1988 Whitfield Advantage 2-- "Shoot Me!"

[wiseguy6285]

Hello Folks, I need help. 1988 Whitfield Advantage 2 (Control Board Picture Attached). Bought this stove on CL for $400 over a year ago and it never worked, the kid told me he fried some of the resistors on the board while he was vacuuming it out. I bought a board online for like $450 that they said would work on my stove, plugged it in and BANG sparks and smoke! $450 smoke show later I discovered the board was not wired for my stove. So I posted on this forum last year and you kind folks were able to get me the info I needed to repair the old board:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/1988-whitfield-advantage-2-need-help.134581/#post-1806180

In any event, I still never got the stove running or even started for that matter. After doing the above repairs I would plug the stove in and the high fan would immediately come on and nothing would function, On/Off switch won't do anything. I replaced all the Triacs and Trisistors on the board and had the same condition. I dug around for information and found that the low limit switch could be the problem. I bought both the low and high switches and replaced them. Plug the stove in, no fans come on Great! I hit the start button, both exhaust and blower fans come on but I have to hold the start button because if I let go the fans shut off. I never had the stove running so I don't know how it's supposed to operate. FYI, when I press the start button, I DO NOT have a fire lit in the burn pot so is my stove sensing no flame and shutting off? How is the stove supposed to function when the I press the Start button? Is there anyone with this stove that can help me diagnose this thing or explain to me. I've spent too much time and money to turn away at this point but I'm getting ready to put a bullet in this thing before my wife shoots me...

Thanks much for all your help, Dan

 

[mralias]

Hello Folks, I need help. 1988 Whitfield Advantage 2 (Control Board Picture Attached). Bought this stove on CL for $400 over a year ago and it never worked, the kid told me he fried some of the resistors on the board while he was vacuuming it out. I bought a board online for like $450 that they said would work on my stove, plugged it in and BANG sparks and smoke! $450 smoke show later I discovered the board was not wired for my stove. So I posted on this forum last year and you kind folks were able to get me the info I needed to repair the old board:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/1988-whitfield-advantage-2-need-help.134581/#post-1806180

In any event, I still never got the stove running or even started for that matter. After doing the above repairs I would plug the stove in and the high fan would immediately come on and nothing would function, On/Off switch won't do anything. I replaced all the Triacs and Trisistors on the board and had the same condition. I dug around for information and found that the low limit switch could be the problem. I bought both the low and high switches and replaced them. Plug the stove in, no fans come on Great! I hit the start button, both exhaust and blower fans come on but I have to hold the start button because if I let go the fans shut off. I never had the stove running so I don't know how it's supposed to operate. FYI, when I press the start button, I DO NOT have a fire lit in the burn pot so is my stove sensing no flame and shutting off? How is the stove supposed to function when the I press the Start button? Is there anyone with this stove that can help me diagnose this thing or explain to me. I've spent too much time and money to turn away at this point but I'm getting ready to put a bullet in this thing before my wife shoots me...

Thanks much for all your help, Dan

The manual gives you a good idea on how it is suppose to function. Here is a link if you don't have one. Read page 21.
http://www.pelletking.com/pellet-stove-manuals/whitfield-advantage-iit-pellet-stove-manual.pdf

 

[wiseguy6285]

The manual gives you a good idea on how it is suppose to function. Here is a link if you don't have one. Read page 21.
http://www.pelletking.com/pellet-stove-manuals/whitfield-advantage-iit-pellet-stove-manual.pdf

Thanks for the reply! I do have the manual which I've studied in my sleep, however when I press the start button to operate both blowers, they shut off as soon as I release the button. Furthermore, I don't have an igniter style stove as the manual describes on page 21, I have to manually light the stove... I don't have the stove piped as of yet so I can't light a fire, but my question is: Should the fans stay running when I press the START button despite not having a fire burning in the pot?

It doesn't make sense to start a fire without having the exhaust fan running first right? This is my first pellet stove ever and unfortunately there is not much info out there on this model. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. .

Thanks, Dan

 

[Bioburner]

Exhaust fan should run for 15-20 minutes for the stove to either the eye or proof of fire snap switch to complete circuit but I can't remember if the pressure switch needs to activate in order for the stove to continue startup.

 

[wiseguy6285]

Exhaust fan should run for 15-20 minutes for the stove to either the eye or proof of fire snap switch to complete circuit but I can't remember if the pressure switch needs to activate in order for the stove to continue startup.

That's what I thought. So technically the blowers should run on their own before it even senses a flame... otherwise how would I prime the auger if I needed to. I guess my question now is Why won't the fans stay running when I press the START button? Thanks

 

[MountainSean]

It looks like right above the main transistor there is a burnt out section on a circuit run, either the whole run is fried or there should be some resistor/transistor there. I can't say exactly what the component might be but it sure looks like something should be there.

 

[Stovensen]

Hello Dan, do you know the serial no. of your Advantage II stove? According to this information here, the terminal strip should be wired differently depending on what control board is installed. The older series had RK controls. The newer had the SSAC rotary controls, and these were finally upgraded with the touch pad controls:

I suggest you study this pdf document from Hearthtools.com thoroughly. The document has 23 pages. The first 15 pages give a very important overview of the wiring in the different Advantage stoves. Even the wiring of the first pellet stove in the world, the Whitfield Legend is described. Link to pdf: http://www.hearthtools.com/parts/whitfield_wire_diagrams.pdf
With the correct wiring you may be able to use your new control in stead of the burnt out one.
Good luck and take care. Keep us posted.

 

[Pellet-King]

Sorry to hear about your nitemare, price of oil/ng is alot cheaper than pellets right now, I knew of pellets stoves back then but I bought a woodstove, not until 1998 I bought my Whit.
When i press start both my fans stay running, i use gel to start my fire,. once I have a decent flame starting I press auger button then adjust the heat from 1-5, I've never ran my stove over a 3, afraid it would get too hot
The fans have to stay running once start is pushed thats your problem to figure out

 

[Pellet-King]

(broken link removed to http://newlondon.craigslist.org/app/5345267825.html) craigslist stove possibly near you offer him $100

 

[Bkins]

You might also send a PM to member Snowy asking her for help. She knows the Whits inside and out and would maybe be able to help you get your stove sorted. She has built her own controls for her stove to have the stove do what she wants it to, not what the stove wants to do.

 

[wiseguy6285]

You might also send a PM to member Snowy asking her for help. She knows the Whits inside and out and would maybe be able to help you get your stove sorted. She has built her own controls for her stove to have the stove do what she wants it to, not what the stove wants to do.

Hello Dan, do you know the serial no. of your Advantage II stove? According to this information here, the terminal strip should be wired differently depending on what control board is installed. The older series had RK controls. The newer had the SSAC rotary controls, and these were finally upgraded with the touch pad controls:
View attachment 168619

I suggest you study this pdf document from Hearthtools.com thoroughly. The document has 23 pages. The first 15 pages give a very important overview of the wiring in the different Advantage stoves. Even the wiring of the first pellet stove in the world, the Whitfield Legend is described. Link to pdf: http://www.hearthtools.com/parts/whitfield_wire_diagrams.pdf
With the correct wiring you may be able to use your new control in stead of the burnt out one.
Good luck and take care. Keep us posted.

Serial is 13510. I've studied the wiring religiously and it is correct. I will reach out to snowy for advice, thanks everyone! From what I've read these whit stoves are worth the headache once you get them running.