No power to Quadrafire Trekker after changing thermostat and board

[Helpandconversation]

I inherited a Quadrafire Trekker with a Bluetooth Thermostat and the unit worked ok for 9 months. Got Error Message 3 and found out the control board was bad. Bought the $499 new board/wired thermostat package and installed it. Pellet stove worked great. I got greedy and saw someone that had installing a Nest Thermostat with (low voltage door bell transformer). I installed it yesterday and it worked fine for a day, then it disconnected from the wifi. This morning it worked after I bypassed the app and wifi (since it wouldn't connect) controlled it normally and left for work and it was turned off. When I got home today the unit is dead. And I mean dead. The blower won't come on when I connect it. No lights. I checked the outlet and what I believe is snap #3... things seem fine but I have no power. I'm so done with this, I just replace the igniter and now the board and thermostat..... I'm afraid I burned another board. Please help. Also I'm so new at this and when I google items I find a lot of items and images of other units but not on the trekker. Thanks Sue

 

[johneh]

Welcome to the Forum
Is there power at the outlet?
Did the 5 amp fuse blow?
Did you reset snap dsic # 3?

 

[Helpandconversation]

Hi there,
Thank you so much. Yes power in the outlet. My stove doesn't seem to have a 5 amp fuse except for on the control board and that one isn't blown. I have seen some others have them in the back but mine doesn't to my knowledge. Did push and reset the snap disk #3 (only one I can push), not sure if it is the right one. It seems and have always seemed a little loose, it kind of stays out. Feels the same as it did before, not sure if it should have more resistance. I have attached a photo of it and a photo of what my Trekker look like. No lights on control board and the blower doesn't start when I plug it in. The third and fourth image I found online, under Trekker Pellet stove parts, and is called a

Replacement QuadraFire and Heatilator 250F High Limit Switch W/Manual Reset, Snap Disc #3.​

I just ordered a replacement for my stove.

 

[Helpandconversation]

So I just went to my local Pellet Stove store and they had a #3 snap disk. I replaced it and nothing..... Maybe it is the control board?

 

[Ssyko]

Unplug the stove. Unhook the thermostat you have attached. See if it powers up

 

[Helpandconversation]

Hi there, I just tried it without the thermostat and with the Quadrafire thermostat. Nothing..... no light no blower. Should I bench test or use a multimeter to test the blower next. I don't have the tools at home so I may try tomorrow, next might be a board. I talked to the people that sold me the kit and of course like I guessed, they won't replace a board.

 

[Ssyko]

Unfortunately it does sound like something was shorted on the board, Quadra fire uses boards designed and made by Pantrol and they use a fuse on the 3 speed boards. I dont know if they use them on the trekker boards. Most control boards are sold (tested and known good) and you buy them with no returns. I would forego the nest thermostat and just use the quads. If 24 volts went in the board through the tstat terminals it would feed 24v to a 5v-7v side of the board and cause damage.

 

[Helpandconversation]

I think you are completely right that it got shortened. And if I was smart enough.... I would have read the comments under the youtube video of the guy that did this with a quadrafire.... another guy tried and blew his board.

 

[Ssyko]

You tube seams to be the gold standard now 🤣🤣🤣. I just don't trust YT. If its about stoves this is “the gold”

 

[tortuga]

Hi there,
Thank you so much. Yes power in the outlet. My stove doesn't seem to have a 5 amp fuse except for on the control board and that one isn't blown.

How did you verify the fuse is not blown? With a continuity tester or multi meter? Just asking because I have seen many fuses appear fine that are in fact blown.
Also how did you wire the Nest thermostat? How did you connect the 24V ?

 

[tortuga]

To control a Pellet stove with a Nest or other 24V thermostat you should hire a electrician whom is familiar with low voltage controls. My approach is to abstract the Pellet stove control wiring from the Nest thermostat system via a relay, so the two are systems are isolated. I typically mount a 24V control transformer, a fuse, a Ice cube relay, and a terminal strip in a enclosure (see attached diagram), then run a 18/3 thermostat from the enclosure to the smart thermostat, and a 18/2 to the Pellet stove.

 

[Ssyko]

well after 40 seconds I found a major discrepancy in this board. I tested most components and they are fine ( as per a multimeter). the major fault is in the programmed IC chip that controls the operation of the entire board, it has seen some high voltage and popped its top along with 2 pins 34,35.

 

[tortuga]

well after 40 seconds I found a major discrepancy in this board. I tested most components and they are fine ( as per a multimeter). the major fault is in the programmed IC chip that controls the operation of the entire board, it has seen some high voltage and popped its top along with 2 pins 34,35.

Wow looks like your equipped to repair the board for the OP!

 

[Helpandconversation]

Thank you everyone for helping me with this. Ssyko was so kind to take a look at it and unfortunately I need to get a new board. Here I was so proud to fix my stove, just be stupid and look at youtube and break it..... . I will stick with the regular thermostat and heat my house with electricity until I get home.

The fuse I looked at was on the board in a "black box" and it looked fine. I have no electric knowledge I'm just trying to learn more about my stove and trouble shoot one day at a time. I don't have the quadrfire fuse that other pellet stoves have, just one on the board.

Again thank you so much for helping me confirm that I need a new board and my guess was correct.

 

[Ssyko]

The fuse was good 👍. Stick around you’ll be a pro with all the knowledge around here!