Advantage Plus controls won't stay on

[N.W. MN Goalie]

Hey guys, I picked up a second hand Whitfield advantage plus a couple of months ago. The guy I got it from said it was hard to start. After pressing the start button many times I was able to get it to start a couple of times. I can no longer get through controls to stay on for more than about a second. The fan starts but the combustion blower does not. Sometimes the auger runs but most of the times it does not. I have disassembled the burn box taken out the fire brick and shop vac the inside completely. Are there any tests that you would suggest doing to rule any components out? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Jason

Serial number - wh - 104017

Also, is it supposed it have an auto ignitor?

 

[Bioburner]

First the combustion fan needs to run to complete the auger circuit by getting the vacuum pressure switch to close. Nothing else should go till that circuit is complete. Now there may be another switch or two preventing start up. Have you downloaded a manual? Fair number of Whit owners on site for help. I've got three.
Welcome.

 

[smwilliamson]

First the combustion fan needs to run to complete the auger circuit by getting the vacuum pressure switch to close. Nothing else should go till that circuit is complete. Now there may be another switch or two preventing start up. Have you downloaded a manual? Fair number of Whit owners on site for help. I've got three.
Welcome.

Whitfields use a vac switch that is normally closed, pretty sure. Back pressure on the switch opens the circuit. Sounds like a wiring fiasco or perhaps a bad combustion blower and/or a failed high limit.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

I have downloaded the owners manual. Is there a separate service manual? If there is, let me know where to get it and I can go from there. I service appliances and can troubleshoot pretty well as long as I have some diagrams and maybe some specs.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

I check 3 limit switches. 2 got good solid readings and the low limit by the combustion blower got a reading that kept jumping around. In the appliance world, that would indicate a shorted limit switch. Does that carry over into the stove world as well?

Jason

 

[Bioburner]

Yes they are simple snap switches.

 

[smwilliamson]

I check 3 limit switches. 2 got good solid readings and the low limit by the combustion blower got a reading that kept jumping around. In the appliance world, that would indicate a shorted limit switch. Does that carry over into the stove world as well?

Jason

The switch should be conductive or not. Try jumping the low limit, attach both wires to one post and see if the stove will act like there is fire in it and stay running and respond to the controls. Low limit is the white ceramic switch on the exhaust.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

Thank you for the correction on location. It is by the exhaust. I will try jump it out. Be back shortly with the results.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

I jumped the switch, the result is a continuous augering of pellets and the 5 red and 5 green led lights alternate back and forth. No blower operation of any kind. Not sure what to do next. This thing is kicking my butt

 

[MikeSs]

Controller board.
Had same issue several years ago on my IIT.
New board solved it.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

Man, I was hoping not to hear that. Any place to get one at a decent price?

 

[MikeSs]

Last time I went to where I got my board from (had to get something else) they mentioned they may be able to use a controller from a different brand (which i cant rebember atm).
Other than thatn I personally dont know.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

So I know that the blowers both work. I put 120V to them and they are operating just fine. Just for the heck of it, I pressed start before I went inside for the night. It started up just like a normal start up (everything put back in place as far as wires and limit switches). So I put the unit back together (firebrick and covers) and slid it back into place to start a fire in it and turn it on. Boom...nothing! The darn thing is driving me insane! The combustion blower did start working for a second per time I push the start button then shuts off. I can't take it anymore, I have to go inside and call it a night. Just out of curiosity, does the exhaust have to be hooked up for the pressure switch to operate properly? If so, is there a minimum amount of pipe that has to be hooked up to reach a certain pressure?

 

[smwilliamson]

No you can run it with out any pipe. Whitfield stoves, the room blower is always on when the unit is running. Try looking at the molex where the wires meet the controller. See if the pins are making contact. Maybe hit them with some contact cleaner.

 

[Stovensen]

I jumped the switch, the result is a continuous augering of pellets and the 5 red and 5 green led lights alternate back and forth. No blower operation of any kind. Not sure what to do next. This thing is kicking my butt

Hi Jason, welcome to the forum. Ok, jumping the low limit switch did change the activity a little to the better: The lights are flashing meaning that the control board is "calling for heat". A further jumping of the thermostat terminals should make the lights stop flashing. What I don't like is that the blowers don't operate

The low limit switch is bypassed for the first 30 minutes at start up, allowing the stove to warm up, so something is wrong either with the bypass relay or the circuitry controlling it. The relay is the most likely culprit, since this is electromechanical with contacts that get worn from arcing. Jumping the low limit switch had the result that the entire stove was given a neutral, which normally should come from the bypass relay, so we can conclude that the bypass relay is not operating. The bypass relay is mounted on the control board.
You'll need the wiring diagram to get a good overview. Your Advantage Plus has the same wiring as my Quest Plus. Diagram attached below.
I only have the service manual for the advantage IIT and III stoves, but this is somehow universal for many Whit stoves. I guess the title "Tech Training" indicates that it is somehow universal for Whit stoves. I have also attached this svc manual below. Click on the icon to download.
Please take your time to study the attached information. I did myself in 2008 when I bought my Quest Plus in a non working condition.
Good luck and take care. Keep us posted on your progress. If any questions arise we'll be happy to help.

Bo

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

Thank you for all of that info. I have not gotten to work on it since last week. Busy, busy, busy. I will update again once I work on it some more.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

So, I have burned a couple of bags in my stove since my last post. I have struggled getting it started but was always able to get it started after pushing start many times and unplugging and plugging it back in, basically getting lucky to get it started. Now, I cannot get it to start. Most the times, both blowers get a real quick and weak jolt of voltage. Other times the auger will constantly feed pellets until I unplug the unit. Then there are the times when the blower fan will run for a short bit (maybe 10 seconds max) and then slow down to nothing. If I take a jumper and give the blowers each 120V, they run flawlessly. I have again tested the limit switches, everything checks out fine. I used to get the stove started by tapping on the board housing, now...nothing. I feel that a new board is in my future, anyone else seem to agree with that?

 

[Bioburner]

Unfortunately yes.

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

As long as I have the confidence of people with more experience that this is the issue, I have no problem with that diagnosis.

 

[Stovensen]

It may be possible to repair the control board. David in Ontario repairs control boards of many stove brands.
A new control board is $348 and David's price should be $128 for a standard repair ( return shipping included ).
Link to David's ad with price info:
(broken link removed to http://www.kijiji.ca/v-heater-humidifier-dehumidifier/peterborough/whitfield-advantage-ii-t-iii-plus-control-board-repair-service/265783976)

Youtube video with David's e-mailaddress:

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[Bioburner]

Also, is it supposed it have an auto ignitor?

Some did, Quest was the same just more$$$
Curious as to what a new board goes for. I have a Quest that has not been used for two years now.

 

[Bioburner]

$128 US or Canadian? Canucks are taking a beating on money

 

[N.W. MN Goalie]

I found a new board for 298.98. Best price thus far.

 

[Stovensen]

$128 US or Canadian? Canucks are taking a beating on money

Converted from Canadian to US Dollars David's price should be 97.72. So Jason, you could save $200!

 

[Bioburner]

Someone just posted the auto ignition upgrade for $150 on Ebay