need help troubleshooting VC distribution fans

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cellarrat

New Member
Nov 23, 2009
3
santa cruz
I have a Vermont Castings Reliance pellet stove and the distribution fans are not coming on at all. Normally, they speed up or slow down relative to the pellet feed rate. I took the fans out and bench tested them and they check out ok, so they are not getting power to them. Anybody have suggestions? Jon
 
I went to Vermont's web and tried to locate a manual. No go.

But I would suspect it to be a snap disc that controls the convection fan.

If you have the manual. Check to see if the list a snap disc for the fan. Going to be something in the 160°F range.

hope this helps
jay
 
If a snap disc is the same thing as a thermal limit switch, it has one, but it controls all the incoming power, not just the convection fan. I'm afraid the problem might be somewhere in the circuit board.
 
cellarrat said:
If a snap disc is the same thing as a thermal limit switch, it has one, but it controls all the incoming power, not just the convection fan. I'm afraid the problem might be somewhere in the circuit board.


You must have a 2200 model, the 2340 has a separate pot to control room fan. If this is your only issue, I would run separate power from main board clip (large rectangular one) to a hole in rear shroud with appropriate pot and control your room fan speed from there. BTW I would do the same thing with the combustion fan, helps starting and does not shut off if the stove runs out of pellets causing smoke to trickle into room and make wifes nose think the house is on fire.
 
That's exactly what I ended up doing actually. It's been working fine that way. Thanks. Funny you mention wives and smoke. My wife complains about smoke a lot, even when I can't smell a thing. I do notice a little smoke at start-up or cool-down sometimes. I've checked out all the obvious places; vent, gaskets, etc. and can't find it. I wonder if it is at the combustion fan motor seal?
 
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