Enviro Meridian FPI (Magnehelic Gauge burns .22 and Convection Noise Issue when it first kicks on)

  • 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.
B

btanoue

New Member
Apr 24, 2011
30
CT
Hi,

I have two things going on with my Meridian FPI.

1. I have a Mag gauge and tried the .11 WC on HIGH in the book, but I always get clinkers.
The .11WC is some where around 1/8 to 1/4 of the way pulled out (not in inches) with the damper.
I played with the settings to around .22 but still seem to get some.
I've heard some are keeping theirs 3/4 or more open.
Is that true? Why does the manufacturer state .11 WC is the best.

I have tried Stove Chow, Barefoot, Alleghenny (spelling? I think it has some animal on the bag) with the same results.
Whats your gauge reading. I am not that far from sea level, so its not like we are high altitude.
Is that a brand that works that doesn't clinker.

2. Just tonight, I have this problem that when the convection motor starts, it makes a strange sound but then goes back to normal.
Kinda like a vibration sound. I checked the two screws and they are tight that hold it on to some bracket. Does it need to be cleaned or something?
We just had it installed in November, and this was our first season.

Thanks,
btanoue
 
Enviro actually like to see the mag gauge between .16 and .18 for the best burn. Give that a try. And the convection blower does need to be cleaned at least once a year. Dust loves to build up in that blower and will throw the fins off balance and start to wear on the bearings and will make noise and could seize up if not cleaned on a regular basis ( depending on how much dust builds up ) Try cleaning the blower and see if the noise goes away.
 
I have an Enviro mini and I tried the Enviro setting of .11 on high and the burn pot would fill up with ash.
I have mine on .22WC now and does much better. I started off the season at .11WC but soon had to up it to get it to burn well.
I and burning Lignetic (GREEN) and box store Insta heat.

My manual also said .11WC.

Where can I find the update from Enviro to set it for a higher value?
 
CJ-SR4ever said:
......And the convection blower does need to be cleaned at least once a year. Dust loves to build up in that blower and will throw the fins off balance and start to wear on the bearings and will make noise and could seize up if not cleaned on a regular basis ( depending on how much dust builds up ) Try cleaning the blower and see if the noise goes away.
Click to expand...

In addition, if you have pets in the house, the hair will build-up in there too. I have a dog, and check/clean my conv. blower about once a month in the heating months.

Also, check and see if the conv. blower has any lube ports....a couple drops of light 20w oil, or 3 in 1 Blue can is recommended.

I think the conv. blower motor is like the one below....you can see what to look for to locate the oil ports:
 

Attachments

  • blower lube ports.jpg
    blower lube ports.jpg
    50 KB · Views: 577
Hi Everyone,


Thanks for the quick replies. I'll have a look at it by Friday and see.
Knowing that .22 or so is a good setting makes me feel better. I am wondering how did Enviro get .11 Perhaps thats the most efficient setting from getting the most heat out of a pellet?

To clean the convection blower, I can just use a regular vacuum with just a upholstery brush attachment?
Or do I need to dismount it and take it form the chassis and just vacuum the inside?
Or do I need to dismount it and take it apart completely?
 
There is another option if you still have issues even with the higher mag setting. Enviro has high ash burnpots for most of there stoves.

Enviro part# 50-587 about $60.00

Fits the following stoves

Enviro Pellet Stoves:
EF2
EF3
Meridian
Windsor

Vistaflame Pellet Stoves:
VF 100

Pictures of standard here

Pictures of high ash here
 
btanoue said:
To clean the convection blower, I can just use a regular vacuum with just a upholstery brush attachment?
Or do I need to dismount it and take it form the chassis and just vacuum the inside?
Or do I need to dismount it and take it apart completely?
Click to expand...

The most thorough cleaning is when you actually remove the blower/motor assembly completely out of the stove. Clean everything, look for lube points and lube if found, re-install.

Again, if you have pets, this should be done every ton or so.
 
Perhaps thats the most efficient setting from getting the most heat out of a pellet?

Bingo . . .Enviro's recommended setting isn't what it is with the intention of keeping the stove clean (that's up to the user), it is what it is, because with that ratio of fuel/air, you will get the most efficient transfer of heat from the fuel and stove into your house. If you increase the airflow, the stove will burn cleaner . . . more air through the stove will tend to pull more crud out of the burnpot and out the exhaust . . .it will, however, also take some of the usable heat out the exhaust as well, resulting in a loss of efficiency. If the stove is doing a good job heating your home, this is a trade off alot of people will make . . .loss a couple points in efficency, but make big gains in frequency of cleaning :)
 
i believe that .11WC is from several years ago when pellet quality was allot better, now .16-.18 is the correct setting for most enviros with the exception of the M55's i believe they are .22. As pellet quallity continues to decline in certain area's these issue with clinkers are going to get worse.
 
Hi,

Here is my update.

I removed the convection blower, cleaned out all the dust from the fins of the fan, cleaned out the inside duct of the blower.
Lubed the blower as well. I used WD40, but then realized I should have used Oil...Next time I guess.
It seemed fine when I started it up again and I thought I was home free.

I let it run on high, set the Mag gauge to about .18 on high and everything was good.
Nice flame and very hot.

Lowered the temperature to 1 and set the auger trim to 1 & 4 to slow the burn.

After a little while that same rumbling sound started again
Edit : It was when the convection blower went on low that the rumble started.
I did notice that the shaft seemed to have a little give when I cleaned it. Maybe just a 1/8 or 1/4 inch..I don't remember exactly as I wasn't paying attention to that detail.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
btanoue
 
I didn't catch that it was on one when it starts to rumble. The fix to stop that is if your generation of circut board with let you is adjust the voltage up on the combustion fan. We run into this alot with Enviro wood inserts fan and we can manually adjust the voltage on teh side of the reostat to stop the rumble. It doesn't take much change to make it stop.
As for the burnpots you should already have the high ash in the unit if you bought it within the last 3 years
 
skinanbones,


I looked for the reostat, but didn't see it on the circuit board. Its a Meridian FPI. We purchased it in 2007, but didn't install it until now.
I see the purple and white wires going to the convection blower directly from the board.

Is this something I should put inline on one of them? I could use a multimeter and figure out the voltage drop to place it infront.
How what ohms range do I need?

An you are correct it only rumbles on 1.

Any other ideas before I look at digikey to order parts?

Thanks,
btanoue

EDIT: Update 1.
So I took out the covection motor again. This is getting fun :)
I started to look at the actual motor and decided to debug the play in the shaft.
I noticed that the fan blades (are those called impellers?) that cool the motor seemed to no be flush with the front of the shaft.
In other words, the blades not only cool the motor, but they are used to help keep the motor shaft steady by being used as a bushing or washer or something.

I tightened the fan assembly and now all is good. No Noise on 1.
But I think I pushed it a tad too tight. Here is why. On 3 or 4, I can't tell, the fan kicks up a smidge higher.
At this setting I get a oscillating sound. Like its getting stuck or too snug.
I will maybe give it a little play and see how that works.

Its like a science experiment :) Hypothesis -> Testing and back...
 
Hi,

New update:

Solved the problem.

Actually in the read of the axle of the convection blower there is some type of bushing or washer. That seems to have come loose and moved about 1/4" of an inch.
I took a small screw driver and pushed it back. I left a little play and it seems good. Too tight is no good as well.
I then got some oil and oiled the axle in the front and rear.

Since then no problem.

Hope this helps others.

btanoue
 
Update 12/28/2011
Season 2

I ended up changing out the convection motor and all is well.

Also I'm using Dry Creek this year.
Much less clinkers. I have mine set to .17 now.

Whats your Magnehelic readings?

btanoue
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back