Englander 25-EP high pellet consumption

[mfenmor]

Hi all.
I have a 2012 25-EP that has started eating pellets, like full bore auger with heat set at 3 and above. I cant seem to get any help from the idiot on the help line at Englander.
I replaced the controller, the auger motor, and did the most thorough cleaning ever. New seals everywhere with no air leaks. All blowers work as they should. thermo couple is attached properly and registers temp.
Did a hard reset.
controller is set at 1,4,1 with the mode set at 2 for EP.
it'll burn 40 pounds in 8 hours with heat set at 3.
When it was running properly, it would burn 40 pounds in 24 hours with heat set at 3.
Any ideas?

 

[heat seeker]

If you have a two-auger stove: Is the top auger starting and stopping, or is it running continuously?

 

[mfenmor]

25-ep is a one auger stove.

 

[heat seeker]

Okay - is that one auger running constantly?

 

[Shane1]

Is the new auger motor the correct rpm? Are you running with a thermostat?

 

[mfenmor]

The auger is not running constantly. on heat setting 2 its on for 2 second~ and off for 5 second~. on heat setting 3 its on for 3 seconds and off for 3 seconds, roughly.
the new motor is correct, 2 rpm cw.
I used this link to set up.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/2016-englander-pellet-stove-modes.164264/#post-2205068
i set the mode to 2, for EP.
today I set it to 3 for PAH which is a stove with lower output, and it seems to be working better. on heat setting 4, auger is on for 2 seconds and off for 5. Room blower doesn't run to full because of over heat now and there is not a giant fire in the pot.
Hope this is my cure.

 

[OhioBurner©]

i set the mode to 2, for EP.
today I set it to 3 for PAH which is a stove with lower output, and it seems to be working better. on heat setting 4, auger is on for 2 seconds and off for 5. Room blower doesn't run to full because of over heat now and there is not a giant fire in the pot.
Hope this is my cure.

I may have to check what my PAH is set on... its always burned at a higher rate than advertised. Last couple times I measured showed about 18hrs on a 40lb bag. Though if I remember it was on 3, I checked it the first year I had it when I struggled with lots of issues. Usually its not so much a problem as I need the heat, but on the mild days in spring it may be nice to be able to go lower.

 

[mfenmor]

So I finally found the problem of the high pellet consumption. A poor connection between the thermo couple and exhaust housing. I cleaned both surfaces to bare metal, added some silicone heat transfer past, and BINGO! runs as advertised. The micro controller relies on an active feedback from the thermo couple to keep the exhaust heat at a set level. If it doesn't see the heat lever for the setting chosen, it adds more fuel to get the temp up. Makes sense.

 

[BUBIBEAR]

You owe the guy at Englander stove an apology .

 

[mfenmor]

I would certainly apologize to the guy from Englander, had he known what he was talking about, and really understood the system he was trying to help people with, who were looking for expertise. Sounded like he was reading from a troubleshooting guide and didn't know his system at all. All he wanted me to do was purchase another controller, no REAL troubleshooting.
I do understand they deal with the average Joe, but after letting him know my background, I was still the average Joe.
I only hope he learned more since the last time we spoke, and can help other customers better.

 

[BUBIBEAR]

You could not find the problem with ONE STOVE . Englander makes Gas ,wood and pellet stoves .About thirty to forty different models . So if the guy works there as one of their trouble shooters ,he must be pretty good .go figure 30to40 models times the number of years they have been in the business = a lot more knowledge than one with a secondhand stove . You too quick to groan . I've been running 3 stoves since 2008 .All are still running thanks to the GUYS ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE . Just saying .

 

[mfenmor]

Glad you had good luck with them.
I'm reading so many other post about the bad luck had with them.
The bad far outweighs the good though.
I like the stove, simple design, easy to maintain, great heat, low fuel consumption, just bad tech service.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[ThawMyTongue]

So I finally found the problem of the high pellet consumption. A poor connection between the thermo couple and exhaust housing. I cleaned both surfaces to bare metal, added some silicone heat transfer past, and BINGO! runs as advertised. The micro controller relies on an active feedback from the thermo couple to keep the exhaust heat at a set level. If it doesn't see the heat lever for the setting chosen, it adds more fuel to get the temp up. Makes sense.

What type of heat transfer paste did you use?

 

[mfenmor]

What type of heat transfer paste did you use?