Winslow PS40 Wont ignite (yes i have read) :)

[Ubaisore]

Hi there

I have gotten a lot of good advice reading here, but have come up with an issue i cant solve.

I have a Winslow Country pellet stove PS40. I have worked well since I bought used 3 years ago. This is is my 4th season buring. This year, it decided not to ignite. I hopped on and found out that since I could manually light and it would run fine, and since i didnt show any codes on the control panel lights, that it was going to be the ignitor.

So i buy a new ingnitor and install this morning (after a good cleaning). Try to fire it up and nothing. So I am hoping there may be another testing prcedure (i have a FLuke meter and am somewhat profeicient with elec testing).

I also felt the igniter tube, burn pot, etc after the failed start up. It was not hot at all.

I appreciate any tips you can give as I really miss the start up with the push of a button!

 

[heat seeker]

See if voltage is getting to the igniter. If not, the old igniter may have taken out a fuse on the control board.

 

[Ubaisore]

See if voltage is getting to the igniter. If not, the old igniter may have taken out a fuse on the control board.

Do you know what voltage they should be getting? (or are you ruling out a fuse?) I am going to check that now BTW...thank you!

 

[heat seeker]

AFAIK, all ignitors get 120 VAC. You could also do a continuity check on the new ignitor: new doesn't always = good. Assuming the ignitor is good, and you get no voltage to it on startup, first suspects are the connections, wiring, and fuse. Sometimes when ignitors quit, they take a fuse with them.

Knowing how to use a meter is a big plus! I'd feel naked without mine, have one in every toolbox and then some. I've been accumulating them for years.

ETA: you mention cleaning…look for any wires you may have pinched; measure resistance to ground from the ignitor wires. Wouldn't be the first ignitors wires that got pinched!

 

[Ubaisore]

AFAIK, all ignitors get 120 VAC. You could also do a continuity check on the new ignitor: new doesn't always = good. Assuming the ignitor is good, and you get no voltage to it on startup, first suspects are the connections, wiring, and fuse. Sometimes when ignitors quit, they take a fuse with them.

Knowing how to use a meter is a big plus! I'd feel naked without mine, have one in every toolbox and then some. I've been accumulating them for years.

ETA: you mention cleaning…look for any wires you may have pinched; measure resistance to ground from the ignitor wires. Wouldn't be the first ignitors wires that got pinched!

Boy do I feel like an idiot. The fuse holder is in the control box and you can open it and see about a third of the fuse. I did that before buying the giniter and the end looked ok. So i decided to take it apart and, lo and behold, the fuse burnt on the other end and looked ok in the short area i could see. I am off to find a 6A fuse as all my automotive ones are too large amp ratings.

Thank you for the kick in the butt to not "half a**" the initial steps.

And do you happen to know where i can buy the actual "knob" for the fan control....ours fell off and my fingers are getting tired oll

 

[heat seeker]

Glad you found the bad fuse, let's hope its blowing was a fluke, or just due to the old ignitor.
Try here for a knob:

(broken link removed to http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032274&sr=1&origkw=knobs)

Just for giggles, how about measuring the resistance of the old ignitor, especially to the case. It would be interesting to see if it's open, or shorted to the case.