St. Croix Auger Motor & Safety Switch Troubleshooting with Mr. Pellethead
John purchased a new auger motor for his 2005 St. Croix Afton Bay. John called and said the motor did not work. Mr. Pellethead recommended he run the motor direct to troubleshoot whether it was the motor or a safety issue. John replied back that the motor ran fine when operating to direct power. He asked how he would go about locating what was causing the problem and not allowing the motor to operate. (Check this blog post to learn how to direct test/bench test an auger motor.)
Mr. Pellethead Replies:
I’m going to assume it’s either the pressure/vacuum switch or the high limit snap switch in your stove that’s not allowing the auger motor to work.
1. Make sure your exhaust vent pipe is clean all the way through. Combustion/Exhaust motor housing is clean as well. We offer vent cleaning kits and a high powered vent vacuum cleaning option.
2. Make sure the door seal and ash pan seal are tight all the way around. (Use a piece of paper, stick halfway in and shut door. Should have strong resistance when you pull out). Do around the main door and ash door.
3. High limit snap switch may have a red ‘reset’ button in the center of it. Push that in. If for whatever reason the stove got to hot it may have tripped the high limit. Located in the rear of the stove either by the back wall or auger shaft tube. Not all models had a re-settable snap switch. Your owners manual will indicate which one and where for your year model.
How did your fire look when the stove was running last? Was it a torchy, vibrant, clean looking fire or was it a lazy, dirty, sooty fire? Could also be the combustion fan no longer providing enough air. This would trip the pressure switch and not allow the auger motor to run.
Both the Vacuum Switch and High limit Snap Switch can be bypassed TO TEST ONLY. You can make up a short jumper wire using male connector ends. Pull the wires off the safety switch and connect together with the jumper wire. if the motor works you know it’s either the switch itself that is bad or something else with the stove that needs to be addressed before it starts operating again (safety issue/s like plugged exhaust, leaky gasket, weak exhaust fan, etc..) Learn How To Create a Jumper Wire
NEVER LEAVE SAFETY SWITCHES BYPASSED; FOR TROUBLESHOOTING ONLY.
Please leave a message or comment below. Also subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Helpful Videos and Service Support. https://www.youtube.com/c/EarthSense
Hello, I have an older model St. Croix with the analog control board. The stove will load pellets normally sometimes, and other times the auger will run constantly and overfill the pot. The stove has been cleaned thoroughly. I have removed the control board and tested the two triacs with a multimeter. They seem to be ok. What other components on the circuit board control the auger? Or should I be testing a different part perhaps?
Hey Brian,
Thanks for contacting us, happy to help.
If you are physically viewing the auger motor running constantly/non-stop on occasion then it has to be something with the control/circuit board. Sometimes it can appear the auger is running constantly/overfeeding if there is an issue with ash blockage, gasket air leaks, blocked intake air, or a weak combustion blower.
If you have physically watched that auger turning non-stop, again would be a board issue. Unfortunately we do not have control board schematics or the ability to fix control boards. St Croix now offers a retrofit kit as they no longer make the analog boards. We do stock all the retrofit kits and guarantee the best prices. Would just need to know your model and serial number to direct you to the correct control board kit for your stove.
Happy to help.
Thanks,
ESESstoves
I have an Auburn model that has tripped the fuse panel circuit breaker twice in two days now. It has been working just fine until now. We burn pellets and just switched to a brand that are larger so I am not sure if the auger jamming would trip the breaker? Actually put it on a different circuit breaker after the first time to eliminate the outlet or something but still tripped. Suggestions?
Hey Ken,
Thanks for contacting us, happy to help. An auger jam would not trip the breaker. I would first suggest just getting a good light and inspecting all wiring in the unit. Make sure there are no exposed wires or any wire that is grounding out creating a short. If everything looks good there and your still experiencing the issue, we would then want to look closer at the motors – Potentially one of the motors is surging causing the trip. Check all the basics and simple things first.
Any other questions please let us know.
Thanks,
ESESstoves
I have a Auburn stove,and think I keep up on maintanence. But at the end of this year the stove got so hot on the number 1 setting that the pellets in the hopper started to ignite. Can’t trust the stove now. Any thoughts? Thanks
Bob,
Thanks for contacting us. Definitely an issue at bay here. Let’s focus on looking at the following to start-
1. Complete & Thorough Maintenance. Stove Firebox, Heat Exchangers, Back Firewall, Ash Traps, Exhaust Manifold, Exhaust Housing, Exhaust Venting. The Auburn model is notorious for accumulating ash in the back firewall which can be very difficult to access. Ash accumulation will starve the stove of combustion air causing inefficiency and overheating. Banging on the back firewall with a mallet can be helpful in getting the ash to drop down into the ash traps. Putting the SUCKING part of a leafblower on the outside venting can also be very helpful in removing difficult to access ash from the stove and venting. Some folks will also pull the stove outside and use compressed air to fully clean out all of the blocked ash.
2. Check the voltage on your combustion/exhaust fan as well as your distribution/room air blower. Make sure both of these motors are operating to proper voltage – On start-up the combustion blower should be near line voltage. Once the distribution fan kicks in that should also be near line voltage when the stove is on high. A basic multi-meter can help you verify voltage on your blowers. If either one was weak or not functioning correctly it would cause the stove to overheat and create issues.
3. Take a close look at your burnpot, gasket seals and air intake to the stove.
In correct operation you should have a nice, crisp, torchy and efficient fire/flame. Over 95% of cases like this are related to maintenance issues – ash accumulation and build-up in the stove and/or venting.
Happy to assist anyway we can. Should you need any replacement parts just let us know, we offer virtually every part for the Auburn and Guarantee the best prices.
Thanks,
ESESstoves
I have a St. Croix EXL005662 bought in 8/06. When the stove is turned on it will run and then go to #2 red light on control panel. We replaced vacuum switch and it will work one time and next time it goes back to run a few seconds and then to #2 and will not start. Do u have a suggestion as what to do next.
Thanks for contacting us. Yes, the #2 blink will indicate a vacuum error. Few things to check since you recently replaced that switch.
1. Ash blockage/build-up in the vent pipe and/or stove. Check all ash traps, exhaust manifold and venting.
2. Gasket seals. Check the door gasket and ash pan door gasket. Make sure it is sealing tight all the way around. You can use a dollar bill, half in and half out, close the door, see how much resistance you have when pulling it out. Should be heavy resistance, check multiple spots around the doors.
3. Combustion fan voltage. You can use a basic multi-meter to check the voltage of your combustion fan. Should be near line voltage on start-up.
Let us know what you find. This can also be a helpful video for you. https://youtu.be/osOxZk-Z2Z0
Thanks,
st croix hasting pellet stove. auger not turning . replaced auger motor and control board.
no blinking lights . i need so ideas
Happy to help. Could be many things, let’s start with the basics.
1. Is your combustion blower running?
2. Is there power coming to the auger motor?
2. Have you checked the auger shaft to ensure it’s not jammed?
3. Make sure the stove and vent are clean of accumulated ash.
4. Make sure the door and ash pan door are closed and sealing tightly all the way around
5. Inspect the vacuum switch and tubing. Make sure tubing is not cracked.
6. Inspect the high limit switch. It will have a button in the middle for reset.
For TROUBLESHOOTING ONLY you can bypass the vacuum switch and high limit switch one at a time to see if either switch is the culprit. Here is a video on creating a jumper wire to do this.
https://youtu.be/FDVkbsHS95U
Keep us posted, happy to help.
got a new hopper switch. still auger not turning, does it turn manully . bc when i took it motor and auger out. the auger dont turn when i try turning it. is it suppose to do thati put in a new fan motor, auger moter, hopper switch, number 5 was flashing so i replaced control board .now i dont get no flashes. can it be the auger itself (shaft)
Kim
Thanks for contacting us. Is the auger motor receiving power, just not turning the shaft? It definitely does not hurt to check the connection from the auger motor to the auger shaft to ensure the locking collar is secure there. With the fuel hopper completely cleaned and the auger motor removed you should be able to turn the auger shaft by hand. If there are pellets in the shaft then it will be difficult to do so. If your auger is getting power, then you will want to take a closer look at the auger shaft for any jams and make sure the set collar is secure from the motor to the shaft. Keep us posted, happy to help.
still auger not turning. went through yoyr check list everything working
Hi Kim, sorry to hear of the continued troubles here. Please call in to our store at 800-236-6647 and ask for our technical assistance team. This may be the easiest way to determine how to quickly remedy the issue you are having.
We’re confident we can help get you back up and running properly again.
Thanks,