Rheostat DOA

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rocketjeremy
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Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 7:54 am

I picked up an early model Reading stove for my workshop last winter and just got the chimney finished and hooked up this past week. First night burned great, but then the next day on it's own it took off! I timed my motor last night and found that my rheostat wasn't causing a lot of change in the feed motor (I already put on a separate combustion blower). I adjusted the little screw till I had about 35 seconds on HI and 90 seconds on LOW. That was similar to what my father timed on his Reading so I thought I was good.

This morning when I went up it was overfiring again, the coal was almost gone and the motor was making the revolution in about 40 seconds again. If I turned the rheostat off and on again it went back to 90 seconds on LOW. So, it seems to be changing on it's own. Has my rheostat given the ghost? Could it be fixed? Can it be replaced with something simple like:

https://smile.amazon.com/Casolly-Variable-Control ... controller

Advice appreciated as always. I'd like to get the squared away and dialed in before I waste all my coal!

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:09 am

Says it won't work on brushless motor...

Besides that, it would of changed the voltage where you shouldn't...timer circuit internal needs constant 120VAC, not variable volts.

Pretty much cannot change circuit as designed...need to replace one for one of equal.

HINT: Sometimes aerosol "contact cleaner" can flush out debris...other time rheostat has developed less tension on the wiper arm and is a lost cause.

 
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rocketjeremy
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Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:24 am

Thanks for the reply!! I will try and check out the inside of the box and see if it can be cleaned out in any way. In case I can't...or maybe I will just get a backup at this point...where is the best place to get a replacement one? This is what mine looks like:

Image

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:36 am

rocketjeremy wrote:
Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 7:54 am
First night burned great, but then the next day on it's own it took off! I timed my motor last night and found that my rheostat wasn't causing a lot of change in the feed motor (I already put on a separate combustion blower). I adjusted the little screw till I had about 35 seconds on HI and 90 seconds on LOW.
Where are these little screws?


rocketjeremy wrote:
Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:24 am
Thanks for the reply!! I will try and check out the inside of the box and see if it can be cleaned out in any way. In case I can't...or maybe I will just get a backup at this point...where is the best place to get a replacement one? This is what mine looks like:

Is that for the room blower, combustion blower or the stoker feed motor?
Last edited by McGiever on Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:43 am, edited 1 time in total.


 
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rocketjeremy
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Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:42 am

This is for the feed motor. The room blower is just plugged in directly to the wall and the combustion blower I swapped out to do the same.

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:47 am

rocketjeremy wrote:
Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:42 am
This is for the feed motor. The room blower is just plugged in directly to the wall and the combustion blower I swapped out to do the same.
Alright, THX

There is a better way to control the feed motor than a simple rheostat. But you may continue as you have but you control type is for a blower fan to adjust air speed.

Here is what Reading sells for this...
Reading TEMP Control_1.png
.PNG | 477.4KB | Reading TEMP Control_1.png
Reading TEMP Control_3.png
.PNG | 433.8KB | Reading TEMP Control_3.png
Last edited by McGiever on Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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rocketjeremy
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Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:48 am

I'm open to a better way. For a garage space a Coal-Trol might be overkill though. Is there something else?

 
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rocketjeremy
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Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 12:15 pm

What is that called so I can look it up? I can't find much on Readings anymore other than places selling their models.


 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 12:19 pm

rocketjeremy wrote:
Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 11:48 am
I'm open to a better way. For a garage space a Coal-Trol might be overkill though. Is there something else?
This would serve you very well...EJW-RQANS1


The pictured Reading one in above post allow for thermostat interconnection, whereas this one here does NOT.

Goggle "HEET Inc" they are Reading dealer that did carry the thermostat enabled one.

FYI: Keystoker now builds Reading, so those dealers can help you now too.

 
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McGiever
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Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 12:57 pm

Controller gone from HEET Inc

Here is comparable to what you have now...Alaska Coal Stove - Stoker Auto Control box

 
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rocketjeremy
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Joined: Tue. Apr. 08, 2008 8:31 pm
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Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF-520
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Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by rocketjeremy » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 1:39 pm

I will have to put some thought into it. Based on how it's acting so far I do like the idea of using an on/off timer rather than trying to control the speed of the motor and hoping it's actually doing what I think it should.

I should really check out the motor a bit more and rule out that it's not the motor itself reacting to a working rheostat.

 
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McGiever
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Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 5:31 pm

Sounds like a smart plan. :yes:

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