit but they had a lot of problems with it in the beginning. The electrical board is made on CHINA and in the beginning I think there was a language barrier as they made half a dozen different board modifications with it before it was right. Strange thing is sometimes the earlier boards would work but in correcting one problem they would get a different one.
As far as I know the only problem left to resolve is a better igniter as they only seem to last one season. In the beginning they were planning on having the dealers adjust the electrical boards using a special cable and a laptop so they wouldn't have to remove and replace each time a update was made but I guess that idea didn't work. To bad as a competitor brand encourages the owners to hook up a computer to their stove and use it to adjust the software plus as a diagnostic tool.
I sold my AE after I got all the updates installed and the new owner used it for one season and it worked perfect for him. He is burning pellets and I guess that is the fuel of choice for the AE. I burned corn and while it would work the ash drawer would fill up to soon for my taste.

jamesbrad said:

hello all...

sorry for the late reply, the dealer came out and looked at the stove than scratched his head twice, than said "I think you need a new stove"..
the following day a new mt vernon came and was installed and it is cooking us in the house. the heat is very impressive, apart from the earlier problem i cant complain about this stove....


james

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Not to reassuring when the service tech has no idea how to repair the stove.