Testing blower control switch

[redrig]

Hello all,

Last fall I bought a "new to me" stove, its a woodburning stove. The brand is apline, they are local here in Utah.

Anyways, before i install it I want to test the blower activation switch to make sure it works, that would be a bummer if I install it and it turns out to not work.



So does this sound like a good strategy to test it ?

1.Hook the 2 wires from the switch up to my Ohmeter.
2. put a little blow torch by the panel where the switch itself is located and fire it up.
3. if OHMs read at 1 after a while the switch is good ?

Does that sound like a plan? I am assuming that these control switches once they are heated up close the circut and then active the blower, an OHMs test should tell me if the switch is good right ?

Thank you in advance

 

[begreen]

That may not work. I would not use a torch near wiring. Does this stove use a snap switch? Are you referring to this and not the on/off power switch? If it does use a snap switch, is it located in a very difficult spot to service? Is this a stove or an insert?

 

[redrig]

Its on an insert . Its the heat activated siwtch that turns the blower on once it reaches a certain temp. The switch itself is behind a metal panel in the firebox and the wires are run out the back where the fresh air is pumped in so the torch itself would be where the fire is and not anywhere near wiring.

it a "positive pressure" insert so the blower itself will actually be located outside.

 

[begreen]

Got it. So the concern is that once the insert is installed the snap switch will be less accessible. Snap switches are cheap. I would just go ahead and replace it with a new one of the same value. Keep the old one as a spare. Even if it is working now, these switches have a finite lifespan. Graingers should stock your switch if the stove mfg. is hard to contact.

 

[redrig]

OK, good news. didnt realize the snap switches as you call them are readily available, so thats good.

one other question, I am baically going to be wiring this all up myself. The wires for the blower will be ran inside the fresh air ducting from the blower located outside to the back of the stove , and that is where I will connect them up to this snap switch and then on out to the power supply for the blower. Is there some type of high temp wiring that I should use for this project ?

 

[begreen]

So this will not be a factory stock installation? If that case I have to caution against that location for the switch. Most insert mfgs. locate the snap switch on the underside of the stove, under the firebox. There are multiple reasons for this. One is so that the fan does not come on too early and prematurely start cooling down the firebox, another is to be sure the wiring is routed away from the high heat of the stove and the last is accessibility. Most companies make the switch accessible from the front of the insert. Proceed with caution here. Look at some current inserts to see the way this is properly and safely done.