EFM 520 Not Staying Lit (4 Years - Never Had Issues)

 
Coal_Rocks
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Tue. May. 29, 2018 1:44 pm

I have a Refurbished EFM 520 that was installed 4 years ago. I never had problems keeping it running in the summer until this year. I clean the unit twice a year. My settings are 160/200 with a 10 differential. My timer is set approx. 2 minutes every half hour. It has gone out 3 times in the last 6 days. Other years my timer was set at 2 minutes every hour and I never had issues. The first time it went out this year I changed it to 2 minutes every half hour and it is still going out. The draft seems okay but I don't have a meter.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. May. 29, 2018 3:34 pm

Have you verified that the timer is actually working?

Other things to check: See if your baro is sticking, and also check the inlet of the auger for foreign material.

 
mcguirehg
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Post by mcguirehg » Tue. May. 29, 2018 5:22 pm

Rob is correct. I verified my timer and I the process of waiting for a new one to arrive. The timer is not consistent and would produce different burn times.

 
Coal_Rocks
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Wed. May. 30, 2018 9:44 am

I will double check that the timer is working and make sure the auger is clear. I will keep you posted. Thank you for the responses.

 
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Post by hank2 » Thu. May. 31, 2018 12:15 am

Like the other replies mentioned, a faulty timer could very well be the trouble. I'll also ask if you recently changed coal source. If you happened to get a harder Anthracite, it may need more burn time to stay lit in the warmer weather. It's been a long time since I ran stoker boilers, but I used to occasionally get outs in the Summer. On the advice of a coal hauler that I used for years, I went to a softer, medium hard coal for my Summer load. Ash was higher, but it stayed lit much more easily. Otherwise, I used Old Lehigh's Greenwood or sometimes Jeddo, both very hard coals.

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Thu. May. 31, 2018 7:50 am

Thanks for the reply. I am using the same coal for the last 4 years. I was not home last night but tonight I will make sure the timer is working and there is no big pieces of coal interfering with the auger. I appreciate everyone's help!

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:07 pm

I just restarted my 520. I guess my gauge is not working. The unit shut off at 140° and the pressure is only at 30. I have my limit set at 190 and 150 with the 15 differential. It definitely seems pretty hot. It is clicking and clunking a lot. I will wait to see if the timer kicks on in a couple minutes. I currently have it set for every half hour for about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes.


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:12 pm

30psi is too much. Your expansion tank could be flooded, the feed valve could be malfunctioning, or there could be a pinhole in the tankless coil.

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:20 pm

What do you recommend?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:21 pm

For a house 2 stories or less, 12 psi cold.

 
Coal_Rocks
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:28 pm

I assume that could be preventing the timer from turning on the furnace, right?

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:30 pm

Is there an easy way to check the expansion tank?

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:33 pm

What can I do to get the pressure down?

 
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Post by StokerDon » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 2:40 pm

Coal_Rocks wrote:
Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:28 pm
I assume that could be preventing the timer from turning on the furnace, right?
No, the timer has nothing to do with boiler pressure. If your timer is wired correctly, it will not run the stoker when the boiler water is above the HI Limit set point. Sounds like your boiler may be to hot.
Coal_Rocks wrote:
Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:30 pm
Is there an easy way to check the expansion tank?
You need to drain the system pressure down to zero. Then use a tire gauge to check the expansion tank pressure. It should be about 12 PSI when cold.
Coal_Rocks wrote:
Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 12:33 pm
What can I do to get the pressure down?
If your boiler has really gone up to 30 PSI the pressure relief valve should pop.

To relieve boiler pressure, put a bucket under the pressure relief valve down pipe and manually open the valve until the desired pressure is reached. Be very careful, the water will be very, very HOT!!!

-Don

 
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Post by Coal_Rocks » Sat. Jun. 02, 2018 7:09 pm

Thanks Don. I drained some water and the pressure came down.

It seems my low limit temperature is killing power to my timer. I thought that only the high limit would shut the timer down? I don't get why I am having so many problems keeping my furnace running this spring/summer? Should I be cutting my feed rate down below 4, would that help?


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