Help to set anticipator on mechanical thermostat...

[DobieMom]

ARG!! I went to you tube - watched videos to learn what to do...3rd video tells me I need to know the DRAW from - I THINK he said - the control circuit (?) before I'd know where to set the anticipator...DUH! Anyone with a QuadraFire 1200 Classic Bay freestanding happen to know the draw OR where I need to set the anticipator? I know the thermostat is "off" compared to my wall thermometers I have placed around. Thanks!

 

[bogieb]

I'm guessing you need to know if it is a millivolt or volt draw. Try this thread and see if that helps you. Sorry, I don't have your stove, so this is the best I can do.

 

[Pelleting In NJ]

For "old-school" mechanical thermostats, the anticipator is a small variable resistor, that heats the thermostat bi-metal spring to make it turn the furnace back off, actually before the heat of the room does it. This heater resistor needs a bit of current, and that is supplied by the significant current draw of the electric gas-valve, or oil-burner control circuit. So, what you did was measure the current "draw" of this circuit, with an amp-meter, and then set the adjuster (slider arm) on the resistor to the current (mA) markings that match what you measured.

Now, for a pellet stove, with electronic controls, the thermostat terminals won't provide anything close to the current draw of an old-school furnace, which means that an old-school thermostat anticipator won't work. You need a "new-fangled" electronic thermostat, where the anticipator (typically called the "differential") is set electronically, and does not rely on the furnace control circuit current to heat up a resistor.

 

[DobieMom]

For "old-school" mechanical thermostats, the anticipator is a small variable resistor, that heats the thermostat bi-metal spring to make it turn the furnace back off, actually before the heat of the room does it. This heater resistor needs a bit of current, and that is supplied by the significant current draw of the electric gas-valve, or oil-burner control circuit. So, what you did was measure the current "draw" of this circuit, with an amp-meter, and then set the adjuster (slider arm) on the resistor to the current (mA) markings that match what you measured.

Now, for a pellet stove, with electronic controls, the thermostat terminals won't provide anything close to the current draw of an old-school furnace, which means that an old-school thermostat anticipator won't work. You need a "new-fangled" electronic thermostat, where the anticipator (typically called the "differential") is set electronically, and does not rely on the furnace control circuit current to heat up a resistor.

Thanks Pelleting but this is the Quadra Fire thermostat that was installed with the stove...a simple 2 wire. They adjusted it a year or so ago during year end cleaning but it's "off" again I was told to "just turn it"... LOL...turn it to WHAT setting? I'll have to call the guy back :/

 

[DobieMom]

I'm guessing you need to know if it is a millivolt or volt draw. Try this thread and see if that helps you. Sorry, I don't have your stove, so this is the best I can do.

Thanks bogieb...it helped me to know I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm doing LOL I know how to clean it, run it and supply the fuel, etc but that's about where it ends for me

 

[bogieb]

Thanks bogieb...it helped me to know I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm doing LOL I know how to clean it, run it and supply the fuel, etc but that's about where it ends for me

Been there - nothing to be ashamed of. There's a big learning curve for usen's that aren't naturally mechanically/electrically inclined. I didn't grow up fixing bicycles, walkie-talkies etc like the boys did. So I read everything I could, even on stoves I didn't have just to get some of the lingo down and have a basic understanding of what people on here were talking about. Still learning too - thanks to great people on this forum.