Intermitiant Ignition Problems

chuck shaw

Got a call from a customer on the 15th of Dec. No heat, I talked him through turning the boiler on and off at the service switch, to reset control. Since then he said it has happend about 6-8 times. He called today. I went to the house and found a Peerless boiler, atmospheric draft, with a serial number from 1985.

White Rodgers control, #50E46-070. With flashing red light. No instruction/trouble shooting manual. This is a hot surface ignition, and appears to be a flame rectifcation circuit. I didnt think to count the number of flashes. I reset and it fired.

I did a combustion test, everything looks good. I was wondering if anyone has a book on this unit?

Thanks in advance,

Chuck Shaw

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=143&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"</A>

[Deleted User]

Sound like

> Got a call from a customer on the 15th of Dec.

> No heat, I talked him through turning the boiler

> on and off at the service switch, to reset

> control. Since then he said it has happend about

> 6-8 times. He called today. I went to the

> house and found a Peerless boiler, atmospheric

> draft, with a serial number from 1985.

>

> White

> Rodgers control, #50E46-070. With flashing red

> light. No instruction/trouble shooting manual.

> This is a hot surface ignition, and appears to be

> a flame rectifcation circuit. I didnt think to

> count the number of flashes. I reset and it

> fired.

>

> I did a combustion test, everything

> looks good. I was wondering if anyone has a book

> on this unit?

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Chuck

> Shaw

>

> _A

> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

> 143&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

> "Find A Contractor"_/A_

[Deleted User]

Sounds like

It could be the hot surface ignitor. I have seen before where it works 9 out of 10 times then it fails due to a crack in the ceramic. Check the trouble codes first before you reset. If you tap the ignitor gently at the base when it attempts to light, you may see arcing indicating it is bad.

Glenn Harrison_2

Chuck, are you sure that's a 50E46-070

and not a 50E47-070? I don't show the 50E46 in any of my books or on the W.R. site. Anyways, if it's just an igntion module, you will get two faults. If flashing continuously, it's a flame sensing lockout. If on continuously it's a module failure. If I remember, Peerless uses a one piece flame sensor and wire assembly. I would look at that first, as I had one where the wire fell out of the sensor ceramic when I removed it to clean it. It also could be a weak ignitor. Ohm it out, Generally a Norton 201 ignitor will be 45 to 150 ohms and a 271 ignitor will be 45 to 75 ohms. Then you could get into the good stuff of poor intermitent grounding, or maybe even a sticking gas valve or regulator.

If you want a trouble shooting sheet go to http://www.white-rodgers.com/pdfs/sell_sheets/R_3641D.pdf

Hope it helps, Glenn.

Unknown

Chuck that control number

is incorrect I believe. I cover that control system in the Advanced Course. So it is in the manual for that course. If you have a White Rodgers catalog it is in the back of the catalog starting on page 238 and running thru page 242.

You can check microamps at the FP terminal you should have 2 to 10 microamps, normal about 3 to 5. Make sure you have continiuty from GND terminal to gas valve.

If you have to replace the igniter they are on page 54 in the catalog or you can cross reference to a Norton igniter in the Robertshaw catalog.

If you want me to send you some info e-mail me.

chuck shaw

oooops

Glen,

You are correct, it is the 50E47-070. I wrote that down on my work card, I must have typed it in wrong.

thanks,

Chuck

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"