Englander 25pdv Lazy Flame, Pellet Build Up in Burn Pot

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jjones139 how about I send you my control board, and you can run it on your oven?


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Sure! I think that's the only way you're gonna know if it's definitely the board.

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Just a random thought because mine did this: Have you plugged the exhaust blower directly into the wall? My control board had the triac that controls the blower motor go bad due to a short in the wiring to the motor. I ran it this way until I had a chance to replace the triac. Maybe your board is putting out enough juice to spin the motor up but not enough to be where it ought to?

Eric
 
jjones139 how about I send you my control board, and you can run it on your oven?


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If you are comfortable with such things and have the board out of the stove, have a close look at it for damaged traces or cold solder connections or possibly cracks. Also nothing shorting out the traces and that the board is clean. More and more this issue seems to be pointing at a dodgy control board. Also that you can't default it. (reset)

Any competent electronics repair person could look at it for you as well.
 
Just a random thought because mine did this: Have you plugged the exhaust blower directly into the wall? My control board had the triac that controls the blower motor go bad due to a short in the wiring to the motor. I ran it this way until I had a chance to replace the triac. Maybe your board is putting out enough juice to spin the motor up but not enough to be where it ought to?

Eric

I second this. However perhaps it is the fuel feed that is the issue not the air. Worth a try.
 
Wow, that custom burn pot looks pretty sweet, I am going to make one when I get some free time!

As for any additional work on the oven, I have not been out to the shop since Sunday, and am hoping to get out there today. I do have a question for you guys though. All of the gaskets on my stove have been changed except for the hopper? It doesn't seem to be an issue, but when I was working on the restrictor plate I was running the stove without it lit to move the remaining pellets down the auger. Noticed a lot of air flow thru there, made me think about the hopper gasket. Going to see if my local parts place has it in stock.

Check out these other burn pots...ours is too big for a pusher. Might give you some other ideas for a fix.

http://www.stove-and-fireplace-parts.com/category-s/840.htm
 
Just a random thought because mine did this: Have you plugged the exhaust blower directly into the wall? My control board had the triac that controls the blower motor go bad due to a short in the wiring to the motor. I ran it this way until I had a chance to replace the triac. Maybe your board is putting out enough juice to spin the motor up but not enough to be where it ought to?

Eric

This is a great idea, and easily done. I will plug it in directly and see if it makes any difference.

I am a bit perturbed with Englander, recommending that I replace the combustion motor, after trying to work thru the issue with their Tech support in more than one occasion. They should be accountable for selling me parts I do not need, but maybe that's why their tech support is free, great money maker.....


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This is a great idea, and easily done. I will plug it in directly and see if it makes any difference.

I am a bit perturbed with Englander, recommending that I replace the combustion motor, after trying to work thru the issue with their Tech support in more than one occasion. They should be accountable for selling me parts I do not need, but maybe that's why their tech support is free, great money maker.....


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At least now you have a spare motor :p
 
I have tried numerous times, and now they want nothing to do with me. Real stand up company, they should have had diagnosed it right the first time. Wait on hold for 30-40min, diagnose problem in 2 min, should have known.
Sorry to hear this.... You've done so much and diagnosed more than the average person would have even taken the time to do. Happy New Year!
 
How long does it take for your hopper to empty when burning on those low settings?

I also have to say, there is one and only one way to stop lava burn now that you've plugged the holes. You need to burn super premium pellets. I have burned all big box store pellets in my stove, incluing $7 a bag Green Team Platinums (not Green Supremes), and I got lava burn. Even with soft pellets from big box stores including AWF White Pine and Big Heat softies.

i was able to significantly reduce lava burn last year with Spruce Point pellets that i paid $290 per ton, and by plugging just the lower 2 holes. I burned 3 ton, so it was $90 more for the year than big box store pellets, but i was cleaning my stove out once every 7-10 days vs. 3 days on big box store pellets.

This year i was able to get Blazers for $260 a ton, and they are living up to the hype. I have burned 2 bags of pellets over 3 days and have not touched the inside of my stove. No lava burn. I run my stove on fan setting 9 all the time and have run it on heat setting 7 in mode C without touching the burn pot and not having lava burn.

That is why I say you cannot eliminate lava burn with anything else other than pellets.
 
How long does it take for your hopper to empty when burning on those low settings?

I also have to say, there is one and only one way to stop lava burn now that you've plugged the holes. You need to burn super premium pellets. I have burned all big box store pellets in my stove, incluing $7 a bag Green Team Platinums (not Green Supremes), and I got lava burn. Even with soft pellets from big box stores including AWF White Pine and Big Heat softies.

i was able to significantly reduce lava burn last year with Spruce Point pellets that i paid $290 per ton, and by plugging just the lower 2 holes. I burned 3 ton, so it was $90 more for the year than big box store pellets, but i was cleaning my stove out once every 7-10 days vs. 3 days on big box store pellets.

This year i was able to get Blazers for $260 a ton, and they are living up to the hype. I have burned 2 bags of pellets over 3 days and have not touched the inside of my stove. No lava burn. I run my stove on fan setting 9 all the time and have run it on heat setting 7 in mode C without touching the burn pot and not having lava burn.

That is why I say you cannot eliminate lava burn with anything else other than pellets.


There are many users on here who have stated that after plugging those holes the problem went away for them. As it isn't for this user I would think that he is a having a low vacuum issue, not enough air being pulled through the burn plate even with those holes plugged. Or perhaps he just happens to be using a crappy brand of pellets. I just think there is something else going on that we are missing.

Can anyone with this stove confirm that if the burn plate holes were slightly enlarged would this help?
 
There are many users on here who have stated that after plugging those holes the problem went away for them. As it isn't for this user I would think that he is a having a low vacuum issue, not enough air being pulled through the burn plate even with those holes plugged. Or perhaps he just happens to be using a crappy brand of pellets. I just think there is something else going on that we are missing.

Can anyone with this stove confirm that if the burn plate holes were slightly enlarged would this help?
Tails I have both my lower holes plugged and I have enlarged the holes in the center of the burn plate while closing up some of the perimeter holes. For me this was a huge improvement and I even have ash being thrown up by the newly directed air flow. I have absolutely no lava buildup and only clean out the burn plate ounce a day , with very little fluffy ash. But I do burn a high quality easy blaze softwood pellet. Hardwood still gives me a little trouble with more ash but still no lava
 
Tails I have both my lower holes plugged and I have enlarged the holes in the center of the burn plate while closing up some of the perimeter holes. For me this was a huge improvement and I even have ash being thrown up by the newly directed air flow. I have absolutely no lava buildup and only clean out the burn plate ounce a day , with very little fluffy ash. But I do burn a high quality easy blaze softwood pellet. Hardwood still gives me a little trouble with more ash but still no lava


This is exactly what I was looking for, hopefully ispperformance will see it.
 
Tails I have both my lower holes plugged and I have enlarged the holes in the center of the burn plate while closing up some of the perimeter holes. For me this was a huge improvement and I even have ash being thrown up by the newly directed air flow. I have absolutely no lava buildup and only clean out the burn plate ounce a day , with very little fluffy ash. But I do burn a high quality easy blaze softwood pellet. Hardwood still gives me a little trouble with more ash but still no lava

Do you have a picture of your burn plate? I've been tossing the idea around about modifying it....


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Do you have a picture of your burn plate? I've been tossing the idea around about modifying it....


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Right now I do not but all I did to figure out how many holes to plug was to take a piece of tin the same size as the plate along with bending it to the same shape. Then I cut it to a squared off horse shoe shape. And cut the center out larger until I got the air I was look for and placed it under the plate . After I was happy I welded the hole shut that were covered by the tin . But I guess you could leave the tin there if you wanted to. As far as the holes I made them about half again as big but I also started slightly larger and went bigger. Hope this helps
 
As far as the holes I made them about half again as big but I also started slightly larger and went bigger. Hope this helps

That last sentence kind of confused me? If you could snap a pic next time you vacuum out your stove I would really appreciate it.

I could start welding holes etc, but if you got something that works I would rather start close to what you have.


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That last sentence kind of confused me? If you could snap a pic next time you vacuum out your stove I would really appreciate it.

I could start welding holes etc, but if you got something that works I would rather start close to what you have.


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I just cleaned today . Sorry I should have taken a picture. Like I said block some of the perimeter holes with tin or something non flammable from under the burn plate. As far as drilling out the holes I went 1 size larger on the center area that was not blocked off by the temporary plate underneath. Then I drilled about 4-6 of the holes out to 1/4 " directly in the center of the plate. Hope this helps
 
I just cleaned today . Sorry I should have taken a picture. Like I said block some of the perimeter holes with tin or something non flammable from under the burn plate. As far as drilling out the holes I went 1 size larger on the center area that was not blocked off by the temporary plate underneath. Then I drilled about 4-6 of the holes out to 1/4 " directly in the center of the plate. Hope this helps

You could use muffler cement to temporary block the holes as well, if you decide you need some opened back up just drill them out.
 
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You could use muffler cement to temporary block the holes as well, if you decide you need some opened back up just drill them out.
Good idea and much easier then cutting tin like I did. Personally I think the 1/4" holes in the center are what makes it work but be careful to not open up too many holes. If you do it my cut the air pressure down to low. You want it to look like a blast furnace.
 
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Call me cheap but a penny pluged both my holes in my 25 pdv under the wear plate just a dab of high temp rtv to hold in place so i dont suck them when cleanning and if i do suck them sure ill find a penny ( couch cushions) maybe under car seat that eat change desprete time leads to MacGyver
 
The combustion blower seems to be the only thing left. perhaps if you call Englander they could tell you a way to bench test it.
You could test with a manometer off the hose that runs from the side of the combustion motor(housing that it hooks to) and the pressure switch. Haven't found found what how many inches of water column it should be though.