Harman P38 Major Malfunction!!

[gfreek]

There is nothing there on my new board either..

 

[Cold in W.I.]

I have a feeling they meant the switch (flat) on the circuit board. I found that, so yes it's there technically. The instruction sheet shows a very small toggle switch which I have a feeling is for representation purposes only. I was looking for the toggle switch, my fault. I've checked, rechecked and double rechecked my wiring it's exactly as it should be. Perhaps I should start from scratch again with symptoms.

Original issue with old board:
Pot switch failed due to age (8) years old with continuous use shorted and smoked that portion of the board.
New Issues:
Replaced circuit board with upgraded board installed exactly as wiring diagram shows, checked and rechecked. Diagram was not specific to what color wire the new harness lead was to be connected to only the component. (I'm scared to switch for fear of shorting) Could that be problem??
When plugged in even if controls in off position it starts up and goes directly to test mode and remains! Room sensor probe checked out fine, ESP clean, all connections tight. I'm not electrically savvy, everything works! I can't see the ESP if that were the problem turning the machine on in the off position and going straight to test mode or would it?? Fans, auger, exhaust, working. No blinking lights (only when the wrong dip switch was set).

 

[gfreek]

Diagram was not specific to what color wire the new harness lead was to be connected to only the component. (I'm scared to switch for fear of shorting) Could that be problem??

Not sure what you mean. Are you talking about power lead cord connecting to brown and white wires in harness ??

 

[Cold in W.I.]

Not sure what you mean. Are you talking about power lead cord connecting to brown and white wires in harness ??

Example, wiring for distribution blower has green wire to grounding bar, white wire (Pin #4 white wire) & (Pin #9 blue wire) does it matter to which of the two remaining wires on the blower they go to?

 

[Lake Girl]

White should connect to white on the blower; blue to blue on the blower.

Edit: Same goes for the combustion blower (white to white; red to red), auger (white to white; black to black). Green (or green striped) is generally used for ground. Check your connections and let us know...

 

[gfreek]

My blower has white and black, wires, my guess is white to white and black to blue, in harness.. So all whites go white wires and the rest to whatever color...But don't think that that is your problem. something else is going on

 

[Lake Girl]

Working off the wiring diagram and photos of replacement parts to confirm colours... YMMV

 

[Cold in W.I.]

My blower has white and black, wires, my guess is white to white and black to blue, in harness.. So all whites go white wires and the rest to whatever color...But don't think that that is your problem. something else is going on

Agreed..

 

[Cold in W.I.]

White should connect to white on the blower; blue to blue on the blower.

Edit: Same goes for the combustion blower (white to white; red to red), auger (white to white; black to black). Green (or green striped) is generally used for ground. Check your connections and let us know...

Working off the wiring diagram and photos of replacement parts to confirm colours... YMMV

I've tried, the pictures are really useless. There blurry and extremely small. Packers are about to kick off so I'll start yet again in the morning.

 

[gfreek]

Ok, check back tomorrow. That it stays in test mode even in off position is not correct, as you already know.. what happens if you unplug ESP ? I'm thinking defective board possible...??

 

[Cold in W.I.]

Ok, check back tomorrow. That it stays in test mode even in off position is not correct, as you already know.. what happens if you unplug ESP ? I'm thinking defective board possible...??

Can I run the stove without the ESP to see what happens???

 

[Cold in W.I.]

My blower has white and black, wires, my guess is white to white and black to blue, in harness.. So all whites go white wires and the rest to whatever color...But don't think that that is your problem. something else is going on

I checked my wiring yet again (I've become one with the wiring at this point). I'm trying to look at this logically and if the wiring is done correctly which I've verified 5 times with the instructions as well as your advice than I agree something else is at play. There is no reason the unit should be starting when plugged in and being in a state of perpetual low feed and test mode! I'm now starting to believe it's the board.. When I purchased the board it stated NO RETURNS, Mountain View Hearth have been great thus far, I can't believe that there's no recourse for me. At $329.00 that's a big chunk out of my wallet.

 

[gfreek]

I'd call them again and see what they can do for you. The power connects to brown and white wires next to each other. i just checked that you can't install the white plug backwards. Other than that...

 

[Cold in W.I.]

I'd call them again and see what they can do for you. The power connects to brown and white wires next to each other. i just checked that you can't install the white plug backwards. Other than that...

Agreed, as frustration settles in. I'll contact Mountain View Hearth on Monday and see what they say. I'm hoping they'll take it back and at least test it, that alone would save me some money instead of having a tech from Earth Sense come out and confirm what we think. Everything else is working as it should, nice clean fire plenty of air being supplied, exhaust working, pressure switch works as it should because when I open hopper it shuts the feed down etc. Figures it's -3 with a windchill of -25, the basset hound is none to happy, she has her ramp and chair parked next to the stove. The wife is squawking but that is normal.

 

[gfreek]

Know you didn't get from there,(EarthSense) but wonder if you took the board in, they could test it, if they are close enough..If you don't get the answer you want from MountainView

 

[Cold in W.I.]

I'm an hour and a half from Dale, they do have a show room in Manitowoc where I purchased it however no service department. Just sent them a email. I think we've exhausted all other possible causes, if Mountain View Hearth won't or can't help me I would think they could supply me with their supplier info and I'll send it to them. This is my first ever issue with electronics I have no idea how they will respond.

 

[gfreek]

Hey good luck. Let us know how things work out..

 

[Cold in W.I.]

Hey good luck. Let us know how things work out..

I will keep you posted.

 

[Cold in W.I.]

Update: Earth Sense has agreed to check my CB. They are most pleasant to deal with and are close by relatively speaking. I'm convinced it's the board that is defective. Once I get confirmation of this I'll inform Mountain View Hearth. Mountain View has a 30 day warranty on defects which I hope they will honor. I'm hoping they will simply exchange it for another.

 

[gfreek]

Good. Thanks for the update..Earth Sense is where I got my updated P38 board from..I had questions about it and they were the only ones that answered my emails..

 

[Cold in W.I.]

Good. Thanks for the update..Earth Sense is where I got my updated P38 board from..I had questions about it and they were the only ones that answered my emails..

I'm hoping they confirm what I think, MVH emailed me back and there lead tech thinks my ESP may be bad, I don't agree. How could that have any bearing on the power supply when plugged in.

 

[Lake Girl]

Could very well be the ESP as they also fail. Ever change it out? Test it? https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/harman-deep-technical-dive.152238/#post-2043078

Keep us posted on findings...

 

[gfreek]

I'm hoping they confirm what I think, MVH emailed me back and there lead tech thinks my ESP may be bad, I don't agree. How could that have any bearing on the power supply when plugged in.

Wondering how a bad ESP affects the board when it's in the OFF position and it stays in test mode.. Maybe we'll learn something.. Is the board out? I'd unplug the ESP from the board and try it. Can't hurt the board.

 

[Freedmeister]

Just an important note when dealing with the control boards: Disconnect power cord before switching the DIP switches to make sure you don't cook the processor on the board.

 

[MCPO]

Maybe MCPO or gfreek will return and be able to tell you if theirs has a switch there. I looked on a couple of parts sites, and the pictures on them seem to indicate there is nothing there. However, most of the pictures are too small and/or focused on other areas, so I can't see for sure. That being said, I would think/hope that the tech would know what should be there.

The board pictured looks nothing like the one on my 2004 P-38.