Do I blame the auger motor or control panel?

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Flem

Member
Dec 12, 2009
131
Western MD
My pellets are feeding very inconsistently most of the time. Ironically, they do feed at correct intervals say one day per week. Set screw is tight and auger is not jammed. I timed the cycles tonight and here is what I got. No wonder the stove won't keep a good fire going!
Feeding - 1 min.
Resting - 1 min. 6 seconds
Feeding - 50 seconds
Resting - 1 min. 58 seconds
Feeding - 48 seconds
Resting - 1 min. 13 seconds
Feeding - 27 seconds
Resting - 2 min. 55 seconds
Thoughts???
 
By the way, I have adjusted the feed trim to max in order to try to keep enough pellets in the burnpot.
 
Still looking for ideas if anyone has any.
 
Are those times the duration of auger cycle, or duration of pellets actually dropping? Auger times should be conistent, I would think, but not sure with your stove. Variations in pellet size could change actual pellet drop timing. BUT, that's just MY opinion.
On the other hand, you COULD blame the previous administration.
 
Flem, I was going to ask the same question as Hoss.....are those times the actual AUGER turning times, or just your observation of when pellets fall into the burn pot?

If those are auger "on" times, I'd have to think the control board is at fault. The auger only runs when it's told to.

Have you checked the wiring to the auger? Loose connections there or on the board?. I'd unplug the stove, and make sure everything is connected correctly.


BTW, you didn't say if this has been going on for a long time, or just started recently.....
 
If those are the timings you have a bad control board.

It should always be consistent on any single heat setting.
 
The feeding times are when the stove is dropping pellets and the resting times are when the stove isn't feeding.

On high setting, the stove is suppose to feed for 60 seconds, then stop for 1 min. 15 seconds.

Also, when I increase the calibration to speed up the feeding time, it doesn't seem to be feeding at the same rate.

I am thinking the control panel is bad and is not signaling the motor to run at the correct intervals. Make sense? I just hate to fork out almost $400 for a control panel then find out that wasn't the problem.
 
Flem said:
I am thinking the control panel is bad and is not signaling the motor to run at the correct intervals. Make sense? I just hate to fork out almost $400 for a control panel then find out that wasn't the problem.
Click to expand...

As long as you've checked all the wiring for loose connections, makes sense to me.

BTW, you can get the board at WoodheatStoves for $289. Might be a discount for hearth,com members? Send a PM to "woodheatstoves" and ask him.

http://woodheatstoves.com/profile-30-control-board-p-1728.html
 
You also could have what is known as a dirty pot (potentiometer) sometimes just turn the knob up and down a few time will restore normal operation, sometimes hitting it with a squirt of electronic contact cleaner (don't do while stove is plugged in) will help. Note I said sometimes as the only time I've seen any relief using the contact cleaner was on switch contacts. I have however had some luck with just moving the knob a few times on pots, they tend to develop funny traits over time.
 
Macman - this has been going on for a couple months. The timing I did was based on watching the pellets drop. I can actually hear the motor "buzz" at the same time. I checked to make sure all connections were tight and no fuses were blown. Thanks for the tip on getting the control panel from woodheatstoves.

I may take the motor off tonight and hook it to a test lead just to watch it run. If it doesn't act funny, I am putting my bet on the control panel.
 
Flem said:
I may take the motor off tonight and hook it to a test lead just to watch it run. If it doesn't act funny, I am putting my bet on the control panel.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea too. If it acts funny (stops, starts, etc), you might want to try opening up the gearbox CAREFULLY. Possible stripped gear(s)?
 
Well I hooked the motor to a test lead tonight. Ran it for about 3 or 4 minutes. I was making one revolution every minute exactly like it was suppose to. More reason to figure it is the control panel?

Pellets are still dropping at a very inconsistent rate. I took the auger out and rechecked for a jam or obstructions again just in case.

Pellets are suppose to drop for 60 seconds, then stop for 75 seconds. When I timed them the past 2 nights, they were all over the place.
 
My Whitfield doesn't have an auger indicator light.
 
oops old style control board, my bad
just trying to get how to troubleshoot these myself
used whitfield advantage installed in garage this fall.
please let us know how it all turns out
thanks
 
No problem. Appreciate any help.

I pulled the stove out (it's an insert), and watched the auger motor carefully to see if it was at least trying to spin. It does spin when the control panel is telling it to. Problem is the control panel isn't sending a signal at correct and consistent intervals.

I'm pretty confident the control panel has to be the problem. Unless anyone else has any other possibilities?
 
I don't know if it applies to your stove, but I was firmly convinced that my control board was bad too.
Pellets weren't feeding right etc.
Turned out to be the hose on the pressure switch. The switch is inline with the auger motor.

Just a thought.
 
Yeah. Already tested the vacuum switch but pulling the hose off, making sure it wasn't blocked, and then let the stove run. Thanks.
 
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