Problem with Glow Boy, Acutron II

[2matter]

Hi, I just joined the forum to get help from this knowledgeable community . I have a Glow Boy HGB3 Pellet stove I have had for about 5 or 6 years and it just shut down today, I restarted it and it ignites and feeds, but there are no feed or fan led's lit, it just seems to be at a set feed and fan. The ignitor light is on and the auger light comes on as the auger cycles. It will continue like that for a while and eventually shut itself off but leaves a little burning pellets. Then if I push the off button it will cycle down the rest of the way and shut off.
I have a surge protector on it, I have unplugged it and no change. I tried cycling through the 3 modes by holding down the off button and it will cycle but no change. When I do that, I set it to manual mode as I don't have a thermostat.
I am guessing it needs a new control board and the replacement for the Acutron 2 is the Acutron 4, but at $400 I am not crazy about just guessing. Hopefully you can help and thanks in advance!

 

[Don2222]

Hello
The first thing to do is check all the safety switches that stop power for a safety shutdown .
Check the vacuum switch , the high limit snap disc and the low limit snap disc.
The high limit and vacuum switches can be bypassed one at a time by disconnecting the wires and connecting them together. Be careful not to let them touch the metal body of the stove so they do not short out.
I am not sure what the Accutron II will do if there is a bad safety switch it could be similar to the Accutron IV
This is the Accutron IV safety switch error, see pics and video below. Click on this link below.

Thread 'Pelpro Accutron IV heat level light blinks red when starting but then goes out and stove quits!'

Jan 17, 2025

Hello
Has anyone seen this issue?
Pelpro Accutron IV heat level light blinks red when starting but then goes out and stove shuts off!
This error happened with a new control panel set in manual mode. That is heat level lights 1 & 4 blinking together when checking the mode of operation.
It seems like the panel is working properly but unfortunately it does not have well defined errors after it quits like many other brand stoves. On other stoves the heat level blinks with the error. Example if the 2 light blinks that is a vacuum error.
Here is a good video of setting the panel to manual mode...

• Don2222
• Replies: 0
• Forum: The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves

• 

 

[2matter]

Thanks for the reply, I tried bypassing low limit, high limit, fan limit and vacuum switch and no change. I tried resetting the mode one more time, also no change. The only time the feed rate or fan speed lights come on is during the setup mode when I set it with #1 and #4 lights blinking. Even when I do that, after pushing the start light to finish setting the mode, none of those lights flash or come on like it shows in the video. Before all this began, when I started the unit the feed and fan lights would be on at their perspective settings, even during the startup cycle. Now it just seems to run through the startup cycle with no lights other than igniter and periodic auger, runs and then goes out. It sure acts like I would think it would if the fire didn't catch due to a faulty switch, but the lack of any lights being on or any error lights is puzzling.
One thing I found is the low limit/proof of fire switch is non functioning. It is a Selco SES L120 switch and is an N/C switch, but it is open all the time. Again, I bypassed it and no change whatsoever. I also accessed the back of the control panel and gave it a visual looking for any signs of damage and checked the connector, again no change.

 

[Ssyko]

make sure the stove pipe and combustion blower is CLEAN. All the holes in the grate/burn pot.. have you checked motors and igniter is functioning? Test with a test cord/lamp cord extension to ea and plug in. This is main power so dont cross the leads😝

 

[Don2222]

Hello
The Selco SES-L120 is a Normally Open thermo Disc switch on Pelpro Pellet stoves. That is why I did not say to bypass that one with a jumper wire. That switch closes and completes the circuit when the stove warms up. The way to test is on the bench with a BBQ lighter on the side that goes into the stove and a continuity or VOM tester. After the switch is heated up it will close and test 0 ohms.
Here is a wire diagram of your stove.
It does seem that the control panel is bad.
Also you must have a good surge protector on your stove. I only recommend Tripp-Lite brand because they work. Here is the one.

https://www.zoro.com/tripp-lite-plug-adapter-surge-2-outlets-5-15r-5-15p-0-ft-black-ultrablok/i/G2358133/

 

[2matter]

Thanks, I looked up the specs on the switch at Selco and was under the impression that the SES-L120 is normally closed and the SES-F120 is normally open? Maybe I read something wrong there. I jumped it and tried unplugging it and no change either way.
Anyway, does anyone have an answer to my diagnosis of needing a new control board?

 

[2matter]

OK, thanks for the help, looks like it's time to suck it up and buy a control board. Any suggestions as a good place to buy?

 

[2matter]

OK, my new controller is on the way from East Coast Hearth (thanks again for the help), I guess I will put a thermostat on it now since I don't need the transformer kit with the new controller. Is any thermostat ok? I was just thinking an inexpensive digital or maybe a round Honeywell, what should I look for?

 

[Ssyko]

check the paper that comes with your new board for requirements, i use a cheap manual t-stat

 

[2matter]

OK, thanks!

 

[2matter]

Got my new control board today, looks like we are up and running again and thanks to all who replied.

Instructions had no info about thermostat though, so I am guessing any simple 2 wire thermostat would work? I am thinking a cheap digital unless there is a reason not to go that route.

 

[Ssyko]

Go back to your owners manual, it is in there

 

[2matter]

No, my original control board required the transformer for the thermostat so they just listed a thermostat kit to purchase that included the transformer.

 

[2matter]

I should add, I guessing any MILLIVOLT thermostat...

 

[Ssyko]

Your new board is the accutron IV? It can use any millivolt thermostat

 

[2matter]

One interesting thing about my new Acutron IV, If you unplug it, it defaults back to how I received it. When I first installed it, it was in thermostat mode and highest feed rate. I set it up to manual and had set the feed rate to low, but after I had unplugged it doing some cleaning, when plugged back in it was back in thermostat mode and feed rate was again on the highest setting. My old Acutron II would always be exactly how it was before it was unplugged.
Not a big deal, just seemed odd to me.

 

[Ssyko]

As long as power is applied the IC chip maintains its memory/settings. As soon as power is removed it reverts back to its original programming. Same way a PC motherboard bios works, only the motherboard has a 3.3v battery to maintain personal settings. 😎

 

[2matter]

I understand that it apparently loses it's ram when unplugged, I just found it odd that my old outdated board did not.

 

[Ssyko]

Gotta love progress 🤪🤪