Max Setting on a Coal-Trol

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Wed. Feb. 18, 2009 7:05 pm

My stove was running fine up to about a week ago.Had 1 and half inchs of ash at end of grate.I had my min set at 6 and max set at 42.One morning I went to check it and it was pushing hot coal off the grates.Since then been going down with max setting to 32 and still pushing hot coal off.Don't know what to do.Anybody have any ideas? Hyfire 2 both burners being used.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Wed. Feb. 18, 2009 8:57 pm

Something doesn't sound correct. Check you FEED RATE on the setup and see what it is at, if at 99%, something is not correct if your room temp and setpoint are the same or close.

Make sure you set points are not a lot higher then your Room Temp by much. Make sure you didn't accidentially set something wrong in the Setup Menu.

I have mine at Min 8 and max 46 and it doesn't push hot coals off.

If not, Call Paul or Neil at Coaltrol. Maybe you have to reset it or something, but I would ask them first.

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Thu. Feb. 19, 2009 6:38 am

Just checked it this morning max set 33 feed was at 55 stove temp 410 degrees with 1 1/2 inch of ash.The room temp and setpoint are the same.The temp outside is 32 this morning.I guess I will have to wait till the feed rate goes up and check it then.IF I can't figure it out I will call them at Control.Thanks for the help

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Thu. Feb. 19, 2009 7:32 am

That sounds better. Maybe your Room Setpoint was much higher then the actual temp and it was just trying to catch up. It will max out to try and stabilize and then probably overshoot.

Keep an eye on it, but sounds like it has settled back down. It wont hurt anything pushing hot coals off, just wasting fuel and running really hot!!

I have had mine running full bore 99% Feed rate and almost pushing hot coals off (1/2" of ash) for almost 2 days straight when it was really cold!!

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Thu. Feb. 19, 2009 8:42 pm

Something still does not seam right.

Setpoint 68
Room Temp 67
Max 33
Feed 99
Stove Temp 400
Still hot coal comeing off grate.How much lower can I go with the max setting? I will call Control Tomorrow.I am very confused

Matthaus · Post by **Matthaus** » Thu. Feb. 19, 2009 9:15 pm

Hasn't been that cold lately, something has to be wrong. What has changed since normal operation, coal, set point, outside temp, anything?

For max feed a stove temp of 400*F is pretty low, are you running one or both burners? If so did that change maybe?

Just don't give up, you will find it, and definitely talk with the folks at Automation Correct, they are very helpful.

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 4:31 am

Still not burning right this morning.Stove at 500 degrees feed 99 max 33 setpoint 68 room temp 65.I did get 2 1/2 ton of coal Saturday but I was having this problem before that.Both burrners are running.I just lowered the max to 30 and I will check It around noon time but I will call the guys at Control.I just don't understand it was running perfect and now this.It seems that what ever I change the max to it does not change and I am not getting the heat out of the stove.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 7:18 am

Sounds like you are not getting the heat upstairs, if you are running at 500 degrees, the stove is performing very well. It sounds like you are not satisfying the thermostat, if you pushing hot coals off the then, the stove can't go any higher.

Where are you measuring the temp?

How are you pushing the hot air upstairs? Maybe too much blower or not enough. Do you have a pic of your setup? Heat jacket to your existing furnance? Which blowers are you using? etc

Make sure you didn't accidentally change a setting in the setup menu, like TRIBURNER or Igninitor in the "ON" or "YES" position. You may have to go thru the menu and check your settings.

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 10:03 am

I have the hot air jacket over the stove like your ducked into the cold air return and useing the blower from that system.It was working fine when we had the cold weather in the single digets.I had the setpoint at 70 and the room temp was 70.That's what really puzzles me.How can it go from running perfect to running the way it is now.I mounted the new thermostat right above the old thermostate and they are both reading the same.I will check the tri burnner position when I get home.I do have pictures I will try to get them posted I don't know how to do that. thaks for your help

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 11:23 am

Did you remove the stock blowers from the stove (if installed)?

If it was working correctly, something changed in the system, maybe some ash build up on the Baro or pipe? Have you checked the draft with a draft gauge? Maybe some fines are stuck under the burn grate causing drag and the system can't catch up fast enough?

Seems odd that you are pushing hot coals off and you keep decreasing your max? I think Mine is at 46 or 48 and running right at max without pushing hot coals...?

Matthaus · Post by **Matthaus** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 12:13 pm

So let's review:
Nothing was changed yet you have burning coals falling off the grate, so far you have drastically reduced the max setting with little effect. As WNY said draft could be a key, also combustion air could be a key, as he said the Tri-burner setting is not what you want, but that wouldn't have changed on it's own so unless you were in the setup menu just before this happened that is unlikely the cause.

I would look at the combustion air, are the fans spinning at full speed? Maybe fines have restricted the air flow through the grate, you can remove the combustion fan and look in with a flashlight without shutting down the stove. Also are both grates behaving the same, or is one dumping more hot coals than the other. If the change was identical in both then I would look toward the draft issue, your pipe could be clogged with fly ash.

Hopes this gives you a few more ideas.

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 12:30 pm

I just spoke to Neil and he pretty much came up with the same thing you guys did about the fines restricting the air flow. The fans are running a full speed and the draft is ok so I will be taking it apart first thing in the morning and checking the grates and cleaning them.I cleaned the pipes about 1 week ago but I will clean them again.I will post tomorrow with results.(hopefully good news) Thanks for all your help.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 12:39 pm

Great.

You can remove the combustion fans from the back and go thru the openings to vacuum out under the grates, it does make it easier and not having to clean the coal out of the stove. Of course you have to shut it down to do that.

Harley08 · Post by **Harley08** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 12:51 pm

I will do it the way that way.It sounds like it will be easyier.Do I need to let the coals go out before I vacuum it out. Thanks

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Fri. Feb. 20, 2009 3:56 pm

If you don't want to melt you vacuum!!! :0 I would at least wait 30-45 mins after shutting down the stove.