EFM 520 Stoker Won't Stay Lit.

 
mcguirehg
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Post by mcguirehg » Sun. May. 27, 2018 1:50 pm

I’m having the same issue this summer. I’m suspecting it’s the timer. At times the stove runs for 1.30 minutes at others 1.15 and others just shy of 2 minutes every half hour. 4 teeth 4 air, min 140 max 210 aquastat. This am temp was back up to 190 degrees. Keeping an eye on this post to see the outcome.


 
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cracker4902
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Post by cracker4902 » Sun. May. 27, 2018 8:29 pm

I have a Honeywell SB400A Timer & I can't find anything to show me the inner workings. I know the basics but I'd appreciate it if someone would explain how the different components of the timer switch function.




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Last edited by cracker4902 on Sun. May. 27, 2018 10:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. May. 27, 2018 9:09 pm

Pix C, they really help!

 
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Post by Qtown1835 » Sun. May. 27, 2018 10:23 pm

That's an old timer(thats punny). Mercury timer, not very adjustable compared to digital or intermatics. If it is actually a timer issue

 
mcguirehg
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Post by mcguirehg » Mon. May. 28, 2018 7:11 pm

I found a new unit on eBay. Seller agreed to $60 for the timer so I’m going to replace the Honeywell. The run time is not consistant based on my timed stove runs.

 
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Post by Qtown1835 » Mon. May. 28, 2018 8:58 pm

The motors go bad occasionally on the timers. If it's making noise it's probably time to replace. Hopefully you "new" timer works correctly.

 
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cracker4902
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Post by cracker4902 » Mon. May. 28, 2018 9:03 pm

Hope this helps Can the motors on these old timers be replaced & are they available? While I'm on the subject of timers if I'd want to replace it can anybody recommend one that works correctly and doesn't need to be repaired constantly?


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Post by McGiever » Mon. May. 28, 2018 10:46 pm

All hold fire timers basically wire the same. The one wire (red wire in your picture above) leaving out from the timer off of the normally open contact feeds first into the L6006 high limit aquastat (N/C) goes in and then right back out going then next to the Triple (relay) Aquastat to connect there onto the terminal B1. There will be 2 wires then on B1, this N/O timer wire and the hot wire going out to the stoker/feed and fan motors.

As for your mercury switch timer. Other than some well place drops of turbine or clock oil, there is no fix for these clock motors.

Besides every detail shown in this picture, ya need to have the silver metal dangling arrow pointed on the stamped center mark inside of the timer box to indicate that the box is mounted plumb.

Which way are ya running yours, 2 min every 1 hour or 2 min every 1/2 hour?

More pics here: Honeywell S400A/SA400B Mercury Timer


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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. May. 29, 2018 2:48 am

cracker4902 wrote:
Mon. May. 28, 2018 9:03 pm
Hope this helps Can the motors on these old timers be replaced & are they available? While I'm on the subject of timers if I'd want to replace it can anybody recommend one that works correctly and doesn't need to be repaired constantly?
I like the C8865 Intermatic timers because they give you the flexibility to run different timer cycles.

 
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cracker4902
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Post by cracker4902 » Tue. May. 29, 2018 6:16 am

The timer is set at 2 minutes every half hour, feed 4 air 5 & the ashes in the pail have very little unburnt coal. It seems like it's working good. I have it set at 200 Hi & 160 Low w/ 10 Diff & I noticed the temp gauge goes up to 192 degrees at the most. Is this what it should do?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. May. 29, 2018 8:38 am

Yes. :yes:

 
Jws2017
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Post by Jws2017 » Sun. Jul. 12, 2020 7:03 pm

Hello

I am having some difficulties with my EFM DF520. I have changed the motor, did a full service cleaning. However, the stocker will not stay on. At the start of the fire we get a real good burn. Then it won’t stay lit. We have the settings at Feed- 3 and the air is 5 (as we was instructed per the heating company). How to I set the timer to every half hour. Also, can someone explain what else would need to be done and how to do so?

 
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Post by StokerDon » Sun. Jul. 12, 2020 8:49 pm

Welcome to the forum.
Jws2017 wrote:
Sun. Jul. 12, 2020 7:03 pm
We have the settings at Feed- 3 and the air is 5
That doesn't sound right at all. The EFM 520 manual has most of the answers you need. If I remember correctly, 3 teeth should have an air setting of 3.0 or 3.5.

Timer should be 2 minutes every half hour.

Aquastat, LO = 160, HI = 200.

If you loose the chimney draft in the hot weather the fire can go out.

If your boiler temp stays up at the Aquastat HI limit it will skip timer cycles and the fire can go out.

-Don

 
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Post by Jws2017 » Mon. Jul. 13, 2020 12:33 pm

Thank you Don.

I appreciate you. Can you advise me what is an aquastat? We purchased this house in 2016 and we have been working on it. We finally moved in on April of this year and we have been trying to get the stocker to stay lit ever since.

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Mon. Jul. 13, 2020 8:12 pm

Typically, these units use a Honeywell triple aquastat to control boiler temp. If your EFM is a 520 you should see a rectangular gray box on the back next to the domestic water coil. If you pull the cover off of it it should look something like this inside.
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The knobs for your unit should be set to; LO = 160, HI = 200, DIFF = 10.

Go to the EFM website and download the "DF 520 Installation and Operating instructions". It is a great source of info for your stoker boiler and covers most of the problems you are having. The last page shows what air setting to use at each feed rate.
https://www.efmheating.com/index.php/efm-online-manuals

Do you have any pictures???

-Don


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