WhifField optima 3 to many pellets on low

[Drooby]

Hello everyone. New to the forum. Of course I am posting bc I have an issue am looking for some help. I have a Whitfield Optima 3 insert and for some reason recently on my lowest heat setting my auger dumps pellets almost constantly. For sure it is dropping pellets every 1-2 seconds which creates a large lazy flame. Right after I change the setting to the middle flame setting u can see a flame color and height change. It almost as if the actual auger feeds do not match the settings. I have changed the calibration settings some but does not seem to change anything. I’m I down to a control board as I suspect? I did put a new door gasket on this year but it was working fine for a couple weeks before this problem started. I did give it a good cleaning so I do not think that is an issue. The flame does change which adjusting the flute so I assume the exhaust fan is working as it should. I don’t understand why there would be an almost immediate change when switching from the low to middle setting? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank u

 

[Tneal5648]

having this same issue… anyone have any thoughts??

I burn through a whole hopper on low in like 9 hours! Flame is huge as well. I have also messed with calibration button and put it all the way down with no luck. Is there anything else on these that effect the pellet feed rate?

 

[Ssyko]

if the auger is not cycling then you have issues on the the control board. i dont know off hand what the cycles are. IE auger on 4 seconds then off for 14 sec that would be an average low speed cycle.

 

[Tneal5648]

if the auger is not cycling then you have issues on the the control board. i dont know off hand what the cycles are. IE auger on 4 seconds then off for 14 sec that would be an average low speed cycle.

So watching this stove drop pellets on low. It’s about every 5seconds exactly it drops pellets. Damper is 7/8ths open and burns fine but the thing eats up too many pellets on low and pushed some serious heat something’s just not right.

Every piece has been cleaned both fans, photo eye all Inside the stove. Control board seems to work perfectly fine but if that’s what’s telling the auger to drop pellets maybe there’s an issue? Is there anything else that would play a roll in pellet feed rate? Sensors? Wiring ?

 

[tbear853]

If not enough air flows up through the burn pot, you'll get a slow flame, incomplete burning of pellets and the stove will push more pellets trying to get up to heat.

 

[Rascus]

So watching this stove drop pellets on low. It’s about every 5seconds exactly it drops pellets. Damper is 7/8ths open and burns fine but the thing eats up too many pellets on low and pushed some serious heat something’s just not right.

Every piece has been cleaned both fans, photo eye all Inside the stove. Control board seems to work perfectly fine but if that’s what’s telling the auger to drop pellets maybe there’s an issue? Is there anything else that would play a roll in pellet feed rate? Sensors? Wiring ?

Has your auger motor ever been replaced? I replaced one (different stove maker) and it was advertised as direct replacement, but I had to adjust my settings to make the stove burn the same as it was before the motor change.

 

[Ssyko]

Any horizontal pipe in your exhaust?

 

[Tneal5648]

Has your auger motor ever been replaced? I replaced one (different stove maker) and it was advertised as direct replacement, but I had to adjust my settings to make the stove burn the same as it was before the motor change.

Yes- probably a long time ago. I recently bought the house and have been tinkering with getting to running right. That maybe a possible issue… I believe it’s solely a feed rate issue since it goes through 3x the pellets it’s supposed to on low.

 

[Tneal5648]

Any horizontal pipe in your exhaust?

Horizontal for like 10 inches then vertical up chimney

 

[Ssyko]

Give the horizontal a good cleaning thats where ash will settle. Can you time how long the auger runs ie 4 sec on 15 sec off?

 

[Rascus]

Yes- probably a long time ago. I recently bought the house and have been tinkering with getting to running right. That maybe a possible issue… I believe it’s solely a feed rate issue since it goes through 3x the pellets it’s supposed to on low.

If it isn't OEM: I am not sure if you can run the auger non-stop on your machine, but if it is possible, empty your hopper, run it and count RPM's to see if it matches what your manual tells you it should be running. If it is running too fast, it would definitely be pushing too many pellets and maybe worth getting an OEM motor.

If it is OEM, then it may not be the cause here.. Sorry I don't know the stove well enough to be much more help!!

 

[Tneal5648]

Give the horizontal a good cleaning thats where ash will settle. Can you time how long the auger runs ie 4 sec on 15 sec off?

So auger drops every 5 seconds.. not sure how to explain maybe it does a slight turn every 5 seconds or so does that make sense?

 

[Ssyko]

When it urns on, how long is it on? Then from the time it turns off how long is it off before it turns on again

 

[Tneal5648]

When it urns on, how long is it on? Then from the time it turns off how long is it off before it turns on again

every 5 seconds or so it turns wish I could attach a video will PM, there’s no cycles it’s just every 5 seconds on low it drops pellets if they are in the hopper.

 

[Ssyko]

If the stove is cycling every 5 seconds, you more than likely need to replace the control board.