Englander - 25-PDVC/55-SHP-10 - Control Panel & Circuit Board Corrosion - Fix

[kj234]

Hi everyone,

On my Englander 25-PDVC/55-SHP-10 pellet stove control / circuit board, the 'on' button went bad. I'd have to press the on button multiple times before it would turn on, or hold it for a long time. Eventually, it stopped working entirely. It was due to corrosion. Here’s something that may help:

Things needed:
8mm wrench
2 or 3 of small fine tip artist brushes. (Or, you could get away with using one)
90% alcohol
Electrically conductive grease (There’s probably better brands out there, but I used a brand on Amazon called Lubree).
Plastic / nylon non-conductive computer spudger. (Might be needed if there’s a lot of corrosion)

Steps:

• After unplugging the stove, take off the metal back panel, and the control panel from the stove body. (Held in by 8mm bolts).
• Look for the green ribbon cable, that wraps around to the front of the panel.
• (Tip - It’s a good idea to discharge any static electricity before working on a circuit board, by touching something metal and grounded nearby. Touching the screw holding the cover of the light switch would work I think.. Or maybe a metal radiator on the wall. I wouldn’t be too worried though.)
• Gently jiggle the solid plastic end of the ribbon cable, back and forth along the direction of the arrows in the picture. If it’s stuck, try not to force it, it’s fairly delicate. If it’s stuck, use a plastic nonconductive computer spudger, and gently try to get under one endthe connector and rotate the spudger left and right to try to lift it up, and then do that to the other side, to try to break it free. Then gently rock it off.
• After the connector’s off, clean any corrosion off of the contacts (the small metal posts) with a small fine tip brush. Use a little bit of 90% alcohol on a brush to clean them a bit more. Let the alcohol dry off.
• Apply the electric conductive grease to the small metal posts with another fine tip paintbrush.. Only put just a slight coating on. It shouldn’t squish out to the bottom, when you put the connector back on.
• Gently put the connector back on all the way.
• Plug the stove back in.
• Put the control board back in place, and the back plate, and test the button.

This made it work again for me, although it’s been a year and a half I think, and for the past 2 months or so, I’ve oftentimes had to hold button in for 5 seconds and let go, for it to start. But that said, I’m fairly confident it will keep working, (or at least that I can re-apply more conductive grease). I think the grease will help to prevent future corrosion on those contacts. 🙏🙏🙏