Ravelli RV100[c] Owner's Thread - Tips & Knowledge

[jerrieric]

Rv100c temp matches exactly with other thermometer next to the sensor. I extended the sensor to where we sit in the room using 18/2 thermostat wire from Lowe's, 10.50 for 50 foot roll. Finally is accurate now.

 

[PelletPractitioner]

I have successfully adjusted my pellet consumption by going into the dealer menu and changing the feed rate for each power setting. I have the 1/5 power setting set to 1.0 or 1.1, down from 1.3, about a 20% savings. In reality I'm not sure if I save that much. The flame is obviously lower, too. But seems to help on modulation mode. Over night when it modulates I seem to burn 20% of a hopper over 7 or 8 hours. Of course the heat output reflects that... the efficiency is terrible on low modes. Efficiency (heat output per pound of pellets) seems to peak around power setting 3-4. Still, that's good enough for over night just to keep the house from cooling down too much.

 

[jerrieric]

Just an update. After reprogramming my RV 100c with the information I got from Ravelli it always seemed to be really too warm even on its lowest setting so I just turned the %pellet Ratio back to its lowest setting and it's been running for several days, and it seems to be perfect now.

 

[PelletPractitioner]

@jerrieric I just experienced the same problem. Even when it was modulating it felt like it was on 3 judging by flame size and heat output. Restarting didn't seem to fix it long-term. I turned the %pellet ratio down a bit and noticed a big difference. I can't imagine that's only a 3% reduction in pellet feed. I wonder if it reset some faulty internal setting when I adjusted the feed rate, or internally it adjusts more than 3% that shows in the display.

 

[rich2500]

Same thing with my Francesca here are the settings I used.

 

[SubHearth]

RDS System

Your Dealer has no clue as to the "Self Control System". This is called the "RDS System", and it has noting to do with the thermostat swing or responsivness.

The Ecoteck/Ravelli "RDS" stove models use a mass air-flow sensor in the intake air path, used to regulate the combustion fan speed to achieve a constant amount of combustion air, automatically compensating for the restriction of the particular flue pipe configuration installed with each stove, and the normal increase of combustion air restriction that occurs as the burn-pot holes and the exhaust passages get restricted as the stove is used, between cleanings. This type of system does help maintain a more consistent air-fuel ratio (compared to a stove which does not have a mass-airflow sensor), and can issue an alert when the stove needs cleaning, based on the actual restriction (from soot/ash) of the combustion air path.

The RDS must be set-up, or calibrated, one-time, when the stove is first installed, so the system can compensate for the actual draft (or restriction) of the particular flue pipe that was installed with the stove. Not all dealers know how to do this. How the RDS system works and how to do the initial set-up are described in the RDS Technical Manual.

The RDS initial setting instructions are on the third page "8-New stove testing system"
Make sure you have a clean stove before you do this, including a clean-out of the internal stove exhaust passages and the entire flue pipe. If it is not 100% clean of any ash, the RDS set-up won't be correct. That is why it should be done with the first bag of pellets you burn.

Hello Pelleting !
I just got an RV 100 Classic.
Do you have the documentation on how to calibrate the RDS?
Can the owner do it or does it require a dealer?

Thank you,
SubHearth

 

[Pelleting In NJ]

I believe it can be done yourself. Read both of the attached Tech Manuals. With some study of these manuals, and interpretation of the so-so translation from Italian to English, you should be able to do it. See page 3 and 4 of the "Rev0" manual, and page 14 of the "Rev2" manual.

I have never done this, I am only providing this info based on my own reading of the manuals.
Basically, when the stove is in the RDS SetUp mode, wait for the stove to stabilize in each phase ("Awaiting Flame", "Flame" and "Work"), and then in each phase you can manually adjust the combustion blower speed/RPM ("smoke extractor") until you have a good flame (lazy flame is too little airflow, blowtorch flame with pellets ejected from pot is too much airflow). After 2 minutes after your last manual adjustment, then the stove will "lockout" further manual airflow adjustments, and then the RDS system memorizes the airflow (from the airflow meter) and the combustion blower RPM, as the baseline calibration for that phase. I believe the stove then continues on to the next phase, allowing you to manually adjust the airflow again, for that phase.

Also, search on Youtube, there are some videos on how to do it....unfortunatly the audio is in Italian, but you can see what they are doing.

 

[jerrieric]

Damn rv100c tiles are difficult to remove and put back in. After 4 years I finally broke one. Has anyone tried lubricating the tracks?

 

[TheDarkSide]

Damn rv100c tiles are difficult to remove and put back in. After 4 years I finally broke one. Has anyone tried lubricating the tracks?

I just got my RV100 installed this week and I'm dreading taking out the panels the first time. I know from earlier posts on this thread they suggested bending out the outer rails slightly to make it easier.

So far so good with my stove. Replaced a 15 year old St. Croix Prescott. I like that everything you need to do is accessible from the side, especially since mine sites in a corner.

 

[Monica in France]

I've just been investigating the "pellet feed / exhaust revs " adjustment parameter.
In my very early Ecotech ( = pre Ravelli) documentation no units are given for these parameters , just -5 to +5 , but later documents give the impression that they are a percentage change.
In my very early firmware this is certainly not true.
I was puzzling why the exhaust fan revs displayed on the 'status menu' was not the same as the factory parameter.
On investigation I discovered that an adjustment parameter was specified.
"+5 " gave an increase of about 18 % .
Setting the factory parameter to the displayed figure and setting the adjustment to zero , the displayed figure was the same as the factory setting.

 

[MikeInNewHampshire]

Blower Speed - The fan blowing over the heat exchanger to move hot air into the room.

This setting is locked behind the service settings menu and requires a password to access.

The initial settings, even on "silent" mode, and even on "Power 1" were loud to me. I could endure them for periods of time, but not continuous noise as the fireplace is modulating on low when the temperature is met. The model in the dealer show room DEFINITELY had the fan speed turned down, as it was much more quiet. The dealer was also advertising "whisper quiet" in their commercials. As configured, it was definitely NOT "whisper quiet."

The fan that blows over the heat exchanger can be adjusted in small increments independently for each power level. I tried lowering the value to v60 from v85, and it got pretty quiet. Of course the air movement decreased, too. I was worried this could increase heat build-up so I called the tech at the dealer. He assured me lowering the fan speed will not damage the stove. Each power level has a minimum lower limit, so I can't lower it to the point of damaging the stove. Lowering the fan will reduce air movement, obviously, and increase the temperature and radiant heat coming from the cast iron top

Any idea on how to access that to change the setting, I can see it but I cannot change the value.

My blower motor starts as soon as the stove is turned on and only runs on high.
I fear it may need a control board.
This stove is new to me, as it came with the house I bought

 

[lsuriani]

Looking for a little help. Does anyone know how to lower the blower speed? It is so loud even on power one. Looking for the passcode so I can make the adjustment. Thanks!

 

[lsuriani]

Any idea on how to access that to change the setting, I can see it but I cannot change the value.

My blower motor starts as soon as the stove is turned on and only runs on high.
I fear it may need a control board.
This stove is new to me, as it came with the house I bought

Also very curious about this. Did you get anywhere with it? Seems so loud! And it was definitely not that loud in the showroom.

 

[Pelleting In NJ]

Any idea on how to access that to change the setting, I can see it but I cannot change the value.

My blower motor starts as soon as the stove is turned on and only runs on high.
I fear it may need a control board.
This stove is new to me, as it came with the house I bought

Sounds like the triac on the control board is shorted, causing the room blower to always run at full speed. Let me know if you want me to repair your control board.