Getting Fustrated

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 5:41 pm

Lightning wrote:So nobody has asked where the thermostat is located.. Could a warm air run be blowing on it making it think the call is being satisfied??
Lee,

The stove thermometer is only reading 200 degrees. Thats about 400 degrees short of where it needs to be. The real problem seems to be a positvly pressurized firebox. Putting in enough combustion air to make a good hot fire is impossible because it can't be exauhsted.

After reading through this thread, I am suprized that non of the Koker guys suggested cleaning out the heat exchanger tubes. The Koker Lites have 2 tubes that run from the ash pit up to the flue coller, that is how the stove exahusts. If there is something (flyash, packing matirial, ect...) stuck in one of these tubes there will be very little draft. To get to these tubes you need to pull the pipe off of the stove and stick a boiler tube brush or something down there to be sure it's 100% clear.

By the way Albany, very interesting little problem you've got here. You seem to have everyone's attention, we will get this figured out with your help.

-Don
Last edited by StokerDon on Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 5:45 pm

Don, I suggested the thermostat location because of this answer here..
AlbanyTurf wrote:
WNY wrote:Ok. Is the stoker/feeder constantly running, or does it pause for a while? and then restart. ?
Yes constant on and off. The internal air temp drops quick after the fan kicks on

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 5:51 pm

WNY wrote:Ok. Is the stoker/feeder constantly running, or does it pause for a while? and then restart. ?
Yes constant on and off. The internal air temp drops quick after the fan kicks on[/quote wrote:
That's interesting Lee, good catch. The only "fan" that should be turning on and off is the house distribution blower, the stoker blower runs 24/7 on these. I wonder which one he ment? Anyway, that still won't slove the positive firebox pressure problem.

-Don

 
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Post by WNY » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 5:58 pm

WNY wrote:
Ok. Is the stoker/feeder constantly running, or does it pause for a while? and then restart. ?
Yes constant on and off. The internal air temp drops quick after the fan kicks on[/quote wrote:
If the thermostat is Hooked directly to the koker, when you turn the thermostat up above room temperature, say 5-10 degrees. THE Stoker/feeder should click and run constantly? is it? you said it was on and off? If it's calling for heat, like you said in a previous post, the stoker/feeder MOTOR should be on all the time and it should start burning more. if it is doesn't then it sounds like it is just running off the Idle Timer Box (with the pins). which will not get the stove up to temperature.

 
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Post by michaelanthony » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 6:00 pm

StokerDon wrote:
WNY wrote:Ok. Is the stoker/feeder constantly running, or does it pause for a while? and then restart. ?
Yes constant on and off. The internal air temp drops quick after the fan kicks on[/quote wrote:
That's interesting Lee, good catch. The only "fan" that should be turning on and off is the house distribution blower, the stoker blower runs 24/7 on these. I wonder which one he ment? Anyway, that still won't slove the positive firebox pressure problem.

-Don
A couple pages back his manometer reading was positive :eek2: ,Rick386 mention something reading about fans or blowers running backwards???...and now "The internal air temp drops quickly after the fan kicks on" :gee: ...I think we need a drive by, also called pizza and beer!

 
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 6:19 pm

The one thing that I see, is that a blocked heat exchanger or flue pipe (checked), or chimney (also checked) are the only things that can cause the problems Albany discribed.

If I was in that part of the world, I would be very interested in a road trip to see the problem first hand. It is likely something fixable on the spot.

-Don

 
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Post by Doby » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 6:33 pm

In his pic of the mano meter it appears the tube connected on the low side is kinked right where it plugs in. The meter may also be a bit out of level.

I saved the pic to my computer and then enlarged itto get a better view.

OP this should be checked it could throw the readings off


 
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Post by Rick 386 » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 6:55 pm

Don and crew,

Think about this. And I have already PM'd 2 others with this scenario.

If there is a chimney restriction or lets call it an exhaust restriction creating this "positive pressure" inside the stove according to the mano readings.

When he opened up the door to take the pic of his grate at full burn, since the door is now open it negates the positive pressure restriction. Since if there was any restriction, the majority of the exhaust would now be coming out of the open door. And he should have tall flames due to no restriction. His pic does not show that. It only shows flames about 4-5" high. With the restrictor plate wide open and IF the combustion blower is running at max power with max air being delivered under the grate, those flames should be hitting the inside top of the stove.

I got $50.00 on my guess. Any takers ?????

Rick

 
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Post by McGiever » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:12 pm

There were factory new Koker Lites reported here having their idle timers running backwards.

 
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:20 pm

1
Last edited by StokerDon on Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:24 pm

Rick 386 wrote:Don and crew,

Think about this. And I have already PM'd 2 others with this scenario.

If there is a chimney restriction or lets call it an exhaust restriction creating this "positive pressure" inside the stove according to the mano readings.

When he opened up the door to take the pic of his grate at full burn, since the door is now open it negates the positive pressure restriction. Since if there was any restriction, the majority of the exhaust would now be coming out of the open door. And he should have tall flames due to no restriction. His pic does not show that. It only shows flames about 4-5" high. With the restrictor plate wide open and IF the combustion blower is running at max power with max air being delivered under the grate, those flames should be hitting the inside top of the stove.

I got $50.00 on my guess. Any takers ?????

Rick
Thats a very good point Rick. With the door open, on more pressurized firebox. In fact the flame would likely try to jump out at him!

That leaves us with a lack of combustion air and an improper manometer install.

No! I will keep my $50 and buy coal!

-Don
Last edited by StokerDon on Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:28 pm

McGiever wrote:There were factory new Koker Lites reported here having their idle timers running backwards.
I do remember reading a post about a Koker that ended up being a backward running timer on a new install. If I remember right, the poster got a new one from Keystoker in very short order.

-Don

 
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Post by McGiever » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:34 pm

Backward timer was in this OP's first fire thread, but was another poster.

Here is his first fire thread and backward timer...Koker Lite First Burn Experience

Maybe *AlbanyTurff* is running on a constant idle??? And his t-stat is not able to do any more than what it is already doing at the constant idle???

How about it Albany??? Did your timer run backwards? Did you get a replacement?

 
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Post by AlbanyTurf » Fri. Dec. 19, 2014 6:42 pm

**Update**

Thank you to everyone who has responded. Your help has been much appreciated

I haven't had any time to even look at the stove since Wednesday night (work 2 jobs). So I went into the basement today when I got home and this is what I found. Draft at .03 fan still going on and off house temp 64. Then I got a call back from manufacturer. They are surprised by a lot of what I told them as far as the problems with all that I have done to alleviate it. SO they decided that I need to check my feed. I was advised to turn the feed nob all the the way to the right as far as it will go then back if off 3 full turns. Well I just check and my draft is still .03 and house temp is 67 and gaining. I even saw flames up to the top and stove temp at 350. So I decided to close down the combustion cover a bit. I did notice the draft drops down to .02(Baro thimble is still all the way to the right). Is there anything else I should do or just let it run like this for a while?

 
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Post by WNY » Fri. Dec. 19, 2014 6:59 pm

totally Understand....

I mentioned the feed rate screw about turned in all the way and about 4 turns out to start, but if 3 is working, thats great. !

Is the Thermostat actually working? is the Feeder/stoker motor (not the plenum heat blower) constantly turning (or cycling every 10 mins like it's on Idle) when it's calling for heat, when you turn up the thermostat like to 70-75, etc...? What type of thermostat? the old Dial Type or a digital? Make sure it's level on the wall if it's a dial type, that will affect the temperature setpoint.

Where is the FAN switch located for your plenum blower? do you know what type of switch controls the blower (the warm air to the house)?


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