Sierra Products Pellet Heater EasyFire B User Manual

EasyFire B Model Pellet Heater Quick Troubleshoot and Technical Guide

SPI’s EasyFire pellet heaters are designed to operate as a seasonal zone heater burning 1/4" wood pellet fuel. Utilizing
a 12VDC control and drive system allows for extended battery operation when AC power fails. The following outlines
the general operating parameters and trouble shooting encountered during installation and seasonal operation. Basic
operation is controlled combustion of wood pellets metered by the feed drive system into a burn pot and a
combustion/convection fan motor providing separate air for combustion and heat exchange. This process is controlled
by a digital main controller which monitors all function through two sensors and incoming outgoing operating voltages.
Additionally, starting functions are provided by an industrial style cartridge heater located in the burn pot and both
internal and optional thermostat.

Standard operation: With both 120VAC and 12VDC battery power attached and a functional pellet flue system the
heater is designed to operate continuously during the heating season. On a daily bases the heater requires fuel to be
added to the storage hopper and depending on the fuel quality, burn pot area cleaned. Starting and operating
sequences are controlled by an operating software program conta ined on a EPRO M m em ory chip. Fuel rate is
controlled by mode setting and trim position (standard trim knob setting is 9:00 and is located on control panel next to
operation buttons). Normal start up and operation summary follows:

Condition - Heater is cold, power connected, button to “OFF” position. Hopper door closed (safety switch closed).
External therm ostat jumped (factory standard) or optional thermostat closed to call for heat.

1) Select a run button (Low, Medium, High) and press. The LED light will shift from OFF to run button.
A) Feed motor starts initial fuel shot (approx. 40 seconds) and ignitor ON. Ignitor will begin to start heating and

pass 300 degrees in 30 seconds.

B) Fan motor starts in 60 seconds @ 3 volts providing combustion and convection air. Feed will cycle OFF

completing the start up fuel shot. Smoke will be visible normally visible through the door glass with in 2
minutes.

C) Feed will cycle ON for short periods during the start cycle add sm all am ounts of fuel. Heater continue in

START UP mode until temperature rise is confirmed by sensors or for a total of 10 minutes.

If temperature does not increase by 15C during this STARTUP phase the heater will begin the SHUTDOW N (for
further information read SHUTDOW N in several paragraphs).

2) RUN mode begins when temperature rise is achieved (normally within 5-7 minutes).
A) Fan increases based on run button selected. Feed pulses increase based on temperature and TRIM setting.

Feed trim adjustm ent allows for a lower or higher average fuel delivery.
Initial flam e is high based on a cool heater and fuel shots provided for start up. As operating tem perature is
reached the feed pulse will decrease and flame will drop.
B) Feed rate will vary up and down as the heater adjusts for operating temperature. Temperature measured at T-

2 sensor mounted on fan housing manifold.
C) Heater will continue to operate as long as fuel, thermostat setting, and operating button remains.

Condition - Shutting down operating heater. Selecting the OFF button or external thermostat no longer calls for heat.

A) Feed motor immediately stops. No fuel is added to the burn pot and the coals remaining began the burn out.
B) Fan is reduced to shut off voltage of 5 volts and maintained until sensor T-2 records a 20C reduction of

temperature or 20 minutes time elapses.

Other related operating parameters

Three basic functions are constantly monitored during operation including flue drafting, operating temperatures, and
AC power input. Blocked flue will cause an unsafe condition and will cause the unit to shut down with a steady RED
fault indication noted on the control panel. Continued high tem perature m ay cause a unsafe condition. The heater will

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stop the feed during high temperatures to allow the heater to cool. A flashing RED will indicate high operating
temperature. AC power outage will stop external thermostat function if the optional battery is connected allowing the
heater to run continuously while AC is out.

Common operating problems:

(Refer to installation manual and repair manual for additional information regarding specific component replacement
and testing).

Basic tools required for troubleshooting - Multi Volt/Ohm Meter, standard and phillips screw drivers, standard jewelers
screw driver (fan speed adjustments on main control board).

No power - Power is provided by both AC and DC supplies. There are two replaceable fuses located near the power
connections. They are identified as Main (1 amp) and Ignitor (5 amp). If AC power is present to the main control
system a LED will be lit on the O FF button. If DC power is present a G REEN LED will be lit on the control panel.

Quick Testing -

1) Check AC power with volt meter at wall socket - 115VAC.

2) Check DC power at battery - 12VDC.

3) Remove fuses and check continuity with OHM meter. Blown fuses can be cause by voltage spikes (lightning,
power company). If fuse is found blown, replace only once and retest. If the fuse blows again further
troubleshooting is required before further fuse replacem ent.

Start up:

No fuel - Fuel located in the hopper is feed by a auger from the hopper bottom up to the shoot which directs the pellets
into the burn pot. The feed motor is controlled by the main control system and on models EF3801B, 5001B, and
5001U -B a hopper safety switch (EF4001-B auger can not be accessed from the hopper door). The switch will disable
the feed system if the hopper lid is open. The switch is located on the upper right hopper vertical panel and is
accessed through a small panel. Fuels is only feed in Low to High operating m odes and requires “priming” auger. If
hopper is out of fuel, cycle from OFF to LOW several times to allow pellets to feed into burn pot.

Quick Testing -

1) Confirm hopper lid is sitting on the switch arm and the arm is closing. With hopper lid open, push the switch arm

down and listen for click noting switch closure. With heater cold, and lid open, push switch arm down, push Low and
the feed motor should start to turn.

2) Confirm feed motor is not jammed by emptying hopper and verifying a foreign object has not be caught. Rem ove

top cover from feed tube from inside hopper if there is any question. If the feed motor is mechanically jammed, the
control system has a built in circuit breaker. The breaker will require a reset by cycling from OFF to LOW . Do not
recycle more than three times so the circuit does not become damaged by overheating.

3) Pellets Jamm ed in feed shoot (above burn pot). Rem ove all jammed pellets and clean shoot with scraper.

Ignitor does not heat up - The ignitor has a separate 120VAC circuit w hich includes a fuse, relay, and ignitor. This
circuit is activated by the main control board via a 12VDC wire harness lead. When the main control call for start the
12VDC circuit is closed sending 12VDC to the relay. As the relay closes, the 120VAC circuit is completed and the
ignitor begins to heat. As noted in prior section, if 120VAC power is not available the heater will still start the fan and
feed if 12VDC is connected allowing a manual start with starter and m atch light.

Quick Testing -

1) Inoperative ignitor most likely have a blown fuse. Remove the 5 am p ignitor fuse and test with OHM meter.
Replace if blown. As noted before if fuse blows again then further testing is required.

2) Testing ignitor requires access to the relay located near the main board assembly. Access is through the lower
right pedestal for the 3801/5001, junction box on the 4001 insert, and lower right cabinet for the 5001U. Remove
the power to the unit. Unplug the ignitor lead from the relay and the neutral circuit. Using the OHM meter check for
continuity between the two leads. If the circuit is open the ignitor has failed. If the circuit is complete check one
lead and then ground the other lead to the ignitor base. If circuit is com plete ignitor has failed. A grounded circuit
will cause the fuse to blow.

3) If ignitor check out, remove the harness leads to the relay and using the volt meter set to 20VDC, confirm 12VDC

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