how do I get my st. croix scf-50 running optimally

[MilkandPie4u]

Two small holes:

I would cover the two small holes, if your wife spills pellets when filling the hopper the pellets will enter the stove through these two holes.


Not enough heat when burning pellets:

I have a SCF-50 not a Revolution stove.




Here is the control board:


Remove the 4 screws and carefully remove the control :


IF YOU ARE using PELLETS then make sure the jumper is set like this:

Changing this setting increases the feed rate for pellet fuel!

Vince

 

[MilkandPie4u]

Here's my stove on heat setting 5:

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[DexterDay]

Here's my stove on heat setting 5:

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Man thats a good looking flame

 

[DexterDay]

Make sure you UNPLUG the stove before removing the board......

Unless you wanna fry it.

 

[cgokey]

I will try this... My manual doesn't have these details, but I found another manual online that does mention this.
Just curious are you also using an outside air source or does it get the air only from your basement?

Chris

Two small holes:

I would cover the two small holes, if your wife spills pellets when filling the hopper the pellets will enter the stove through these two holes.


Not enough heat when burning pellets:

I have a SCF-50 not a Revolution stove.
View attachment 91095



Here is the control board:
View attachment 91096

Remove the 4 screws and carefully remove the control :
View attachment 91097

IF YOU ARE using PELLETS then make sure the jumper is set like this:
View attachment 91098
Changing this setting increases the feed rate for pellet fuel!

Vince

 

[cgokey]

Really appreciate all the responses so far... I've just changed the jumper setting on the main board to be set to wood pellets only, so I will the difference in that setting soon... Fire is lit and trying it now... Unfortunatelly I have to go soon, so won't be back until late tonight (in Mass). Just a question to leave someone who owns this stove, I can't find the
fan limit control... It says it is centered below the 10" plenum opening, is there a easy way to access this? I did run a digital infrared thermometer on that point and it was reading close to 200 degrees, which sounds about right given that is factory settings. I've done some testing on my floor registers with this digital thermometer, so I'll report on that later... If I can narrow down the fire itself is optimum and putting out the right kind of heat, fan working properly, etc. Then what probably is left is duct work and I may have some issues there with either pressure (need to block off some areas, kind of zonal), further insulation, and/or blower CFMs not sufficient for getting across the house.

Chris

What temp is your On/Off at? There should be something that looks similar to this on the side of the furnace (small panel may cover it). Mine has a black cover that goes over it, so you cant see it and also so little fingers (kids) cant mess with it
View attachment 90994 View attachment 90995

 

[hossthehermit]

In your revolution, when you take the front cover off, is the plenum opening slightly behind the vents where all the air blows out? How sealed is your front cover when you put the front cover on.

I would think the piping coming down into the stove would completely cover the vents where the air shoots out, that is not the case, looks like it just fills the cavity that the front cover is used to enclose, it does blow up, but not quiet as directed as I would expect.

Chris

Yeah, the opening is slightly behind where the air blows out of the heat exchange tubes.
The front cover fits snug, but you can feel air blowing around it a bit. Can't be too tight, you need to take it off to get at the pot.
The adjustment for the fan control setting is under the cover for the fan control, that shiny box in the upper right corner where you can switch the fan from manual to automatic. That cover just pops off, on mine anyway.

 

[MilkandPie4u]

Fan limit control... It says it is centered below the 10" plenum opening, is there a easy way to access this?:









Here's my settings, Note the low limit!


Here is the probe for the limit control:

 

[cgokey]

Little bit of analysis of where I'm at with trying to bring this house up in temp...

The modifications by changing the jumper setting to Wood Pellets made a significant difference in terms of the burn. It looks a like better on heat level #5, even on #1, the flame looks stronger and full of life...

So, I think my next step is finish insulating the duct work and blocking off rooms not necessary. I'm looking for suggestions.

1) I think we made a mistake in installing the piping going from the plenum opening to the bottom of the main trunk that feeds all the hot air. The place where it feeds in at the main trunk is almost underneath a pipe that goes straight up stairs. I've heard that might be an issue as the airflow will take the path of least resistance and move up that pipe rather than across the main trunk. Should I move it? Also, Is there a way to feed that into the main trunk in such a way the air can be more directed across the main trunk, like some kind of 45 degree angle?

2) Right now I've got 14 registers which I know is a lot and I can certainly close some of them. Right now there are manual dampers in each offshoot. I can see how these dampers work since one is very close to one of the first floor rooms without much of a run... they are definitely not seal proof and lot of air can make there way around, they almost look like flaps or something... Is there something out there that I can do that will "really" close of the pipes that offshoot from the trunk and a little more sealed?

Here are the readings from the first floor in terms of heat in the registers it is putting out (based on a digital infrared thermometer), from closest to the stove to furthest.

1 2 3
4 5 6

Furnace is right below #1.
1-Spare Bedroom (two registers) - 60 degrees, 106 degrees (and good airflow)
2-Bathroom - 129 degrees (really good airflow)
3-Laundry/Kitchen (to registers) - 105 degrees , 101 degrees
4-Living Room (two registers) - 60 degrees, 91 degrees
5-Hallway - 86 degrees
6-Dining room - 83 degrees

Main trunk is insulated in 1,2,4,5

Second floor

1 2 3
4 5

Furnace is right below 1

1 - Bedroom 84 degrees (not much airflow though)
2 - bathroom - 105 degrees (not much airflow though)
3 - bedroom - 87 degrees (not much airflow though)

4 - Bedroom - 101 degrees (very good airflow, this is the register that is just above the plenum opening, see point 2 above).

5 - bedroom - 95 degrees (not much airflow though)


Main trunk is insulated for 1,2,4

Kinda long story why two registers are 60 degrees but is has to do with the backdraft damper installed in front of those registers, so no heat goes there... Thats kinda a mistake and wasn't sure if I should fix or not since I already probably have too many registers. Oops...

Also, essentially the only rooms that have decent airflow coming out of the registers is spare bedroom, downstairs bathroom, bedroom #4. Other that that, some of these rooms are getting hotter heat but not much airflow where you can really feel it.

Suggestion from here would be very much welcome. I'd love to see a lot of hot air piping into these rooms if possible.

Chris

Two small holes:

I would cover the two small holes, if your wife spills pellets when filling the hopper the pellets will enter the stove through these two holes.


Not enough heat when burning pellets:

I have a SCF-50 not a Revolution stove.
View attachment 91095



Here is the control board:
View attachment 91096

Remove the 4 screws and carefully remove the control :
View attachment 91097

IF YOU ARE using PELLETS then make sure the jumper is set like this:
View attachment 91098
Changing this setting increases the feed rate for pellet fuel!

Vince

 

[MilkandPie4u]

Chris, I am glad you got it finally makin heat!

I would consider the return air paths also when adjusting your vents.

Return air is important to exchange.

I know it takes a good 8-10 hours with the pellet furance to stabilize my house after being away for a few days. I usually just turn the fan on an let it run when burning on high.