P61a shutting down

[greywolf46]

Stove is unexpectedly shutting down. Running in stove mode auto, setting #3 for 10 hours overnight, it shut down early morning as if it ran out of pellets. I usually run it on room temp manual, but had trouble starting it recently on room temp auto. Feed motor would go on and off every couple seconds. So, I switched to stove temp auto and the feed motor stayed on to fill burn pot and ignite pellets. Ran fine overnight then shutdown toward morning. Cold outside 14 degrees.

 

[Mt Bob]

Did the pot have all fine ash, or chunks of unburned pellets?

 

[greywolf46]

Did the pot have all fine ash, or chunks of unburned pellets?

Regular ash

 

[Mt Bob]

So,from your judgement ,pellet flow stopped but combustion motor worked fine?

 

[jackman]

In auto mode the stove will shut down when the temperature reaches the set point. If you want it to keep running set it to manual.

 

[greywolf46]

So,from your judgement ,pellet flow stopped but combustion motor worked fine?

Yes, combustion motor ran on

 

[greywolf46]

Yes, combustion motor ran on

Right now it is running fine on stove temp auto - setting #5. Restarted it that way this morning.

 

[Mt Bob]

Well,my best thoughts, clean the control board potentiometers with contact cleaner. Have you had stove apart recently,to clean? If so,check the fines cover is on properly,and check other gaskets.
If you doubt any of this are issues,you could bypass the vacuum switch with a jumper and see what happens.

 

[Mt Bob]

Right now it is running fine on stove temp auto - setting #5. Restarted it that way this morning.

That makes me think the pots are dirty or going bad, from your description before.

 

[Mt Bob]

Didn't happen to see what code flashed? If not,next time it dies watch for it.

 

[Mt Bob]

In auto mode the stove will shut down when the temperature reaches the set point. If you want it to keep running set it to manual.

No,in stove mode,auto mode,it will run until it runs out of pellets.

 

[greywolf46]

Well,my best thoughts, clean the control board potentiometers with contact cleaner. Have you had stove apart recently,to clean? If so,check the fines cover is on properly,and check other gaskets.
If you doubt any of this are issues,you could bypass the vacuum switch with a jumper and see what happens.

Just replaced the esp today and cleaned fines box. Cover on correctly. Will check gaskets.

 

[greywolf46]

Didn't happen to see what code flashed? If not,next time it dies watch for it.

Did not see a flashing code but will watcg for it.

 

[greywolf46]

Did not see a flashing code but will watcg for it.

wouldn't the vacuum switch stop the combustion blower as well as the feed motor. I thought it controlled both.

 

[Mt Bob]

Nope,just the auger. Stopping the combustion motor would be dangerous.

 

[Washed-Up]

Make sure it’s the same ESP as the original or there will be dip switches involved

 

[mountainmike]

It's probably something already mentioned, but could it be the pellets? Someone else had a problem recently burning pellets that were too long and that bridged in the bottom of the hopper. I had a ton of pellets that caused that to happen with my P61a several years ago.

 

[greywolf46]

After replacing the esp, the stove is back to running as usual so far. Thanks for all the suggestions.