Jotol Kennebec Fan Not Coming On

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Jaugust124 said:
dtbmcc,
Glad things are working out for you. Funny, I find myself with a fan problem as well. My fans were turning on when the temp. got to about 450 degrees. Tonight, the temp. went up to around 600 and no fan. Don't know what that's all about. I'm planning to have a few more fires and see what happens before I make the call to get service. I can always flip them on manually, but I want a system to work the way it was intended. Go figure.
Click to expand...
the c-550 does have a gap between the sensor and the base of the insert. is your fireplace on an outside wall by chance? if so when ever you do a cold start up you will have a longer wait till the fan kicks on. that huge amount of masonary that your insert is installed into is a giant heat sink! if you are using the insert continuously your fan will come on sooner because the masonary is preheated then.
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone.
I tried another fire last night and no fan when set to auto. Albeit, I only had the stove up to about 450, but that's when it turned on in the past. I called the dealer today for some more advice and they are getting back to me. I checked under the stove and the wiring seems to be okay. I have a feeling it may be some of my inexperience here. For the most part, I haven't been loading the stove up too much and it seems like the stove prefers bigger fires. Does that sound odd?
It is supposed to warm up around here this week, so I probably won't be burning for a little while. Next fire I am loading that stove up and see if I can get that temp well up over 600 and see what happens. The one and only time I had the stove up to that temp. I admittedly got a little worried, but when I cranked the fan up it was amazing how quickly the temperature dropped down about 100 degrees or more.
Thanks again for the advice and I will keep posting to let you all know how I made out.
 
Jaugust124 said:
Thanks for all the advice everyone.
I tried another fire last night and no fan when set to auto. Albeit, I only had the stove up to about 450, but that's when it turned on in the past. I called the dealer today for some more advice and they are getting back to me. I checked under the stove and the wiring seems to be okay. I have a feeling it may be some of my inexperience here. For the most part, I haven't been loading the stove up too much and it seems like the stove prefers bigger fires. Does that sound odd?
It is supposed to warm up around here this week, so I probably won't be burning for a little while. Next fire I am loading that stove up and see if I can get that temp well up over 600 and see what happens. The one and only time I had the stove up to that temp. I admittedly got a little worried, but when I cranked the fan up it was amazing how quickly the temperature dropped down about 100 degrees or more.
Thanks again for the advice and I will keep posting to let you all know how I made out.
Click to expand...

Well from my short bit of experience with the 550 so far it seems to really like burning 600+. It takes mine a while to get up there but once I get a good hot coal bed and throw a few dry splits on and have the secondary burn going its hard for it not to be at 600 even with the air down almost all way. This actually concerned me as I am used to being able to close the air and pretty much put the fire out. However with a hot fire and the secondary burning away closing the air completely off and the thing is still blasting away like I didnt do anything. I still have yet to have the fan kick on in auto. Maybe this comming week (its off right now) I'll just let her go till she kicks on. Last time I tried I gave up when the stovetop hit 670 degrees and turned it on manual. I hate wasting good heat!!!
 
Franks said:
I would have the dealer come out to bypass the snap disk and diagnose the issue. Thats why you buy a fine piece of equipment like that from a dealer instead of some made in china crap from some no name online store.
Click to expand...
'
Lol, Franks, tell us how you REALLY feel!

To the OP, Glad this was indeed resolved by your dealer and all is working now!
 
Dealer called me yesterday and left a message (I was outside doing some splitting for 11/12.) He suggested that if there is too much ash it will actually insulate the bottom of the firebox preventing the snapstat from triggering the fans. Sound plausible, but there's not that much ash in the bottom of the stove.
he also stated if I hadn't resolved the issue by Tuesday (when they reopen) he will gladly get someone here to take a look at it asap. I felt good about that. Its nice to see a company backing up their product with fast service when needed.
Anyway, I will keep you all posted.
 
So I had my first fire in about a week last night. The temps. have been in the high 60s around here, so it hasn't been necessary. Anyway, I cleaned out the ashes and the fan kicked on at 450* Maybe the dealer was right. The ash that was in the firebox was acting like insulation. I really think my biggest problem is not enough wood in the stove at once. Even last night I thought I was loading it up pretty good and it only went up to about 550* and then settled back down eventually to about 400*-450*. I think I should be up in the 5500*-600* range. Also, I'm not getting anywhere near a 6-8 hour burns by a long shot. A couple hours at the most, then I have to throw a few more splits on or its just coals.
I think my other big problem is that I'm just inexperienced. It took me almost an hour to get the stove up to 450* and the fans to come on. I don't know if I'm closing the air down too soon or not soon enough? Maybe someone can give me some ideas.
 
If you want to see how dry your wood is, try the firelighting link below in my signature block. That technique got my Kennebec up to 750*F stovetop in 15 mins. That won't set the snapstat on in that short of time, but it will give you a baseline to compare to.

If it took 1hr to get to 450, you may not have as dry a wood supply as you may like.
 
I just got a 450 Kennebec installed Monday. I got the chance to break it in this weekend, and have had fine luck getting fires established and such, but also hit a fan issue. With the toggle set to high, the fan came on fine (only when hot as it should). With the toggle set to low, the fan wouldn't come on at all. Pulling things apart, I found that the wiring is wrong. They transposed the black and brown wires on the switch. They also grounded to a different screw, which slightly messes with the fit of the blower shroud. Finding two variances in the wiring makes me wonder what else was installed creatively!

Best,
-Greg
 
2 wks back I had a strong fire going at about 500 and the blower switch set to "Auto".
With no warning, The blower just shut off ! It would work in Manual setting but not Auto.
I purchased ($14) and replaced the snapstat and Auto setting is working fine again.

In Auto mode, the blower typically turns on after 30-35 minutes.
Insert temp, measured w/ IR Gun on right side of stove, at mid door level is approx 325-350F, when blower switches on.

Love the Rockland insert - hope this helps.
 
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