Winslow PS40 Wont ignite (yes i have read) :)

Hi there

I have gotten a lot of good advice reading here, but have come up with an issue i cant solve.

I have a Winslow Country pellet stove PS40. I have worked well since I bought used 3 years ago. This is is my 4th season buring. This year, it decided not to ignite. I hopped on and found out that since I could manually light and it would run fine, and since i didnt show any codes on the control panel lights, that it was going to be the ignitor.

So i buy a new ingnitor and install this morning (after a good cleaning). Try to fire it up and nothing. So I am hoping there may be another testing prcedure (i have a FLuke meter and am somewhat profeicient with elec testing).

I also felt the igniter tube, burn pot, etc after the failed start up. It was not hot at all.

I appreciate any tips you can give as I really miss the start up with the push of a button!

See if voltage is getting to the igniter. If not, the old igniter may have taken out a fuse on the control board.

Do you know what voltage they should be getting? (or are you ruling out a fuse?) I am going to check that now BTW...thank you!

AFAIK, all ignitors get 120 VAC. You could also do a continuity check on the new ignitor: new doesn't always = good. Assuming the ignitor is good, and you get no voltage to it on startup, first suspects are the connections, wiring, and fuse. Sometimes when ignitors quit, they take a fuse with them.

Knowing how to use a meter is a big plus! I'd feel naked without mine, have one in every toolbox and then some. I've been accumulating them for years.

ETA: you mention cleaning…look for any wires you may have pinched; measure resistance to ground from the ignitor wires. Wouldn't be the first ignitors wires that got pinched!

Boy do I feel like an idiot. The fuse holder is in the control box and you can open it and see about a third of the fuse. I did that before buying the giniter and the end looked ok. So i decided to take it apart and, lo and behold, the fuse burnt on the other end and looked ok in the short area i could see. I am off to find a 6A fuse as all my automotive ones are too large amp ratings.

Thank you for the kick in the butt to not "half a**" the initial steps.

And do you happen to know where i can buy the actual "knob" for the fan control....ours fell off and my fingers are getting tired oll

Glad you found the bad fuse, let's hope its blowing was a fluke, or just due to the old ignitor.
Try here for a knob:

http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032274&sr=1&origkw=knobs

Just for giggles, how about measuring the resistance of the old ignitor, especially to the case. It would be interesting to see if it's open, or shorted to the case.