Does multi fuel burn pot prevent hopper fire in St Croix Auburn?

[NEDC]

I recently dealt with a hopper fire in a St Croix Auburn made in about 2012. It was a bit scary but caught before oo much damage. This stove came with a corn pot, but a dealer told me that there was no need to get a multifuel pot to burn pellets. However, combustion blower was dirty and not working well, and the pellets piled up when no one was home and the fire went up the auger into the hopper. I have replaced the blower and cleaned everything out. Am I right the multi fuel pot with lower sides would have prevented this dangerous occurrence?

 

[heat seeker]

I don't have an answer about the pot, but am wondering why the vacuum switch didn't shut the stove down when the blower went bad.

 

[NEDC]

I don't have an answer about the pot, but am wondering why the vacuum switch didn't shut the stove down when the blower went bad.

The feed system kept feeding pellets to try to raise the temperature even though it wasnt burning well and the pellets piled up the chute, and the fire smoldered all the way to the top and then down the auger until the whole hopper began to smolder. I think the stove finally tried to shut down, but there was still some heat, so the blower continued working at least well enough to pull the smoke out of the hopper and send it out the vent. My wife came home and thought the fire was out, and couldnt understand why there was so much thick smoke outside. Then she burned her hand when touched the hopper.

 

[NEDC]

I am not sure the blower was the primary problem since it still turned, but it sure was full of creosote when I took it apart.

 

[jzm2cc]

The firepot with removable sides helps to prevent this condition. As the pile up builds in the burnpot additional pellets fall to the sides into the ash pan. Is it 100% effective against lack of cleaning, probably not.

 

[Mt Bob]

sounds like you need the updated pot with removable sides. https://www.stove-parts-unlimited.c...burn-pot-weldment-80p53890-r-p/80p53890-r.htm From the manual-
Pellets
St. Croix Corn stoves come equipped with
a burn pot installed that has removable
side shields.
When burning pellets or any other fuels
mixed with pellets, the side shields must be
removed. Failure to remove the side shields
will prevent fuel from spilling into the ashpan
in the event the pot overloads. See figure 2
below showing the removal of the side
shields. The shields lift up and are removed
without needing any tools

 

[NEDC]

Yes, everything was well cleaned before the fire except the blower which we had trouble opening so we tried cleaning it by sucking it out the exhaust. Pretty clear that that wasn't adequate. Worn door gasket is now replaced in addition to blower as I thought that might contribute to poor burn. Burns well now.

 

[NEDC]

One more question for anyone who has read this far, when trying to open the blower I broke one of the studs holding the motor to the housing, after that I was pretty careful with those tiny bolts. Any one think that 5 of 6 studs tight is good enough with a new gasket or do I need a whole new housing? if I do replace the housing, what kind of sealant should join the blower housing to the exhaust adapter?

 

[NEDC]

And I have ordered the burn pot with removeable sides

 

[Ssyko]

You may need to put in a self tapper just to make sure its sealed. Go to the outside of the stud, enough to get both pieces of metal and the screw does not interfere with the fan blades. 1/4” screw would do.