New Mount Vernon at high altitude

gorooster · Dec 15, 2011

New Hearth re-build and installation went w/out a hitch. Loved the Mount Vernon for five days, then it turned off w/ this error message:

Max Drop Tube Temp:
Appliance in overheat condition, or
Flame height set too high, or
Components may need cleaning

I unplugged/rebooted a few times, but it went back to prior condition after a few hours. I cleaned and vacuumed, but had only gone through 3 1/2 bags, so not much there. Read up on thermostat issues and moved its wire away from the power source and have it nestled in another room on top of non-metal stuff (will mount it eventually).

Last night I messed around w/ settings. I'm wondering here about the variables of pellet stove operation at high altitude (7,200'). This thing was not overheating and the flame was still at its preset factory mode (on 0). Looked lively and clean and only 3-5 inches peaking over the pot. The thing was working great.

Last night after I'd cleaned and rebooted and checked it out and it went off w/ the same error after a few hours of burning, I turned the flame height up from 0 to 2. Got a lively 6-8" flame. I was thinking that the altitude might be affecting burn rate/efficiency. It burned well through the night. I just now turned it back to 0 to see how it goes through the day.

So... does anyone have suggestions/observations re. altitude? I'm just starting to work on figuring out the pros and cons of different settings, but I'm not experienced w/ them yet (e.g. what cost/benefit higher flame versus heat output levels).

Comments? (Thanks!!)

SmokeyTheBear · Dec 15, 2011

gorooster said:
New Hearth re-build and installation went w/out a hitch. Loved the Mount Vernon for five days, then it turned off w/ this error message:

Max Drop Tube Temp:
Appliance in overheat condition, or
Flame height set too high, or
Components may need cleaning

I unplugged/rebooted a few times, but it went back to prior condition after a few hours. I cleaned and vacuumed, but had only gone through 3 1/2 bags, so not much there. Read up on thermostat issues and moved its wire away from the power source and have it nestled in another room on top of non-metal stuff (will mount it eventually).

Last night I messed around w/ settings. I'm wondering here about the variables of pellet stove operation at high altitude (7,200'). This thing was not overheating and the flame was still at its preset factory mode (on 0). Looked lively and clean and only 3-5 inches peaking over the pot. The thing was working great.

Last night after I'd cleaned and rebooted and checked it out and it went off w/ the same error after a few hours of burning, I turned the flame height up from 0 to 2. Got a lively 6-8" flame. I was thinking that the altitude might be affecting burn rate/efficiency. It burned well through the night. I just now turned it back to 0 to see how it goes through the day.

So... does anyone have suggestions/observations re. altitude? I'm just starting to work on figuring out the pros and cons of different settings, but I'm not experienced w/ them yet (e.g. what cost/benefit higher flame versus heat output levels).

Comments? (Thanks!!)

Above 4,000 feet the high altitude setting must be turned on and it is possible that the convection air system isn't removing enough heat from the exchanger. You might want to check the convection air side for some blockage as well.

gorooster · Dec 16, 2011

Well, dang-it-all... continued problems w/ the error: Max drop tube temp.
No seeming blockages I could find. It's shutting down every hour or so w/ that same error. I've double and triple checked all settings, running it on auto and manual. Alt. is correctly set. My dealer said I could raise the flame height, though in the manual one of the possible causes listed is "Flame height set too high," w/ corrective action of "Adjust flame height." He's got a Mount Vernon and says he can run the flame all the way up to 5 w/ no problems, need be.

At this point it's not even restarting after I reboot by unplugging. It goes into Autoclean mode but moves right into that same Max drop tube temp error, so I can't start it up and adjust anything... dead in the water...

QUESTION: Wouldn't a "Max drop tube temp" indicate more heat required, pointing to a HIGHER flame height (as opposed to the lower flame height mentioned in the manual)?

This thing was humming along from Saturday to Tuesday, and I and my new wife (God bless her patience w/ wheelbarrow and tools in the living room for weeks) were ecstatic. Our first two bags were Lignetics (at 8 bucks a pop), but then we started using Heaters from Home Depot (which I understand are not that great). Still, this Cadillac stove shouldn't be shutting down over eating Home Depot food.

Did I just blow a significant amount of money on something that's too refined and delicate?

tsmith · Dec 16, 2011

gorooster said:
Well, dang-it-all... continued problems w/ the error: Max drop tube temp.
No seeming blockages I could find. It's shutting down every hour or so w/ that same error. I've double and triple checked all settings, running it on auto and manual. Alt. is correctly set. My dealer said I could raise the flame height, though in the manual one of the possible causes listed is "Flame height set too high," w/ corrective action of "Adjust flame height." He's got a Mount Vernon and says he can run the flame all the way up to 5 w/ no problems, need be.

At this point it's not even restarting after I reboot by unplugging. It goes into Autoclean mode but moves right into that same Max drop tube temp error, so I can't start it up and adjust anything... dead in the water...

QUESTION: Wouldn't a "Max drop tube temp" indicate more heat required, pointing to a HIGHER flame height (as opposed to the lower flame height mentioned in the manual)?

This thing was humming along from Saturday to Tuesday, and I and my new wife (God bless her patience w/ wheelbarrow and tools in the living room for weeks) were ecstatic. Our first two bags were Lignetics (at 8 bucks a pop), but then we started using Heaters from Home Depot (which I understand are not that great). Still, this Cadillac stove shouldn't be shutting down over eating Home Depot food.

Did I just blow a significant amount of money on something that's too refined and delicate?

What fuel setting are you running? If you go over to iburncorn.com and click on forums and then on the Quadrafire link, and post this info there, a gentleman who goes by Kappel15 will answer shortly, he is a Quad tech and has helped me out greatly. Good luck, keep us informed.

SmokeyTheBear · Dec 16, 2011

gorooster said:
Well, dang-it-all... continued problems w/ the error: Max drop tube temp.
No seeming blockages I could find. It's shutting down every hour or so w/ that same error. I've double and triple checked all settings, running it on auto and manual. Alt. is correctly set. My dealer said I could raise the flame height, though in the manual one of the possible causes listed is "Flame height set too high," w/ corrective action of "Adjust flame height." He's got a Mount Vernon and says he can run the flame all the way up to 5 w/ no problems, need be.

At this point it's not even restarting after I reboot by unplugging. It goes into Autoclean mode but moves right into that same Max drop tube temp error, so I can't start it up and adjust anything... dead in the water...

QUESTION: Wouldn't a "Max drop tube temp" indicate more heat required, pointing to a HIGHER flame height (as opposed to the lower flame height mentioned in the manual)?

This thing was humming along from Saturday to Tuesday, and I and my new wife (God bless her patience w/ wheelbarrow and tools in the living room for weeks) were ecstatic. Our first two bags were Lignetics (at 8 bucks a pop), but then we started using Heaters from Home Depot (which I understand are not that great). Still, this Cadillac stove shouldn't be shutting down over eating Home Depot food.

Did I just blow a significant amount of money on something that's too refined and delicate?

No it indicates that temperature in the drop tube is too high.

Since your altitude is set correctly I'd suggest lowering the flame height. You aren't running that thing on sunflower are you?

smoke show · Dec 16, 2011

I'd also like to know what all the settings are when this occurs.

Max drop tube temp means its overheating.

SmokeyTheBear · Dec 16, 2011

smoke show said:
I'd also like to know what all the settings are when this occurs.

Max drop tube temp means its overheating.

I'll be gentle before I'll get into the last possible cause on the list he posted, perhaps one should tell him about crosstalk and the control cabling.

smoke show · Dec 16, 2011

You'd think they would correct that at the factory by now.

I know, I know.

pip3398 · Dec 16, 2011

gorooster said:
Well, dang-it-all... continued problems w/ the error: Max drop tube temp.
No seeming blockages I could find. It's shutting down every hour or so w/ that same error. I've double and triple checked all settings, running it on auto and manual. Alt. is correctly set. My dealer said I could raise the flame height, though in the manual one of the possible causes listed is "Flame height set too high," w/ corrective action of "Adjust flame height." He's got a Mount Vernon and says he can run the flame all the way up to 5 w/ no problems, need be.

At this point it's not even restarting after I reboot by unplugging. It goes into Autoclean mode but moves right into that same Max drop tube temp error, so I can't start it up and adjust anything... dead in the water...

QUESTION: Wouldn't a "Max drop tube temp" indicate more heat required, pointing to a HIGHER flame height (as opposed to the lower flame height mentioned in the manual)?

This thing was humming along from Saturday to Tuesday, and I and my new wife (God bless her patience w/ wheelbarrow and tools in the living room for weeks) were ecstatic. Our first two bags were Lignetics (at 8 bucks a pop), but then we started using Heaters from Home Depot (which I understand are not that great). Still, this Cadillac stove shouldn't be shutting down over eating Home Depot food.

Did I just blow a significant amount of money on something that's too refined and delicate?

It's probably just a defective drop tube thermocouple. If is is showing that when its off and cold, that pretty much has to be it. It is just a safety devise to prevent hopper burnback and controls the room blower speed. No unheard of to just have a bad one. Did you call the dealer? They should come rather quickly and just change out the part.

gorooster · Dec 16, 2011

That doesn't sound good...

this happens at all settings... elev. high; manual and auto; flame height initially set at factory 0, then 2, 3, -1, 4, -2, -3; medium heat to medium high heat; comfort settings from 65 to 75 degs w/ 2 to 4 degrees plus or minus to reactivate the stove... I cleaned thoroughly after it happened (only had burned about 3 bags by then), and there was very minimal ash.

Later today I'll take things apart and find some model serial numbers. Not happy.

smoke show · Dec 16, 2011

If it is the d/p t/c its very easy to get at.

remove the right side panel(facing stove) and its right there just a wing nut and couple connections.

pip3398 · Dec 16, 2011

gorooster said:
That doesn't sound good...

this happens at all settings... elev. high; manual and auto; flame height initially set at factory 0, then 2, 3, -1, 4, -2, -3; medium heat to medium high heat; comfort settings from 65 to 75 degs w/ 2 to 4 degrees plus or minus to reactivate the stove... I cleaned thoroughly after it happened (only had burned about 3 bags by then), and there was very minimal ash.

Later today I'll take things apart and find some model serial numbers. Not happy.

Is this new? If so call your dealer for warranty. They would prefer you don't change anything. If not just change the drop tube thermocouple although you may want to just disconnect it from the circuit board and reconnect it. Be very careful with this though as it is very easy to damage a $600 circuit board. There is a pinch release on the connector.

Good luck

kilbury · Dec 16, 2011

If this was a brand new stove out of the box, they are set on sunflower with the blower speed on quiet. It would definitely overheat if that has not been changed and your burning pellets. Inquiring minds want to know! Yes I have seen drop tube tc's bad right out of the box.

gorooster · Dec 17, 2011

I went to the dealer's and he left me a drop tube thermocouple (he couldn't get out here until next week). The replacement part doesn't seem new... smaller gauge than the one that was on there. Wingnut was way past finger-tight, and I needed pliers to get it loose. Opened up the left side to get the clip inserted properly. It's running now, and I'll wait around for an hour or two to see if I get that damn error reading.

re. aforementioned 'cross talk' and 'control cabling' and chronic problems, please elucidate (here or privately). I'm no engineer... is there a history of problems w/ cables, wires, shielding and related electrical bugs? I'm impressed w/ this stove's construction, but are there weak links? What tends to be the first thing that fails or needs attention?

I got married in August and my incredibly awesome wife has endured this hearth demo/remodel/stone dust, etc. She prefers being nekid, and--frankly--I'm in favor of this as well. Last winter we recorded 20 below zero here, which contradicts nekidness except in cases of extreme necessity. Gentlemen... help a Brother out: this forum is strangely useful and egalitarian... how rare and wonderful. I promise to lend a hand when you're stuck in New Mexico or have questions about the 5-String Banjo or Hemingway, but I'm at my wit's end w/ this stove.
Happy Holidays to all,

AJA

smoke show · Dec 17, 2011

gorooster said:
She prefers being nekid, and--frankly--I'm in favor of this as well.

:lol: :lol: Well you know what we say here is pics or it didn't happen. ;-)

As for the "cross talk" theres a cable tie on the thermostat wires inside the back of the stove.

It has been said to be too tight causing communication probs with the thermo wires.

If its there, cut it off to avoid potential future problems.

gorooster · Dec 18, 2011

The stove's been running fine since I replaced the thermocouple about 5 hours ago. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

smoke show · Dec 18, 2011

Still waiting for requested pictures of said wife. FTW

hooter04 · Dec 18, 2011

Before I took delivery of my newer Mt.Vernon, the dealer always does a pre burn to burn off any paint smell etc. Supposedly when doing this they were getting low drop tube error messages.Needless to say they had to replace the thermocouple,right out of the box,so I'm glad they discovered it first.It's always good for a dealer to a preburn before delivery.

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