Quadra Fire 1200 Troubleshooting: Won't Stop Feeding

[JohnWJ9]

(We jinxed ourselves: My wife just commented to me two days ago how nice it is that "Sparky" has been working so well this winter.)

Our Quadra Fire Classic Bay 1200 picked up a new talent this morning:

The startup procedure seems to work fine: pellets drop in, start heating the pot, pause to drop pellets in until a first starts. So far, so good.

Once there is sufficient fire, the feed resumes, but where the unit normally drops a bit and waits for things to equalize out, as of this morning the system continues to drop pellets at regular intervals, but never quit doing so. It doesn't run continually, but rather every 2-3 seconds it engages again and starts. It's as though there is another temperature sensor that isn't sensing a sufficient upper heat has been reached.

The unit does kick in the blower into the room, but the feeding continues, and eventually the pot filled up with pellets, the flames were engulfing the entire burn chamber, and feeding was still continuing.

I let everything cool, cleaned it out pretty good, restarted, watched, and I could see the above pattern and could see it was going to fill the pot again if I'd let it continue.

 

[DaleW]

(We jinxed ourselves: My wife just commented to me two days ago how nice it is that "Sparky" has been working so well this winter.)

Our Quadra Fire Classic Bay 1200 picked up a new talent this morning:

The startup procedure seems to work fine: pellets drop in, start heating the pot, pause to drop pellets in until a first starts. So far, so good.

Once there is sufficient fire, the feed resumes, but where the unit normally drops a bit and waits for things to equalize out, as of this morning the system continues to drop pellets at regular intervals, but never quit doing so. It doesn't run continually, but rather every 2-3 seconds it engages again and starts. It's as though there is another temperature sensor that isn't sensing a sufficient upper heat has been reached.

The unit does kick in the blower into the room, but the feeding continues, and eventually the pot filled up with pellets, the flames were engulfing the entire burn chamber, and feeding was still continuing.

I let everything cool, cleaned it out pretty good, restarted, watched, and I could see the above pattern and could see it was going to fill the pot again if I'd let it continue.

Having exactly the same issues have tried everything did you figure yours out?

 

[Ssyko]

Where is the feed damper set in the hopper? Have you changed pellet brands?

 

[DaleW]

Where is the feed damper set in the hopper? Have you changed pellet brands?

I've set the feed plate at the lowest and yes have tried different pellets ones that I know are burning well for someone else

 

[Ssyko]

How is the seal that goes around the ash pan and door? Have you changed the control box, there is a dial setting that has to be set for each stove.

 

[DaleW]

Replaced the seal on ash pan new control box next gasket on the burn pot new thermocouple new exhaust fan have cleaned the stove multiple times ever access I can find including the trap door location the exhaust fan access the chimney I'm at a loss it just seems to fill the burn pot overnight even on low setting

 

[Ssyko]

Have you looked in the little access hole right above the ash pan and ensured the burn pot dump linkage is connected and clean. Check for bottom slide plate is moving when pot dump handle is pulled out

 

[DaleW]

Ya I've cleaned all that as well

 

[Ssyko]

Ok when you changed you control box did you change the setting dial on the box before you installed. There is a dial in the side of the control box. It has 0 thru 7 numbers for settings for different stoves. Yours should be on one. Easy way to test this is to unplug your stove. When you plug it back in, a blue light will flash in control box once every 10 seconds for 60 seconds. If it blinks twice it is on setting two. This is a 10% increase in fuel. And I would adjust your flame per your manual. You have to do it on high setting. Tall lazy flames are due to either a full firepot, or dirty exhaust path. Let us know how it goes. And remember, you should never mess with the control box, or take it out or install it, without the stove being unpugged. You run the risk of shorting it out. Let us know how it goes.

 

[DaleW]

Thanks ya I checked that when I installed it it's set on 1 I am at a loss with this stove gotta see if someone is willing to travel to look at it I am assuming there is a block somewhere I'm just not sure where I have taken this thing out and blew it out with leaf blower as well checked the vacuum line I'm just lost now

 

[Ssyko]

You took the stove out and cleaned? Did you clean your stove exhaust pipes ?

 

[DaleW]

Ya I got a guy coming tomorrow to look at it

 

[Ssyko]

Ok let us know what happens, I’m truly curious 😜

 

[DaleW]

Will do thanks again

 

[DaleW]

Ok let us know what happens, I’m truly curious 😜

So just an update problem not fixed yet but it started with the exhaust fan I replaced I ordered the new one from Amazon was supposedly for this model but it had a lower rpm rating so was not creating the appropriate draft that was step one now I'm waiting to hear back from my techs they were going to talk to the company prior to commencing but they think the rocker switch is faulty and stuck on high feed rate but burning on low setting so is causing the over feed I'll update later once they decide if that's an appropriate direction to go in

 

[DaleW]

Well back here again lost even more than before the switch was changed it seems to help some but still massive flames even on low changed door gasket as a last hope it seems like I can't restrict the feed rate enough with the slide I still believe it's a air flow issue but lost spots to clean everytime I think I get it figured out it's a sad disappointment after a night of burning I ve even went with different brand again to see if that was the issue HELP if you can

 

[Ssyko]

Can you post pics of the stove pipe and routing? Are all the fingers in the card edge connector ( control box goes into it) clean and free movement?

 

[DaleW]

Yes the fingers are clean and clear I'll be pulling the housing for exhaust fan today and see if maybe I missed something from that end