2004 Englanders Pellet stove...worth 299 for a new control board?

[Darkwing]

Hello...
I am struggling with me if a 2004 Englander 25PDVC pellet stove is worth the 299 they ask for a new control board...
Since i had no luck finding a broken component and no luck finding a used control board for less...i am now on either throw it out, tinker home made control or buy this control board...
Any thoughts?

 

[bill3rail]

I have actually designed (NOT TESTED) and started building a set of homemade controls for my 25PDV.
It is very rudimentary so it has no way to tell if the heat is too high or if it loses vacuum.

Bill

P.S. there is a company that rebuilds boards much less than replacement cost.

 

[Darkwing]

Would you share your idea?

 

[bill3rail]

Would you share your idea?

Trying to find the diagram I stole/changed.

Bill
I must have that drawing on a work computer...

 

[bill3rail]

I bought one of these and it will turn your upper auger on and off automatically.
They are available on Sleazy Bay for about $7.00US.

 

[Darkwing]

Hello...will take a look and check around...where to get...maybe a adrino or rasberry would be great to run that stove...sensors are already there, just need to be brought in logic...hmmm...now you got me thinking

 

[Dataman]

This place repairs them. http://circuitworks.net/parts/Pellet-Stove-Control-Repair-c23892396

 

[funflyer]

I made a backup controller for my Englander that works real well. The link to my project thread is below along with the timer link. Thankfully I haven't had to use the controller yet but if the control board ever quits I'm ready.

Backup Controller

Inkbird Timer

 

[Mt Bob]

I am sorry,I get confused why people get upset over the price of a control unit for a device that heats part of their house.My really old austroflamm(1992? I would have to check),that I used to heat from the basement up,still functions fine,the capacitors went bad,I purchased one from the guy in California. then repaired my old board.Since then,I kept the Accentra,put it in my upstairs.The board died.Bought a new one.Then repaired the old board.So,I have spares for both stoves.And,I did not have to move 500lbs of steel.The newer board(programming) for the Austroflamm Integra,made the stove burn much cleaner.The newer board,for the Accentra made the stove burn much cleaner.BUT,I have the spares,in case of an incident.If "darkwing" would like a more informative answer,he/she should call england stoves,and ask for Mike,a real straight shooter.
'

 

[Darkwing]

Hello...
Thx for the plans..will, take a look...
And upset about price is only, because parts for the controller would be cents to build a whole new one, besides the chip, and if they would sell that separate, it would still be easy to fix...i hate this throw away and buy new generation...things get build as disposals...like we would have resources without limit, and several planets if we used one up...especially in this country is this "YEAH we can use as much as possible without have to pay for it" mentality is HUGE.

 

[bcastine1]

Yeah $299 is a bit steep for what the board is. I was able to repair mine, I had a bad triac on the auger feed circuit, its failure actually caused my auger motor to catch on fire! I replaced the triac which was leaking voltage during the off cycle, about 30V causing the motor to draw 4X the current its rated for. The windings of the motor didn't like that. I then put a 1 amp fuse in series with the auger motor to protect the auger motor and prevent another potential melt down. So far so good. What is the issue with your board? I have a descent understanding of how it works.

 

[Richahubl]

I have actually designed (NOT TESTED) and started building a set of homemade controls for my 25PDV.
It is very rudimentary so it has no way to tell if the heat is too high or if it loses vacuum.

Bill

P.S. there is a company that rebuilds boards much less than replacement cost.

I have the same pellet stove as the gentleman describe above it first started that the top feed screw would not turn on so I cleaned everything out good reset the control panel bypassed all safety switches and now when you go to start it up I get the E2 how can I get an E2 with everything by passed and the only way I can get power to the top feed screw now is to hold in the on button but it still goes to the E2 please help me I'm lost

 

[Ssyko]

The triac and optoisolaters for the upper auger has failed. Your going to have to replace the control board. Or you could replace them yourself. And reattach all your safty mechanisms don’t leave them out of the loop.

 

[Darkwing]

Hello...
My issue with that board is, that, as soon i plug the bugger in, the exhaust fan and the room fan start turning on full throttle...
Besides that, the board does all the correct button reactions and start adn shut s down stove...but the fans stay running no mater what or how long i wait...
Board reset, test etc did not change a bit...
I even get this F5 messages after the check what ever that means...
So i got me new triacs and changed one without effect...
Do you think change one of the opto ones for testing could fix it?

 

[Ssyko]

It may. Mine did the same as yours Darkwing. I changed all the triacs and optoisolaters, did not change a thing. So I figured since all the parts were new i got a new prom from ESW. And that fixed it. Somewhere the voltage leaked or spiked and screwed up the programming. You can no longer buy the proms, gotta buy the whole board.

 

[Darkwing]

Hello Ssyko...
What happened that the Proms are not for sale anymore?
Could we read the prom out and reprogram tons of them for others?
Should not fall under copyright since we dont reverse engineer or so...

 

[Ssyko]

The software actually belongs to the Co. that makes the boards. ESW doesn’t even have it. Even if you could read the prom it’s still a copyright issue. Not to mention it’s probably locked. Due to an agreement with NY state law and Directv, I cant discuss anything with reverse engineering of any software.
Im thinking they won’t sell them separately anymore do to the hassel and cost errors on thier parts/shipping dept. ( i ordered a prom through Mike Holten) they shipped a shunt instead, 4 times!) 5th time i got the right part. It cost them close to 80 bucks in shipping for a 24 dollar part

 

[Darkwing]

Oh boy, what a bummer...as always...one ruins it for all...Just kidding...
Might start cruising a for salvage places in hope to find one of the few models, that used this board...maybe i am lucky and find one...
Budget just not allows that purchase right now

 

[Ssyko]

Sorry ESW Owwners I hear ya. If i can find some time, i want to fiddle around with my own design for a board but hunny-do list never gets shorter

 

[Darkwing]

It probably would be an pretty easy/fast thing to do with an adrino or rasberry...
Since sensors and such are already there...
But by googling a little, i saw a gazzilion of peeps started and never ended something...
Lets see...

 

[Mt Bob]

Very few stove manufactures used "proms",Austroflamm was one of them,it allowed to change the programming by simply by
changing the chip.GM used the same process in the first generation of computer controlled engine controls.They found out was too easy to be duplicated(gm),and that started the downfall of proms.Yes,I think it is wrong,but,you are talking about technology that is over 15 years old.